WWingAwayWEEKENDSFly to lunchDestination guide 166
Iowa · Couples · Two nights

Amana Colonies & Iowa City

Old-world villages and a literary college town.

The Amana Colonies are seven villages built by German immigrants in the 1850s, now full of craft shops, a working woolen mill, a brewery and family-style restaurants. Pair them with Iowa City, a UNESCO City of Literature with a famous independent bookstore, a lively downtown and the Old Capitol.

Historic villagesFamily-style diningCollege town
See the weekend itineraryFlight & arrival details
The canal in Amana, one of the seven Amana Colonies villages
The canal in Amana
YOUR ROUTEKMYR to KIOW
STRAIGHT-LINE DISTANCE~765 NM
ILLUSTRATIVE FLIGHT TIME~5 hr 21 min
WEEKEND STYLETwo nights · Rental car

Time illustration: direct distance at 150 KTAS plus 15 minutes for departure and arrival, matching the discovery page. Use ForeFlight for your actual flight plan.

01 / Aviation & getting around

Land at Iowa City.

KIOW, Iowa City Municipal, is a non-towered field with a 5,000-foot runway, close to downtown and about 25 minutes from Amana.

The FBO

Jet Air

Iowa City Municipal Airport, Iowa City, IA

319-248-1200

Confirm FBO hours, fees and ground transportation. No live fuel price is shown.

Midwest weather: summer thunderstorms and haze, gusty winds on the plains, and icing and low ceilings from late fall through winter. About 760 nm from Myrtle Beach: plan a fuel stop and three nights.

02 / Where to stay

A boutique hotel downtown.

Rates and availability need travel dates. Hawkeye football weekends book early.

03 / Where to eat

Family-style dinners and a social club.

Reserve weekend dinners.

04 / Things to do

Villages, wool and books.

One colony day, one Iowa City day.

01

The Amana Colonies

Seven villages of shops, museums and bakeries.

Amana Colonies
02

Amana Woolen Mill

A working mill since 1857.

Woolen Mill
03

Millstream Brewing

Iowa’s oldest craft brewery, in Amana.

Brewery
04

Prairie Lights

A famous independent bookstore.

Bookstore
05 / What’s happening

Sometimes the season is the reason to fly.

This prototype links to the local visitor site. It does not yet match events to your travel dates.

Fall

Hawkeye football

Game days fill Iowa City.

Concerts, festivals & local happenings

Check the local calendar when choosing a weekend, and confirm dates and tickets with the organizer.

Browse Amana Colonies events
06 / Suggested itinerary

Friday in. Sunday home.

A sample long weekend: villages and a college town. Plan three nights for the flight. No bookings or availability confirmed.

DAY 1

Arrive

  1. Arrival

    Land at KIOW, subject to weather, your fuel stop and your actual flight plan.

  2. Afternoon

    Walk downtown Iowa City and Prairie Lights.

  3. Evening

    Dinner at Clinton Street Social.

DAY 2

Explore

  1. Morning

    The Amana villages and woolen mill.

  2. Afternoon

    Millstream Brewing.

  3. Evening

    Family-style dinner at the Ox Yoke.

DAY 3

Morning & home

  1. Morning

    The Old Capitol.

  2. Before leaving

    Allow time at the airport.

  3. Fly home

    Summer thunderstorms build in the afternoon; leave early.

07 / Good to know

Keep the weekend easy to change.

These details make the difference between an appealing list and a usable getaway.

Book in this order

Lodging first.

Long flight

About 765 nm. Plan a fuel stop and three nights.

Football

Check the Hawkeyes schedule.

Best seasons

May to October; December for holidays.

Reviewed · Destination 166

Reviewed November 5, 2026.

Picks and links reviewed by WingAway Weekends. Hours, prices, menus and availability change often, so confirm directly with each place before booking.

WingAway Weekends helps you discover the destination. Use ForeFlight and current official aviation information for route, performance, weather, NOTAMs and preflight decisions. Flight planning and PIC responsibility stay with the pilot.