One Day in Madison County Itinerary
St. Charles Welcome Center
Start your day at the St. Charles Welcome Center, operated by the Madison County Chamber of Commerce, located at 202 E. Main Street in St. Charles. There you can pick up maps and directions to the covered bridges, find public restrooms, souvenirs, and locally-made products. Check our Contact Us page for seasonal hours and contact information.
Imes & Holliwell Covered Bridges
Stop at the Imes Covered Bridge, the oldest remaining of Madison County’s covered bridges. Then head west on St. Charles Road/ G50 to Holliwell Bridge Road. Holliwell Covered Bridge was one of two bridges used in the 1995 movie, The Bridges of Madison County.
City Park
Just a few miles from Holliwell Covered Bridge is City Park (corner of 9th and South streets) in Winterset. Discover gems such as the Cutler-Donahoe Covered Bridge, a live English hedge maze, whimsical wooden sculptures, a brand new Play for ALL playground, and Clark Tower, to name a few.
Tour Museums
Tour the only museum in the world dedicated exclusively to Hollywood legend John Wayne. The John Wayne Birthplace & Museum (205 S. John Wayne Drive, Winterset) honors Winterset’s own in grand style and features the largest private collection of John Wayne memorabilia in existence. Be sure to pose with the full-size bronze statue out front. Open daily (excluding major holidays) from 10 am to 5 pm.
If arts and crafts are more your thing, a visit to the Iowa Quilt Museum is a must! The museum brings in new, curated exhibits every few months, so there’s always something new to see.
Head to Earlham
Head west on IA-92, stopping at Roseman Covered Bridge or Pammel Park on the way, before heading north on P57 to Earlham.
Grab a Treat
Beans and Beignets in Earlham is a relaxed cafe that offers great coffee and food. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or anytime for ice cream and sweet treats!
Henry A. Wallace Farm
Self-guided tours of the birthplace farm of Henry A. Wallace in nearby Orient are available anytime. Take the sculpture walking path through the restored prairie and shop for items from local artisans in the gift shop. On Fridays from June to September, the Wallace Farm offers their award-winning Pizza on the Prairie nights (reservations required).
