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Historic Auto Trails

Iowa Registered Routes

This section identifies all of the routes officially registered with the Iowa State Highway Commission under the 1913 Iowa Highway Route Registration Act, which required routes of 25 miles or more in length be registered. The Iowa State Highway Commission was given the authority to determine which road association would be granted permission to use of the route names, and color combinations and designs of the route markings. The registration process continued through 1924. There were 64 routes registered with the Iowa State Highway Commission during this period.

Profiles for routes beginning with:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T W


A
Atlantic Yellowstone Pacific Hiway

Atlantic Yellowstone Pacific Highway


Termini: Des Moines, IA, and Kansas City, MO

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Lake, Spencer, Emmetsburg, Charles City, Waverly, Waterloo, and Dubuque
  • Pres: W.H. Allison
  • Sec: Chas. McCaffree

Date of registration: October 22, 1923

Iowa mileage: 259

Notes: View the complete history of this route.. This route was sponsored by the Atlantic Yellowstone Pacific Hiway, Inc.
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B
No image available

Goldfield and Webster City Road


Notes: Referenced in the 1912 Huebinger's Automobile and Good Road Atlas of Iowa within the county map for Wright County.
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No image available

Grand Army of the Republic Highway


Notes: Road association file in DOT Library. The file contains copies of newspaper articles. The first article is from the 1940s. It indicates that the G.A.R was actually named for the "unity between these 48 states from coast to coast, to the vision of the boys of the Civil War." It followed what was Highway 6. One article is an extremely detailed account of the route, and the cities and states it went through. The formal dedication of the G.A.R. was in 1953.
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Grant Highway

Grant Highway


Termini: Chicago, IL, and Seaside, OR

Cities along route:
  • Illinois: Chicago, Elgin, Rockford, and Galena
  • Iowa: Dubuque, Waterloo, Fort Dodge, Webster City, Blairsburg, Williams, Cherokee, and Sioux City
  • Nebraska: O'Neill, Springview, Gordon and Chadron
  • South Dakota:: Rosebud
  • Wyoming: Casper, Lander and Moran
  • Idaho: St. Anthony, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Twin Falls, and Boise
  • Oregon: Ontario, Baker, Pendleton, Portland, Astoria, and Seaside

Notes: This route originated in 1916 and was named after President Ulysses S. Grant. To identify this route three bands were painted on corner poles; top and bottom were yellow, and the middle band was black. Through Iowa, this trail was roughly along what is commonly referred to as "old Highway 20."
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Great River Road

Great River Road


Termini: Woodville, MS, and Grand Rapids, MN

Cities along route:
  • Minnesota: St. Cloud, Minneapolis and Winona
  • Wisconsin: Prescott, Centerville, La Crosse, Prairie du Chien, and Dickeyville
  • Iowa: Keokuk, Fort Madison, Davenport, Dubuque, Marquette, and Lansing
  • Illinois: Rock Island, Moline, Quincy, and Cairo
  • Wyoming: Casper, Lander and Moran
  • Arkansas: Blytheville, Turrell, DeWitt, McGehee, Dermott, and Eudora
  • Mississippi: Vicksburg, Port Gibson, Natchez, and Woodville

Notes: The Mississippi River Parkway Commission/Great River Road records are housed at the National River Museum & Aquarium. There are over 50 linear feet of materials from the Great River Road, an organization of ten states organized along the Mississippi River in 1938.
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C
Capitol Highway Association

Capitol Highway


Termini: Des Moines, IA, and Lineville, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Des Moines, Lineville

Pres: U.B. Wasson
Sec: Frank Chastain

Date of registration: June 9, 1916

Iowa mileage: 91 miles

Notes: View the complete history of this route.
Sponsored by Capitol Highway Association.
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Cedar Rapids, Ottumwa and McGregor Trail

Cedar Rapids, Ottumwa and McGregor Trail


Termini: Ottumwa, IA, and McGregor, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Ottumwa, McGregor

Pres: W.H. Dunshee
Sec: Charles Tomkins

Date of registration: March 23, 1917

Iowa mileage: 192 miles

Notes: This route was also known as the Park Highway.
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Cedar Rapids, Urbana, Independence Short Line

Cedar Rapids, Urbana, Independence Short Line


Termini: Cedar Rapids, IA, and Independence, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Cedar Rapids, Urbana and Independence

Pres: C.D. Moore
Sec: R.E. Harbert

Date of registration: November 12, 1923

Iowa mileage: 43 miles

Notes: View the complete history of this route. Sponsored by the Cedar Rapids, Urbana, and Independence Short Line Association
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Center Point Motor Club (Black Cross Route)


Termini: Cedar Rapids, IA, and St. Paul, MN

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Cedar Rapids
  • Minnesota: Rochester, St. Paul

Pres: F.D. Bryner
Sec: Mark A. Newland

Date of registration: Sept. 9, 1914

Iowa mileage:

Notes: View the complete history of this route. Sponsored by Center Point Motor Club Association. Total mileage was 265 miles.
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Chariton and Leon Short Line

Chariton and Leon Short Line


Termini: Chariton, IA, and Leon, Iowa

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Chariton, Leon

Pres: R.M. Nichols
Sec: R.W. Hall

Date of registration: April 3, 1916

Iowa mileage: 40 miles

Notes: View the complete history of this route. Sponsored by Leon Short Line Association.
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Custer Battlefield Highway

Custer Battlefield Highway


Termini: Des Moines, IA, and Glacier National Park, MT

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Des Moines, Ames, Stanhope, Webster City, Fort Dodge, and Le Mars
  • South Dakota: Sioux Falls, Mitchell, Chamberlain, Rapid City, and Spearfish
  • Wyoming: Gillette and Sheridan
  • Montana: Billings, Lewistown, Great Falls, and Glacier National Park

Pres: George Weiderman
Sec: W.D. Fisher

Date of registration: December 23, 1919

Iowa mileage:

Notes: View the complete history of this route. This 1,475-mile route was sponsored by the Custer Battlefield Hiway Association.
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D
Daniel Boone Trail

Daniel Boone Trail


Termini: St. Paul, MN, and St. Louis, MO

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Algona, Fort Dodge, Boone, Des Moines, and Ottumwa
  • Minnesota: St. Paul
  • Missouri: St. Louis

Pres: J.B. McHose
Sec: W.F. Hargan

Date of registration: December 22, 1916

Iowa mileage:

Notes: View the complete history of this route. This 566-mile route was sponsored by the Daniel Boone Trail Association.
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Daniel Boone Trail

Denison-Sioux City Cut-Off


Termini: Denison, IA, and Sioux City, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Denison, Sioux City

Pres: L.S. Gambs
Sec: N.W. Pike

Date of registration: September 6, 1921

Iowa mileage:

Notes: View the complete history of this route.
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Detroit-Lincoln

Detroit, Lincoln and Denver Highway


Termini: Detroit, MI, and Denver, CO

Cities along route:
  • Michigan: Denison, Sioux City
  • Iowa: Davenport, Des Moines and Harlan
  • Indiana: South Bend
  • Iowa: Davenport, Des Moines and Harlan
  • Nebraska: Omaha, Lincoln, Hastings, and McCook
  • Colorado: Sterling and Denver

Pres: Charles Roper
Sec: O.M. Parke

Date of registration: September 6, 1921

Iowa mileage:

Notes: View the complete history of this route. The sponsor of this route was the Detroit-Lincoln and Denver Highway Association.
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Diagonal Trail Association

Diagonal Trail


Termini: Lake Park, IA, and Davenport, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Lake Park, Davenport

Pres: Sheridan Babcock
Sec: H.B. Hall

Date of registration: September 6, 1921

Iowa mileage: 335 miles

Notes: View the complete history of this route. This route was sponsored by the Diagonal Trail Association.
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Diagonal Trail Association

Diamond Trail


Termini: Iowa City and Des Moines

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Iowa City, Parnell, Montezuma, Prairie City, and Des Moines

Pres: R.J. Smith
Sec: A.C. Heath

Date of registration: December 22, 1916

Iowa mileage: 120 miles

Notes: View the complete history of this route. This route was sponsored by the Diamond Trail Association.
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E
Eldora-State Center

Eldora-State Center and Colfax Highway


Termini: Iowa City and Des Moines

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Eldora, State Center, Colfax

Pres: C.W. Bachman
Sec: E.C. Rohde

Date of registration: September 17, 1920

Iowa mileage: 61 miles

Notes: This route was sponsored by the Eldora-State Center and Colfax Highway Association.
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Eldora-State Center

Everett Powers Highway


Termini: Knoxville, IA, to Des Moines, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Knoxville, Des Moines

