Bloomfield Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

An Amish covered buggy travels the barren country roads of Davis County, Iowa on late-winter afternoon in slow motion.
An Amish covered buggy travels the barren country roads of Davis County, Iowa on late-winter afternoon in slow motion.
Rural Parking Lot
When I think road trip I think Bob Seger. A Harley driving down a straight road that seems to go all the way to the horizon. Peaks seem to dot the horizon beckoning you to come climb them. You may be alone or you may be riding with your closest friends. Friends you have had since highschool. This is the time you all have dreamed. The air pushes on your chest as you throttle up making your muffler scream. There is no destination only where you have been. Road trips are the base desire to leave the comfort of your own home and explore something you have only dreamed of. It is a time of growth. A true road trip cannot be planned; it must be experienced as something as wild as your passion. Each day you wake up and look at which direction to go…North, calling the passions of those who dare the road less traveled, South, Calling for those who want something and untraveled, West, Land of new adventures and sunsets, and East, Where you find you can go back in time and explore your roots. My road trip took me to Idaho. A state I had only crossed before, but never gave it much credence. A few days before I had met my new cousin, a little girl just was coming into this world. Instead of heading back to my home, 800 miles away, I stowed away my camping gear and made sure I had a loaf of bread and some peanut butter and jelly. I traveled North towards Idaho, a place few have a calling. I wanted to experience what middle America had to offer. To understand what it meant to be American. Expecting cul-de-sacs with 10 year old boys playing street baseball I set off. What I found was far different. As I drove into Idaho I found Amish farmers on wagons, farming equipment sitting in lawns, and American History. Reading historical markers seems to be my thing. I found where Bingham Young called home for a few years, the only battle in Idaho during the Civil War, and a hotel that had the names of every guest for the past 120 years. Each day I woke up with no ambitions or expectations. Just the continuation of where the road would take me. I stopped in at dives trying breakfast in mid afternoon just because. It was an enlightening experience, one that freed me of normal desires during traveling. http://www.trover.com/d/R5UH-road-bloomfield-iowa for the story
To tell this little tale would take a second. I was intentionally lost in Iowa, trying to meander my way towards Chicago from Kansas. On the way out of town I saw a small road that originally was paved. So thinking, Oh, maybe I will see farms, grass, and other great things of Iowa, I took it. the pavement ended. But I have a front wheel drive sedan, I've been off-roading in this car before (really, I have), this gravel road isn't bad. So I took it. I stopped at the top of this hill, because it was beautiful! Took my photos, but noticed something. The ground was really mushy (the thaw had just happened). But, I didn't really think anything of it, I knew it had rained recently and snowed a week before, but whatever, it'll be okay right?! Wrong, about halfway down the hill I braked and instead of slowing down, my car just slid...about 30 feet, and started to go sideways. After stopping I realized the position I was in. Not thinking backing up this hill was really an option, I decided to keep going. (Notice the bigger hill in the distance). At the bottom of the hill it got worse; I would give it gas, my car would slide and turn sideways. Driving on wet ice is easier then this was, and I hadn't even gotten to an uphill yet. I stopped at the base of the next, smaller hill and began praying to the road gods that I make it up the hill. With no service, and a few miles from town, I knew how bad this could get very quickly. I also didn't know if a tow truck could even help. I started up the hill, at .05 miles a hour in first gear, at first it wasn't so bad... then things went sideways, literally. After about 4 tries and the pondering of turning around to try going the other way, I decided maybe speed is a good thing. So I tried first gear, high revving it, at about 10 miles an hour. After some initial spinning and not turning to much I got up the hill, and then saw the much bigger, steeper hill. Keep in mind, my GPS said that there was a cross road, back to the highway, about 2 miles further down the road. So, me being me, decided. Lets go for it...about an hour later I made it to the second road (the first one didn't exist) that should lead me back to the highway. In the end, I made it, without hurting me or my car. the moral of this story, if you are from a state that doesn't routinely have ground frost and thaw, don't think you can drive on a dirt road with your sedan, and even if you are from one of those states, get four wheel drive. it did however make for a beautiful countryside.
Southfork Motel and Grill

Southfork Motel and Grill

2 out of 5
905 S. Washington Street Bloomfield IA
Stay at this motel in Bloomfield. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Popular attractions Davis County Historical Society Museum and McGowen Recreation ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (143 reviews)
A very reasonable price, huge rooms and attached to the restaurant! Very satisfied!!!

Reviewed on 7 Feb 2026

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Southfork Motel and Grill
Cobblestone Inn & Suites - Bloomfield

Cobblestone Inn & Suites - Bloomfield

2.5 out of 5
509 S Washington St Bloomfield IA
The price is 2.856.330 ₫ per night from 1 Mar to 2 Mar
2.856.330 ₫
3.199.121 ₫ total
1 Mar - 2 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Bloomfield. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (281 reviews)
It’s clean and close to the location that I needed it to be.

Reviewed on 2 Feb 2026

Cobblestone Inn & Suites - Bloomfield
Cobblestone Hotel & Suites - Ottumwa

Cobblestone Hotel & Suites - Ottumwa

2.5 out of 5
108 Church St Ottumwa IA
The price is 3.090.311 ₫ per night from 1 Mar to 2 Mar
3.090.311 ₫
3.461.148 ₫ total
1 Mar - 2 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Ottumwa. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular attractions Riverside ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (258 reviews)
Did not Suzy

Reviewed on 17 Feb 2026

Cobblestone Hotel & Suites - Ottumwa
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Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Rustic Keosauqua Gem: Fire Pit & Lake Sugema Views

Rustic Keosauqua Gem: Fire Pit & Lake Sugema Views

3 out of 5
Keosauqua IA
Stay at this apartment in Keosauqua. Enjoy free parking, patios and in-room fireplaces. Popular attractions Lake Sugema and Lacey-Keosauqua State Park are located ...
Rustic Keosauqua Gem: Fire Pit & Lake Sugema Views
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Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Pioneer Ridge Nature Area and Nature Center

You can take time to visit Pioneer Ridge Nature Area and Nature Center during your travels to Bloomfield. Experience the area's entertainment choices and theatre scene.

Pioneer Ridge Nature Area and Nature Center

McGowen Recreation and Wildlife Area

Explore the great outdoors at McGowen Recreation and Wildlife Area, a lovely green space in Bloomfield. Experience the area's entertainment choices and theatre scene.

McGowen Recreation and Wildlife Area

Lake Fisher Park

Explore the great outdoors at Lake Fisher Park, a lovely green space in Bloomfield. Experience the area's entertainment choices and theatre scene.

Lake Fisher Park

Cities near Bloomfield

autumn leaves and trees on river

Memphis

Historic Mars Hill Church in Iowa

Ottumwa

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