Find a factory to tour for fun and learning!

Iowa factories to visit and tour

Iowa has factories to visit and tour. Below, first are the active, working factories. The next section has historical operations which often have demonstrations or renactments. These incluse both large and small operations, from several person chocolate factories and cheesemakers to large manufacturers making paper towels, wood products, beverage cans and bottles, are open to the public with real tours, exhibitions and fun education.

In some cases, such as a manufacturing process that is no longer in use, the only way to see it and learn about it is a museum or living history center. So, we also provide information about engineering facilities and museums, dinosaur digs, even government facilities, like NASA, astronomy oberservatories and more that are open to the public on certain days and times. And if there is some place that is just plain fun to visit, we add that, too!

These are perfect for homeschooling, for STEM and for fun! Kids love visiting these places! They're learning and getting an education without even realizing it. And most of these are either free or under $10! What's better then fun, entertaining, good for children and families, educational and free?

Here are some of the top factory tours in Iowa and contact information and tips about visiting them.

Factories, Engineering, Museums and other fun demonstrations and exhibits to visit in Iowa

  • Indian Motorcycle Factory Tour - motorcycle manufacturer
    Experience Center, 1900 Highway 71, Spirit Lake, IA 51360. Phone: (877) 204-3697. Email: factorytours@indianmotorcycle.com. Open: see their page. Indian Motorcycle's Medina, Minnesota facility provides tours where you can see the production of Indian motorcycles. Experience the craftsmanship and history behind these classic bikes.  Indian Motorcycle offers complimentary factory tours that take visitors behind the scenes to experience the bike assembly process — beginning with only an engine and ending with a completely assembled, fully operational bike coming right off the line. Guests will see our skilled staff in action, learn interesting details of the manufacturing process and observe many of the technology features of the world-class facility. Guided tour availability is limited and by appointment only. To schedule a tour, please call 712-336-3797 and choose option 4, or email us. No photography or cell phone usage is allowed during the tour.  Closed toe, flat shoes are required — no sandals allowed.  Must be age 5 or older.  If guided tours are unavailable during your visit, the Indian Motorcycle Experience Center is open with video tours available anytime Monday-Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. (CST) with the exception of holidays.
    Visit the all new Indian Motorcycle Experience Center, featuring unique and vintage Indian Motorcycles, engine displays, and factory exclusive merchandise. Open hours are Monday-Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. (CST) with the exception of holidays.
  • John Deere Tractor Cab Assembly Operations - Agricultural equipment manufacturing factory
    Waterloo, Iowa. Open: By appointment only: Monday to Friday at 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM. Factory Tours will be reserved on a first contacted, first reserved basis by appointment and based on availability. Tour details:
    John Deere Tractor Cab Assembly Operations is home to the final assembly of 7, 8 and 9 Series tractors. We also have a gift shop stocked with John Deere clothes, toys, and accessories.
    Tour experience lasts 1.5 hours and is riding-only.
    Tours start promptly at the respective tour times.
    All guests must be 13 years of age or older. Proof of age may required (ex: drivers license, birth certificate).
    Minors (ages 13-17) must be accompanied by an adult.
    Wear long pants and closed-toe and closed-heel shoes; no sandals or open-toed shoes allowed.
    The use of cell phones for photography, videography of any kind is not permitted in the factory.
    Please leave your cell phones in your vehicle. If you choose to bring them in, they will be secured in the lobby for the duration of your tour.
    Personal cameras and video cameras are not allowed.
    We will provide safety glasses onsite, if you do not have your own.
  • John Deere Des Moines Works - Agricultural equipment manufacturing factory
    825 SW Irvinedale Drive, Ankeny, IA 50023. Email: NXVisitorServices@johndeere.com. School/student groups tours, email NXVisitorServices@JohnDeere.com. Open: Public tours are hosted on Wednesdays from June through the end of September at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Public tours require pre-registration; registration is based on availability. Email NXVisitorServices@johndeere.com to check public tour availability, gather details on current tour policies, and request a factory tour. A gift shop open to the public Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., CST filled with custom John Deere clothes, toys, and accessories John Deere Des Moines Works manufactures Sprayers, Cotton Pickers, Cotton Strippers, Grain and Tillage tools. In 2023, John Deere Des Moines Works offers public riding tours, gold key tours, and specialty market tours.
    Gold key and specialty market tours must be arranged through your local John Deere dealer or representative.
    Exclamation point illustration Tour details
    Standard factory riding tours last 2 to 2.5 hours.
    Roster with full legal names of each guest and last 4 digits of government-issued photo ID (driver's license/passport) must be provided in advance of all factory tours.
    Guests 18 years of age and older must present government-issued photo ID upon arrival.
    All participants must be at least 13 years old. No exceptions.
    Minors (13-17) must be accompanied by an adult.
    No video recording or photography permitted.
    Shoes with closed toe and heel are required. No sandals
    Long pants are required. No shorts, skirts or dresses.
    Simple worker with hardhat illustration Contact us

  • John Deere Davenport Works - Agricultural equipment manufacturing factory
    1175 East 90th Street, Davenport, IA 52807. Email: CFTours@JohnDeere.com for public tours, dealers and customer. Email: QCCommunityContact@JohnDeere.com for Student/school tours.
    Open: See johndeeretours.deere.com to check tour availability, view current tour policies, and request a factory tour. John Deere Davenport Works manufactures 4WD loaders, motor graders, articulated dump trucks, skidders and wheeled feller bunchers. In 2023, John Deere Davenport Works is offering factory riding tours, Gold Key tours, and CBD customer tours.
    Standard factory riding tours last 1 to 1.5 hours.
    Roster will full legal names of each guest must be provided in advance of all factory tours.
    Guests 18 years of age and older must present government-issued photo ID upon arrival.
    All participants must be at least 13 years old. No exceptions.
    Minors (13-17) must be accompanied by an adult.
    No video recording or photography permitted.
    Shoes with closed toe and heel are required. No sandals.
    Long pants are required. No shorts, skirts or dresses.
  • John Deere Dubuque Works - Agricultural equipment manufacturing factory
    18600 South John Deere Road, Dubuque, IA 52001. Open: See johndeeretours.deere.com to check tour availability, view current tour policies, and request a factory tour. John Deere Dubuque Works manufactures backhoes, crawler dozers, skid steer loaders, tracked feller bunchers, tracked harvesters and knuckleboom loaders.
    Standard factory riding tours last 1 to 1.5 hours.
    Roster will full legal names of each guest must be provided in advance of all factory tours.
    Guests 18 years of age and older must present government-issued photo ID upon arrival.
    All participants must be at least 13 years old. No exceptions.
    Minors (13-17) must be accompanied by an adult.
    No video recording or photography permitted.
    Shoes with closed toe and heel are required. No sandals.
    Long pants are required. No shorts, skirts or dresses.
    Dealer, customer and public tours: Contact CFTours@JohnDeere.com.
    Gold Key customer tours: Contact your local John Deere dealer.
    CBD customer tours: Contact your John Deere CBD manager.
  • Kendrick Forest Products - Sawmill, lumber, wood manufacturer
    601 S. Washington St., Edgewood, IA 52042. 888-312-2995. Email: tours@kendrickinc.com. Open: KFP leads guided head set tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:30am, by appointment.
    Cost is $5/person in 2023. Reservations are required. The walking tour takes 1-2 hours, depending on the group From the forest to the kitchen, this tour leads you through the entire process. Visit Edgewood, Iowa to tour and learn about the Kendrick, Inc. brand of family's of businesses. Learn how Tim and Rhonda Kendrick, along with their four children and now over 150 employees were able to turn one successful company into a family of five companies. You will begin your tour at Kendrick Forest Products, Iowa's largest sawmill, and the first of the family businesses, established in 1983. Next you will tour their custom cabinet shop, Forever Cabinets by Kendrick (est. 2001), where you will see how cabinets are made for the home. Next you will see and learn how the Kendrick Team used their desire to eliminate waste and create quality wood products led them to the start of two additional companies in 2017, Kendrick Home and Shimlee. Kendrick Home prints designs onto wooden signs, and sells them wholesale to other retailers such as the mom and pop shop down the street all the way to large retailers, such as Home Goods.No children under the age of 5, all other youth must be accompanied by an adult.

Iowa Historical Forts and Sites, Famous buildings, Active Federal facilities to tour, Geology: like fossils and volcanic areas

Iowa State historic sites and parks

These are state-run parks, museums and historic sites that present the history of some manufacturing process, industry, or living settlement

Iowa Seasons, bugs, topography and climate

Iowa has 4 distinct seasons:. Winters are cold, with January temperatures averaging about 14 °F (−10 °C) in the northwestern section of the state and in the low 20s F (about −6 °C) in the southeast.

Bugs are thankfully few!

Camping in Iowa

If you're looking to save money on your trip, camping may be a fun alternative to hotels and motels, especially, if you already have the gear, or are looking to get some. BTW, this websites ( https://RoadTrippingAndCamping.com ) explains everything you need to know about camping gear and where to the best gear at the lowest prices.

State park camping is available year-round in most places depending upon weather conditions. Heavy snowfalls may prevent access to the campground as not all roads are routinely maintained. Modern conveniences such as water, flush toilets and shower buildings are closed during the winter months. It is recommended that campers may want to call ahead and check the weather and road conditions before heading out to camp.


Camping Guidelines
Camping is permitted only in designated areas. Camping is restricted to one basic unit per site except that a tent may be placed on the site with the basic unit. The area occupied by the small tent shall be no more than 8 feet by 10 feet and the tent shall hold no more than four people.

There are both state parks and private campgrounds in Iowa.