Pres: H.E. Slack
Sec: J.E. Deford

Date of registration: July 20, 1918

Iowa mileage: 61 miles

Notes: This route was named in honor of Everett Powers who was the first enlisted man from Richland Township, Warren County, and the first to lose his life in action in France on May 27, 1917.
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F
Farmers Highway

Farmers Highway


Termini: Exira, IA and Greenfield, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Exira, Greenfield

Pres: William Tibben
Sec: Frank Thielen

Date of registration: June 9, 1916

Iowa mileage: 41 miles

Notes: This route was sponsored by the Grant and Audubon Townships Farmers Booster Club.
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G
Glacier Trail

Glacier Trail


Termini: St. Louis, MO, and Glacier National Park, Montana

Cities along route:
  • Montana: Glacier National Park, Havre and Glasgow
  • North Dakota: Minot, New Rockford, Cooperstown, Valley City, and Fargo
  • Minnesota: Morris, Willmar, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Faribault, and Albert Lea
  • Iowa: Mason City, Marshalltown and Ottumwa
  • Missouri: Kirksville, Moberly, Mexico, St. Charles, and St. Louis

Pres: F.C. Thornton
Sec: Henry Young

Date of registration: September 6, 1921

Iowa mileage: 243 miles

Notes: View the complete history of this route. The Glacier Trail was established in 1918, and sponsored by the Glacier Trail Association. The route covered a total of 1846 miles.
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Golden Rod Highway

Golden Rod Highway


Termini: Nebraska City, NE, and Bedford, IA (later to Keokuk)

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Keokuk, Centerville, Leon, Bedford and Hamburg
  • Nebraska: Nebraska City

Pres: W. Davidson
Sec: J.D. Laudon

Date of registration: October 23, 1919

Iowa mileage: 243 miles

Notes: This route originally ended in Bedford, Iowa. In November 1921 an application for an extension to this route to Keokuk was granted.

Total mileage was 79 miles. Sponsored by the Golden Rod Hi-Way Association.
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Grand Line

Grand Line


Termini: Hopeville, IA, and Lamoni, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Hopeville, Lamoni

Pres: LeRoy Shields
Sec: Arthur Baker

Date of registration: March 23, 1917

Iowa mileage: 27 miles

Notes: Sponsored by the Grand Line Highway Association Total mileage was 79 miles.
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Grand Line

Great White Way


Termini: Davenport, IA, to Council Bluffs, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Davenport, Council Bluffs

Pres: Harvey Ingham
Sec: Roy Stacey

Date of registration: July 30, 1914

Iowa mileage: 340 miles

View the complete history of this route.
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Green Crescent

Green Crescent


Termini: Cedar Rapids, IA, and Muscatine, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Cedar Rapids, Muscatine

Pres: E.E. Coulter
Sec: M.J. Dwyer

Date of registration: July 30, 1914

Iowa mileage: 63 miles

Notes: Sponsored by the Green Crescent Association
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H
Hamlin Short Route

Hamlin Short Route


Termini: Elkhorn, IA, and Guthrie Center, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Elkhorn, Guthrie Center

Pres: Simon Foley
Sec: Fred Anderson

Date of registration: September 25, 1916

Iowa mileage: 33 miles

Notes: Sponsored by the Hamlin Community Club
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Hamlin Short Route

Harding Highway


Termini: Washington, DC, and Los Angeles, CA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Elkhorn, Guthrie Center
  • Nebraska: Nebraska City

Pres: C.W. Bond
Sec: J. Goodsell

Date of registration: June 16, 1924

Iowa mileage: 33 miles

Notes: This 3000-mile route was sponsored by the Harding Highway Association.
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Hawkeye Cut-off

Hawkeye Cut-off


Termini: Sioux City, IA, and Fort Dodge, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Sioux City, IA, and Fort Dodge, IA

Pres: C.J. Wohlenberg
Sec: W.F. Hutton

Date of registration: September 25, 1916

Iowa mileage: 140 miles

Notes: This route was sponsored by the Hawkeye Highway Association.
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Hawkeye

Hawkeye Highway


Termini: Dubuque, IA, and Sioux City, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Dubuque, Fort Dodge and Sioux City

Pres: H.M. Bradley
Sec: A.R. LeRoy

Date of registration: May 19, 1917

Iowa mileage: 360 miles

Notes: This route was considered of military significance. It was sponsored by the Hawkeye Highway Association. The corresponding U.S. highway was U.S. 20.
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Hawkeye

Herbert Hoover Highway


Termini: Iowa City, IA and Lowden, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Iowa City, West Branch, Tipton, and Lowden

Pres:George Hoover
Sec: C.W. Edwards

Date of registration: August 27 1923

Iowa mileage: 46 miles

Notes: This route was sponsored by the Herbert Hoover Highway Association.
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I
Imperial Highway

Imperial Highway


Termini:Unknown origin terminal (entered Iowa at Lansing on Iowa 9) and Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Lansing, Decorah, Cresco, Mitchell, Northwood, Estherville, and Spirit Lake
  • South Dakota: Sioux Falls

Pres: H.A. Dwelle
Sec: C.F. Pye

Date of registration: January 4, 1918

Iowa mileage: 46 miles

Notes: The route distance through Iowa to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was 325 miles. The route was sponsored by the Imperial Highway Association.
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Indian Trail

Indian Trail


Termini: Tama, IA, and Eldora, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Tama, Eldora

Pres: E.L. Beard
Sec: C.B. Walters

Date of registration: February 5, 1920

Iowa mileage: 53 miles

Notes: This route was sponsored by the Indian Highway Association.
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Indian Highway

I.O.A Short Line


Termini:Davenport, IA to Council Bluffs, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Davenport, Washington, Oskaloosa, Knoxville, Indianola, Winterset, Greenfield, and Council Bluffs

Pres: P.L. Arrasmith
Sec: B.Z. Harrison

Date of registration: January 8, 1924

Iowa mileage: 330 miles

Notes: The letters I, O and A are not acronyms, rather when spoken they sound like the pronunciation of the State of Iowa. The sponsor of this route was the I.O.A. Short Line Association.
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J
Jefferson Highway

Jefferson Highway


Termini: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and New Orleans, LA

Cities along route:
  • Manitoba: Winnipeg and Emerson
  • Minnesota: Hallock, Bemidji, Wadena, Sauk Rapids, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Owatonna
  • Iowa: Northwood, Kensett and Manly in Worth County; Freeman, Mason City and Rockwell in Cerro Gordo County; Sheffield, Chapin and Hampton in Franklin County; Iowa Falls and Hubbard in Hardin County; Zearing, Colo, Nevada and Cambridge in Story County; Ankeny and Des Moines in Polk County; Somerset, Indianola, Cool, and Medora in Warren County; Liberty, Osceola, Weldon, and Van Wert in Clarke County; and Leon, Davis City and Lamoni in Decatur County
  • Missouri: St. Joseph and Kansas City
  • Oklahoma: Miami, Muskogee, McAlester, and Durant
  • Texas: Denison, Greenville and Marshall
  • Louisiana: Shreveport, Alexandria, Port Allen, and New Orleans

Pres: E.T. Meredith
Sec: Walter Parker

Date of registration: September 25, 1916

Iowa mileage: 330 miles

Notes:View the complete history of this route. This route was sponsored by the Jefferson Highway Association. Total mileage was 2000 miles.

Also see www.jeffersonhighway.org for more Jefferson Highway information.
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Jefferson Highway

John D. Parmalee Trail


Termini: Pleasantville, IA, and Des Moines, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Pleasantville, Des Moines

Pres: Edd Guthrie
Sec: H.E. Slack

Date of registration: April 3, 1916

Iowa mileage: 28 miles

Notes: The route was named after a prominent Polk County, Iowa, resident, John D. Parmalee. Follow the link below for information about Polk County’s early pioneers, including John D. Parmalee, who arrived in March 1843 from Vermont, as a fur trader. He later improved a large claim along the Des Moines River, adjacent to a local saw mill, claiming it was “…just the spot for a large town——possibly the Capital of the state.”
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K
King's Highway

King's Highway


Termini: Davenport, IA, and Cedar Rapids, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Davenport, Cedar Rapids

Pres: Oliver Johnson
Sec: George Johnson

Date of registration: June 28, 1915

Iowa mileage: 95 miles

Notes: This route was sponsored by the Auto Club of the King’s Highway.
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L
Lincoln Hawkeye Pike

Lincoln Hawkeye Pike


Termini: West Union, IA, and Clinton, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: West Union, Clinton
  • Missouri: St. Joseph and Kansas City

