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Before you go
Your trip to Winterset.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Winterset – Iowa Destination Des Moines and central Iowa about 55 km from Des Moines
How to get there
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Des Moines International Airport (DSM) Des Moines · 55 km
Approximate distances. Check flights and bus, train or boat schedules before you travel.
By car it’s about 55 km from Des Moines via Highway 169 or 92, roughly 45 minutes. Flights arrive at Des Moines Airport (DSM). There is no regular public transportation.
How many days
One day is enough to see the square, the John Wayne museum and four or five covered bridges. During the October festival, allow a full day just for the celebration.
When to go
From May to October. The covered-bridges festival is on the second weekend of October, with autumn colors in the countryside. In winter, some dirt roads to the bridges become poor.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
Yes. The bridges are spread across the county on rural roads, some of them gravel.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Winterset
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Morning
Covered bridges
Pick up the bridges map at the visitor center and follow it to the Roseman, Holliwell and Cedar bridges.
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Afternoon
John Wayne and the square
Return to the courthouse square and visit John Wayne’s birthplace and museum.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
How many covered bridges are in Madison County?
Six remain standing: Roseman, Holliwell, Hogback, Cedar, Imes and Cutler-Donahoe, built between 1870 and 1884.
How far is Des Moines from Winterset?
About 55 km, roughly 45 minutes by car.
When is the Madison County bridges festival?
On the second weekend of October, with a crafts fair, parade and food on Winterset’s square.
Was the film The Bridges of Madison County filmed in Winterset?
It was filmed in Madison County in 1994, with scenes on the Roseman and Holliwell bridges and in the town itself.
What time zone is Winterset in?
Winterset follows Central Time: UTC-6 in winter and UTC-5 during daylight saving time, which runs from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.