IAIowa Map
Iowa on the US map
Iowa sits in the Midwest region of the United States — specifically the plains subregion as defined by the US Census Bureau. With an area ranking of #26 of 50, Iowa is mid-sized for the United States. The map above highlights Iowa in gold and color-codes the 49 other states by region.
Whether you're a student studying US geography, a traveler planning a road trip, a teacher building a lesson plan, or simply curious, the goal of this page is to give you a complete picture of where Iowa is and what surrounds it. Click any other state on the map above to navigate to its dedicated page.
Capital and largest city
The capital of Iowa is Des Moines — which is also the largest city in the state. About 17 of the 50 US state capitals also hold the title of largest city; Iowa is one of them.
The historical reason for these mismatches dates to the late 18th and 19th centuries. When state founders chose capitals, they often deliberately picked smaller, more centrally located towns to avoid concentrating political and commercial power in the same place. They worried that a capital in a major port or commercial city would be too vulnerable to mob influence (a real concern at the time) and would skew political decisions toward commercial interests.
Borders and neighbors
Iowa shares land borders with 6 other US states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota. Each link goes to that state's dedicated page where you can see its own map, history, and facts.
Geographic features at a glance
- Total area rank: #26 of 50
- Population: 1 to 5 million
- Coastline: landlocked (no ocean access)
- Mountain ranges: no major mountain ranges
- Time zone: Central
- Region: Midwest — plains subregion
- Mississippi River: bordered or crossed by
- Missouri River: bordered or crossed by
Major highways and transportation
Iowa is connected to the rest of the country by the federal Interstate Highway System (planned by President Eisenhower in the 1950s). Major airports serve Des Moines, with regional connections to the rest of the state. Amtrak rail service connects parts of Iowa to the national passenger rail network, though geographic isolation and population density vary.
Iowa notable firsts
- Birthplace of one or more US presidents
🌟 Iowa trivia
- Iowa produces more corn than any other state — about 13 billion bushels per year.
- It's the only state bordered entirely by two rivers (Mississippi on the east, Missouri on the west).
- The Iowa caucus is the first electoral event of every US presidential primary cycle.
- "Field of Dreams" was filmed here — the baseball diamond is still there as a tourist attraction.
Iowa vs similar states
How does Iowa compare with 3 other states in the same region and size category?
| State | Capital | Pop | Area rank | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | Des Moines | 1 to 5 million | #26 | 1846 |
| Illinois | Springfield | over 10 million | #25 | 1818 |
| Indiana | Indianapolis | 5 to 10 million | #38 | 1816 |
| Kansas | Topeka | 1 to 5 million | #15 | 1861 |
Bordering states (6)
Iowa shares borders with 6 other US states, listed alphabetically below. Each link goes to the dedicated state page.
Practice US geography daily — free
Statedoku is a 3×3 daily geography puzzle. Iowa appears as an answer or constraint clue on most days that match its region, borders, time zone, or quirks. Five minutes a day.
Play today's puzzle →Similar states to Iowa
If this page interested you, you may also want to explore states with similar geography, history, or culture. These states share Iowa's region (Midwest) and similar size category: