When you’re planning an Iowa road trip, it’s important to prepare yourself for a true culinary experience! If your destination is a day’s drive away, you’ll want to pick up some snacks to have on hand, and plan out your meals based on Hawkeye State favorites!

It’s crucial to have a bag of puppy chow on hand. Make it before your road trip and you’ll have something to snack on for the whole drive.

Flickr / ohkylel @twitter

To follow the sweet, you need something savory, so stop for cheese curds at a local dairy, too.

Facebook / WW Homestead Dairy Check out a few of our favorite dairies here.

One inevitability of any Iowa road trip - corn! Whether it’s driving past cornfields, accidentally running over a cob on the road, or stopping to pick up farm fresh corn, well, you’re sure to find some corn along your route.

Flickr / Phil Roeder

Lunch seems to come quickly when you’re on the go! Luckily, there are a lot of Maid-Rites around, or places to pick up a great loose meat sandwich.

Flickr / Jenni Konrad Here are a couple restaurants that serve the best tavern sandwiches in the state!

If you’ve run out of puppy chow by now, find a bakery and pick up a scotcharoo to fuel up the rest of your drive.

Flickr / Bethany Khan

Twin Bings are one of Iowa’s most iconic candies, so grab some when you stop for gas en route to your destination.

Wikimedia Commons / Kirs10 Read more about Twin Bings and the history of the Palmer Candy Co. here.

Before you get to your final Iowa road trip destination, it’ll be time to stop for dinner! There’s only one thing to get - a breaded pork tenderloin.

Flickr / quirkyjazz

Finally, pick up a sweet treat - some fresh ice cream - before you finally park the car for the night and arrive at your getaway destination.

Facebook / Snookie’s Malt Shop

What are your favorite foods for an Iowa road trip? Let us know in the comments below!

Flickr / ohkylel @twitter

Facebook / WW Homestead Dairy

Check out a few of our favorite dairies here.

Flickr / Phil Roeder

Flickr / Jenni Konrad

Here are a couple restaurants that serve the best tavern sandwiches in the state!

Flickr / Bethany Khan

Wikimedia Commons / Kirs10

Read more about Twin Bings and the history of the Palmer Candy Co. here.

Flickr / quirkyjazz

Facebook / Snookie’s Malt Shop

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