Pres: Geoffrey Barr
Sec: Walter Beall

Date of registration: January 18, 1918

Iowa mileage:150 miles

Notes: The Lincoln Hawkeye Pike Association sponsored this route
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Lincoln Highway

Lincoln Highway


Termini:New York, NY, and San Francisco, CO

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Clinton, De Witt, Grand Mount, Wheatland, Clarence, Stanwood, Mechanicsville, Lisbon, Mount Vernon, Cedar Rapids, Tama, Toledo, Le Grand, Marshalltown, State Center, Colo, Nevada, Ames, Boone, Ogden, Jefferson, Carroll, Arcadia, Westside, Denison, Arion, Dow City, Woodbine, Logan, Missouri Valley, Council Bluffs

Pres: J. Newton Gunn
Sec: G.S. Hoag

Date of registration: December 2, 1915

Iowa mileage: 150 miles

Notes: View the complete history of this route. This was the country’s first designated transcontinental route from New York to San Francisco, over 3000 miles in all. The route closely follows U.S. 30 through Iowa.  Visit the national Lincoln Highway Association’s Web site for more complete details about this route’s history - http://www.lincolnhighwayassoc.org/ or the Iowa chapter's site at http://www.lincolnhighwayassoc.org/iowa/.
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Lineville-Indianola Short Line

Lineville-Indianola Short Line


Termini: Lineville, IA, and Indianola, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Lineville, Indianola

Pres: C.C. Dye
Sec: E.J. Wilson

Date of registration: March 23, 1917

Iowa mileage: 67 miles

Notes: This route was sponsored by the Lineville-Indianola Short Line Association.
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M
Marshalltown-Colfax Short Line

Marshalltown-Colfax Short Line


Termini: Marshalltown, IA, and Colfax, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Marshalltown, Colfax
  • Missouri: St. Joseph and Kansas City

Pres: C.C. Dye
Sec: L.J. Wallace

Date of registration: September 6, 1921

Iowa mileage: 45 miles

Notes: This route was sponsored by the Marshalltown Colfax Short Line Association.
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M.C. Trail

M.C. Trail (Marysville-Carroll Trail)


Termini:Marysville, MO, and Carroll, IA

Cities along route:
  • Missouri: Marysville, MO, and Carroll, IA
  • Iowa: Carroll

Pres: C.F. Anderson
Sec: Lester Milligan

Date of registration: December 6, 1919

Iowa mileage:

Notes: This route was sponsored by the Marysville-Carroll Trail Association.
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Mississippi Valley Highway

Mississippi Valley Highway


Termini: Ely, MN; Chicago, IL; Talisheek, LA; Gulfport, MS; and Mobile, AL ; ends at New Orleans

Cities along route:
  • Minnesota: Ely, Virginia, Duluth, St. Paul, Hastings, and Rochester
  • Iowa: Oelwein, Cedar Rapids and Burlington
  • Illinois: Macomb, Jacksonville, Alton, Granite City, East St. Louis, Sparta, Carbondale, and Cairo
  • Kentucky:Fulton
  • Mississippi: Corinth, Tupelo, Meridian, Enterprise, Laurel, Hattiesburg, Wiggins, Lyman, and Gulfport
  • Louisiana: Talisheek
  • Alabama: Mobile

Branches:
  • Branch 1: Chicago, Joliet, Pontiac, Bloomington, Springfield, Litchfield, Edwardsville, and Granite City
  • Branch 2: Oelwein, Cedar Rapids and Burlington
  • Branch 3: Macomb, Jacksonville, Alton, Granite City, East St. Louis, Sparta, Carbondale, and Cairo

Pres: C.B. Nicholson
Sec: H.C. Wilhite

Date of registration: September 17, 1920

Iowa mileage:

Notes: This highway follows the same route in Iowa as the Burlington Way then extended north into Minnesota and south to Louisiana. Its total length was approximately 2000 miles. It was sponsored by the Mississippi Valley Highway Association, which was established in 1920. An alternate sign had a simple "V" in the middle surrounded by a "U" shape.
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Muscatine-Des Moines Short Line

Muscatine-Des Moines Short Line


Termini: Muscatine, IA, and Des Moines, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Muscatine, Des Moines

Pres: C.F. Anderson
Sec: Lester Milligan

Date of registration: December 28, 1917

Iowa mileage: 154 miles

Notes: This route was sponsored by the Muscatine-Des Moines Short Line Association.
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N
National Parks Pike

National Parks Pike


Termini: Madison, WI, and Yellowstone National Park

Cities along route:
  • Wisconsin: Madison and Prairie du Chien
  • Iowa: Mason City and Spencer
  • South Dakota: Canton, Sioux Falls, Chamberlain, and Rapid City
  • Wyoming: Gillette, Buffalo, Greybull, Cody, and Yellowstone National Park

Pres: H.M. van Auken
Sec: M.B. Kennedy

Date of registration: April 29, 1920

Iowa mileage:

Notes: This route was sponsored by the National Parks Pike Association.
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O
Okoboji Trail

Okoboji Trail


Termini: Des Moines, IA, and Arnolds Park, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Arnolds Park, Spencer, Spirit Lake, Carroll, Junction City, Perry, Johnston, and Des Moines

Pres: M.A. Lyon
Sec: H.C. Modlin

Date of registration: March 23, 1917

Iowa mileage: 185 miles

Notes: This route was sponsored by the Perry Bureau of Commerce Association.
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Old Military Trail

Old Military Trail


Termini: McGregor, IA, and Charles City, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: McGregor, Charles City

Pres: George Bieber
Sec: T.F. Schmitz

Date of registration: October 10, 1922. Date is uncertain.

Iowa mileage: 90 miles

Notes: This route was sponsored by the Old Military Trail Association.
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P
Perry Pike

Perry Pike


Termini: Ogden, IA, and Guthrie Center, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Ogden, Guthrie Center

Pres: M.G. Lyon
Sec: H.C. Modlin

Date of registration: December 22, 1916

Iowa mileage: 50 miles

Notes: This route was sponsored by the Perry Bureau of Commerce Association.
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Pershing Way

Pershing Way


Termini:Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and Lafayette, LA

Cities along route:
  • Manitoba: Winnipeg
  • Minnesota: Hallock, Crookston, Detroit Lakes, Sauk Centre, Hutchinson, and Mankato
  • Iowa: Mason City, Waterloo and Fairfield
  • Missouri: Batesville, Searcy, Little Rock, Sheridan, Fordyce, Camden, and El Dorado
  • Arkansas: Batesville, Searcy, Little Rock, Sheridan, Fordyce, Camden, and El Dorado
  • Louisiana: Ruston, Alexandria, Marksville, Opelousas, and Lafayette

Pres: C.H. Draper
Sec: Herbert McDougal

Date of registration: August 14, 1919

Iowa mileage: 50 miles

Notes: This route extended 1,800 miles and was sponsored by the Pershing Way Association.
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R
Rainbow Trail

Rainbow Trail


Termini: Hawarden to Dubuque

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Hawarden, Dubuque

Pres: Sherman French
Sec: Earl Slife, Fred Gefke

Date of registration: May 16, 1922

Iowa mileage: 300 miles

Notes: This route was sponsored by the Hawarden Booster Club.
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Red Ball Route

Red Ball Route


Termini: St. Paul, MN, and St. Louis, MO

Cities along route:
  • Minnesota: St. Paul, Faribault, Owatonna, and Austin
  • Iowa: Osage, Charles City, Waverly, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Mount Pleasant, and Keokuk
  • Missouri: St. Louis

Pres: Robert Carson
Sec: Robert Carson

Date of registration: January 2, 1915

Iowa mileage:

Notes: This route was considered of military importance and sponsored by the Red Ball Route Association.
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Red Line Route

Red Line Route


Termini: Missouri/Iowa state line and Villisca, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Villisca

Pres: H.W. Raynor
Sec: T.A. Harris

Date of registration: June 9, 1916

Iowa mileage: 53 miles

Notes: This route was sponsored by the Red Line Association.
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Red X Route

Red X Route


Termini:Iowa City, IA, and Dubuque, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Dubuque, Monticello, Anamosa, Mount Vernon, and Iowa City

Pres: Robert Carson
Sec: T.A. Harris

Date of registration: December 22, 1916

Iowa mileage: 87 miles

Notes: This route was sponsored by the Red X Route Association.
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River to River Route

River to River Route


Termini: Davenport, IA, and Council Bluffs, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Davenport, Iowa City, Newton, Des Moines, Guthrie Center, Elk Horn, and Council Bluffs

Pres: L.V. Russell
Sec: E.H. Spaulding

Date of registration: April 16, 1918

Iowa mileage: 316 miles

Notes: View the complete history of this route. Route of military importance was sponsored by the River to River Route Association. The portion of the route from Des Moines to Davenport was later designated Iowa 7 from Des Moines to Davenport, and now is U.S. 32. See the Great White Way route information for more details about this route. It was sponsored by the River to River ROAD Association
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S
Southwest Trails

Southwest Trails


Termini: Kansas City, MO, and Chicago, IL

Cities along route:
  • Illinois: Chicago, Joliet and LaSalle
  • Iowa: Davenport and Ottumwa
  • Missouri: Chillicothe and Kansas City

Pres: C.M. McFatridge
Sec: E.G. Hawk

Date of registration: June 28, 1915

Iowa mileage: 316 miles

Notes: This 540-mile route was sponsored by the Southwest Trails Association.
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Star Route

Star Route


Termini: Osceola, IA, and Des Moines, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Osceola, Des Moines

Pres: W.R. Mitchell
Sec: F.H. Hagen

Date of registration: December 1, 1917

Iowa mileage: 48 miles

Notes: This route was sponsored by the Red Star Line Association
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T
Tall Corn Trail

Tall Corn Trail


Termini: McGregor, IA, and Sioux City, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: McGregor, Sioux City

Pres: J.H. Moore
Sec: L.L. James

Date of registration: September 19, 1924

Iowa mileage: 48 miles

Notes: This route was sponsored by the Tall Corn Trail Association.
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Tourists Trail

Tourists Trail


Termini: Mount Ayr, IA, and Des Moines, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Mount Ayr, Des Moines

Pres: C.O. Freel
Sec: R.A. Walter

Date of registration: March 23, 1917

Iowa mileage: 92 miles

Notes:
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W
Washington Highway

Washington Highway


Termini: Washington, DC, and Seattle, WA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Dubuque, Mitchell

Pres: C.B. Santee
Sec: J.D. Thompson

Date of registration: March 23, 1917

Iowa mileage: 92 miles

Notes: This 3500-mile route was sponsored by the Washington Highway Association.
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Waubonsie Trail

Waubonsie Trail


Termini: Nebraska City, NE, and Keokuk, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Keokuk

Pres: C.F. Mitchell
Sec: C.A. Wenstrand

Date of registration: April 3, 1916

Iowa mileage: 92 miles

Notes: View the complete history of this route. This 289-mile route was sponsored by the Waubonsie Trail Association.
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Webster Trail

Webster Trail


Termini: Mount Pleasant, IA, and Keokuk, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Mount Pleasant, Keokuk

Pres: S.D. Garretson
Sec: Guy Hunting

Date of registration: April 21, 1921

Iowa mileage: 48 miles

Notes: This route was sponsored by the Webster Trail Good Roads Association.
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Whiteway-7-Highway

Whiteway-7-Highway


Termini: Chicago, IL, and Omaha, NE

Cities along route:
  • Illinois: Chicago, Joliet, Ottawa, Princeton, Geneseo, and Moline
  • Iowa: Davenport, Iowa City, Grinnell, Des Moines, Adel, Atlantic, and Council Bluffs
  • Nebraska: Omaha

Pres: D.R. Lane
Sec: Robert Carson

Date of registration: September 21, 1922

Iowa mileage:

Notes: View the complete history of this route. Corresponding U.S. highways include U.S. 66 and U.S. 6 in Iowa. According to the AAA tourist guide, this route eventually extended to Fort Lupton, Colorado. This 527-mile route was sponsored by the Whiteway 7 Highway Association. See the Great White Way route information for more details about this route.
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Wilson Highway

Wilson Highway


Termini: Iowa/Missouri state line south of Bedford and Emmons, MN

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Bedford

Pres: Parley Sheldon
Sec: Claude Campbell

Date of registration: September 13, 1918, amended June 24, 1920

Iowa mileage:

Notes: View the complete history of this route.This 273-mile route was named for President Woodrow Wilson. The route’s sponsor was the Wilson Highway Association. This route was later changed to US 69.
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Woodward-Ogden Cut-off

Woodward-Ogden Cut-off


Termini: Ogden, IA, and Des Moines, IA

Cities along route:
  • Iowa: Ogden, Des Moines

Pres: John Kelley
Sec: Jess Perry

Date of registration: December 4, 1918

Iowa mileage: 92 miles

Notes: This route was sponsored by the Woodward-Ogden Cut-off Association.
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