Fort Dodge, Iowa, was a highlight on my recent Iowa road trip. I spent several days there kayaking, exploring local history, making odd roadside stops, and even riding through an OHV park.
If you’re looking for things to do in Fort Dodge, Iowa, these were the places that stood out most to me.
Thank you to Visit Fort Dodge for arranging my visit. Everything here is based on my real experience.
Quick List: Best Things to Do in Fort Dodge, Iowa
I spent several days visiting the area, but if you have limited time, here are my five can’t-miss picks for things to do in Fort Dodge.
Outdoor Things to Do in Fort Dodge
Kayak at Brushy Creek State Recreation Area
I love an early-morning still-water paddle, and since Brushy Creek Lake is a no-wake lake, it’s an incredibly peaceful place to kayak. I went with a Webster County Conservation guide. We met at the South Boat Ramp and paddled around a little island, exploring a few quiet inlets and coves.
I spotted a deer standing along the shoreline, as well as woodpeckers and many other birds. The weathered tree trunks rising from the water made the whole lake feel truly unique.
In addition to kayaking, Brushy Creek State Recreation Area offers horseback riding trails, hiking and biking paths, and several fishing areas throughout the park.
Visit Dolliver Memorial State Park
After kayaking, I squeezed in a quick stop at Dolliver Memorial State Park on my way back to Fort Dodge. I didn’t leave myself nearly enough time to explore it properly, but the park immediately moved to the top of my return list. Trails through Copperas Beds and Boneyard Hollow pass sandstone cliffs, layered rock formations, and narrow creekside paths that feel very un-Iowa.
Even on a quick stop, I still paused to read the Dolliver Memorial plaque and get a little background on the park’s history.
Explore Gypsum City OHV Park
If you have your own OHV, Gypsum City OHV Park in Fort Dodge is a pretty impressive setup. I don’t ride myself, but I still wanted to see the park because people travel from all over the Midwest to use its trails.
I rode through the park with a staff member. Built on former gypsum-mining land, the park now has more than 65 miles of OHV trails in three sections, along with motocross tracks, a skills course, and beginner riding areas. We rode on the Phase 1 trail system. The trails wind through open terrain, around ponds, and through wooded areas, with clear markers showing travel direction, difficulty level, and permitted machines.
Even as someone who doesn’t personally ride, I get why people are willing to drive hours to spend a weekend here. Honestly, it was a lot more fun than I expected.
Walk Through Terry Moehnke Veterans Memorial Park and Children’s Forest
Terry Moehnke Veterans Memorial Park is centered around a natural amphitheater overlooking the lake, with memorials, public art, and walking paths throughout. It’s a quiet place for a walk or a break between stops around Fort Dodge.
Adjoining it is the Children’s Forest, where a loop trail takes you through the pages of a storybook. The area also includes several wooden Lorax characters carved from ash trees killed by the emerald ash borer. Chainsaw sculptor Gary Keenan from Des Moines created the sculptures, and honestly, I liked them just as much as kids probably do.
Landmarks and Unique Stops
See the Fort Dodge Grain Silo Mural
One of the most recognizable landmarks in Fort Dodge is the massive 110-foot-tall mural painted across several grain silos. Created by international mural artist Guido van Helten, the artwork features large-scale portraits of residents holding pottery, a tie to the city’s history of clay and gypsum production.
Up close, I could see the detail in the faces and the pottery pieces people were holding. Stepping back made it easier to take in how the images stretched across multiple silos. It’s one of the most photographed spots in town, and it ended up being one of my favorite photo stops in Fort Dodge.
Stop at the Floyd of Rosedale Statue
The Floyd of Rosedale statue in Fort Dodge is a tribute to the famous prize hog tied to the Iowa–Minnesota football rivalry. The original pig came from Rosedale Farms and became part of a 1935 wager between the two states’ governors after a controversial game, leading to the Floyd of Rosedale trophy, which is still awarded today. Floyd stands 14 feet tall and is 15 feet long, and makes a fun and unusual photo stop.
Visit the Webster County Freedom Rock
The Webster County Freedom Rock in Fort Dodge is part of a statewide series honoring veterans. It was painted by artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II, whose goal has been to create one Freedom Rock in each Iowa county.
I’d seen another Freedom Rock in Fairfield before, so I had a general idea of what to expect, but each one is different. Here, one side focuses on the challenges veterans face after returning home, with imagery related to PTSD and homelessness, while the other side highlights specific individuals and military service.
Art and Creative Experiences in Fort Dodge
Create Your Own Art at Studio Fusion
Studio Fusion is a DIY art studio where you can choose from several types of projects, including glass fusion, pottery painting, canvas painting, mosaics, and Shardworx. They offer classes and private parties, but it mostly runs as an open studio, so you can stop in and start a project without an appointment.
I’m not a particularly creative person (read: zero artistic talent), but I still have fun with it. My friend and I tried fused glass, and both made spoon rests. We started with a clear piece of glass, then built our designs on top using bits of colored glass. Once fired, it all melts together into one piece.
Explore the Blanden Memorial Art Museum
The Blanden Memorial Art Museum was built in 1932; it was the first museum in Iowa designed specifically as an art museum. Admission is also free.
The exhibits rotate regularly and pull from a permanent collection of more than 1,500 pieces. When I visited, one gallery was built around a theme of movement and time, with a mobile as the centerpiece and other works arranged to echo its shapes and colors. Another space featured a portrait series tied to a medical condition, while another gallery highlighted regional and local artists working in different media.
Historic Sites in Fort Dodge
Explore Fort Museum and Frontier Village
I thought I’d spend a quick hour at the Fort Museum and Frontier Village, but there’s a lot spread across the property. Between the exhibits, historic buildings, and artifact-filled Frontier Village, I ended up wandering around much longer than I planned.
The site includes a reconstructed fort and original 1850s log structures, including the oldest surviving building from the original military post. The Frontier Village recreates an 1860s town with a schoolhouse, jail, general store, and livery stable, all filled with artifacts.
Exhibits cover everything from early settlement to local industry, along with a few unexpected pieces like the Cardiff Giant, a recreation of a famous 1800s hoax carved from gypsum. Honestly, that alone was worth the visit to me.
Family-Friendly Attractions
Visit Matt Cosgrove River’s Edge Discovery Center
The Matt Cosgrove River’s Edge Discovery Center focuses on Iowa waterways, wildlife, wetlands, and conservation through hands-on exhibits and interactive displays. The building overlooks the Des Moines River and connects to walking trails and outdoor recreation areas along the water.
I liked that the exhibits felt very hands-on, rather than just rows of signs to read. Kids can paddle a pretend boat, measure their wingspan, and flip a giant lever that powers a machine demonstrating evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. It basically has all the buttons, noise, and moving parts kids love. There are also wildlife exhibits, colorful murals, and displays tied to the local environment and river system.
Play at Fort Frenzy
Fort Frenzy is a massive family entertainment center packed with activities including a giant arcade, go-karts, laser tag, mini golf, bumper cars, and more. It was much bigger than I expected, and every time I turned a corner there seemed to be another attraction tucked inside. Just when I thought I’d seen everything, I realized there were even more activities outside.
I tend to gravitate straight toward skeeball and arcade games, but I also peeked inside the laser tag arena, which was full of glowing little nooks and crannies to hide in. Kids could spend hours here. Honestly, adults probably could too.
Browse the Fort Dodge Farmers Market
The Fort Dodge Farmers Market mixes produce vendors with baked goods, flowers, handmade items, specialty foods, and other small businesses. I always end up making a beeline for the local honey and homemade treats whenever I visit a farmers’ market, and this one had plenty to browse.
Where to Eat and Drink
I tried quite a few local restaurants, coffee shops, and dessert stops while I was in town, so I’m putting together a separate guide to the best places to eat in Fort Dodge with all my favorites. (Stay tuned.)
A few highlights from my trip included Korean food at Gaga and Hoo, breakfast at Stella’s Coffee Shop, and pizza at Shiny Top Brewing. I also made it out to Soldier Creek Winery, which focuses on wines made with Iowa-grown grapes.
Where to Stay in Fort Dodge
Most of the main hotels in Fort Dodge are clustered near the highway and shopping areas, making it easy to reach both downtown and outdoor attractions.
A few options to consider include:
- Brookstone Inn & Suites (This is where I stayed.)
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites
- Gypsum City OHV Park: Camping and tiny homes
Final Thoughts
I genuinely loved my time in Fort Dodge. It’s the kind of place where I kept adding “one more stop” to my day and somehow still ran out of time.
Between the outdoor activities, local history, and quirky attractions, Fort Dodge ended up being one of the most memorable stops on my Iowa road trip. I left already thinking about what I wanted to come back and see next time.
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