Key takeaways
What this check tells you
Concentration
In Best Viewpoints, the top 3 spots (Effigy Mounds National Monument, Pikes Peak State Park, Loess Hills) pull 35.1% of mentions versus the 10.7% you'd expect if all attractions were recommended evenly.
Concentration
Best Historical Attractions shows similarly heavy concentration, with Amana Colonies, Effigy Mounds National Monument, and Herbert Hoover National Historic Site capturing 32.9% of mentions against an expected 8.6%.
Movement
Best Restaurants is the most volatile tracked category, with all 59 of 59 tracked entities changing position between the August 26 and September 3 checks.
Distinctiveness
Iowa's distinctiveness score is 0%, well below the network average of 14.6%, meaning its top picks look more like the typical AI answer set than most destinations.
Lead finding
Iowa's road trips and scenic drives theme scores just 10% distinctiveness versus the 25% network average, despite the state's own homepage spotlighting its "Build a Road Trip" feature.
AI assistants significantly underrepresent Iowa's road trips and scenic drives offering, scoring only 10% distinctiveness against a 25% network average — a notable gap given the theme's prominence on Iowa's own homepage navigation. Where Iowa does show up, sentiment is overwhelmingly positive: 96% of 313 rated mentions are positive, with 3% neutral and 0% negative. AI conversations currently anchor Iowa around farm-to-table as its core theme, supported by budget-friendly comfort food, fine dining, local culture, and outdoor activities. The disconnect between Iowa's marketed scenic drive experiences and their near-absence in AI answers represents a clear visibility opportunity.
How AI sees Iowa
Across the prompts we've tracked, AI most consistently associates Iowa with:
farm-to-tablebudget-friendlyagricultureComfort foodculinary scenefamily-friendlyfarm-to-table diningFine Dininglocal cuisineLocal Culture
How Iowa benchmarks
Confirmed-open rate
Iowa
78%
Network average
81%
Distinctiveness
Iowa
0%
Network average
11%
Presence rate
Iowa
0%
Network average
11%
Iowa's AI benchmark numbers compared to the network average across all tracked destinations.
Each metric shows two bars: Iowa's rate and the network average for that metric, so you can see how it compares. See how these scores are calculated.
Presence beyond Iowa-specific questions
How often Iowa comes up in regional and national AI questions that aren't specifically about it (out of 12 tracked questions, as of Sep 15, 2026):
See all questions
Two-Week Must-See Itinerary in the United States — Direct
Not mentioned
Two-Week Must-See Itinerary in the United States — Conversational
Not mentioned
Two-Week Must-See Itinerary in the United States — Recommendation
Not mentioned
Best Winter Destinations in the United States — Direct
Not mentioned
Best Winter Destinations in the United States — Conversational
Not mentioned
Best Winter Destinations in the United States — Recommendation
Not mentioned
Best Foodie Cities in the United States — Direct
Not mentioned
Best Foodie Cities in the United States — Conversational
Not mentioned
Best Foodie Cities in the United States — Recommendation
Not mentioned
Best Romantic Weekend Destinations in the United States — Direct
Not mentioned
Best Romantic Weekend Destinations in the United States — Conversational
Not mentioned
Best Romantic Weekend Destinations in the United States — Recommendation
Not mentioned
Where AI might be wrong
Django
— Best Fine-Dining Restaurants(+1 more)
Closed
Flagged closed by 1 source, still recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and GPT-4o.
Django’s official website states, “DJANGO IS NOW CLOSED,” and Business Record reports that the restaurant will permanently close, with its final day of service scheduled for March 14, 2026.
SourceMotel 6
— Best Budget Hotels
Closed
Flagged closed by 1 source, still recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and GPT-4o and Perplexity Sonar.
The Motel 6 at 2670 Dodge St, Dubuque, Iowa is marked “Permanently closed” by MapQuest.
SourceSuper 8
— Best Budget Hotels
Closed
Flagged closed by 1 source, still recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and GPT-4o.
Super 8 by Wyndham Adair IA is permanently closed, according to MapQuest’s listing.
Source
Top picks by traveler intent
Rankings: Volatile
59 places moved rank this check
48 new3 in & out
Cobble Hill
16 of 32
rank #2–#12
Breitbach's Country Dining
13 of 32
rank #3–#12
Zombie Burger↔
13 of 32
rank #1–#5
CentroNew
10 of 32
rank #1–#3
DjangoNew
10 of 32
rank #2–#6
Pullman Bar & Diner
10 of 32
rank #2–#10
DevotayNew
9 of 32
rank #4–#7
Harbinger
9 of 32
rank #1–#8
Rankings: Volatile
25 places moved rank this check
18 new
Hotel Fort Des Moines
20 of 30
rank #1–#4
Graduate Iowa CityNew
17 of 30
rank #4–#7
Hotel Julien Dubuque
17 of 30
rank #1–#8
The Hotel at Kirkwood Center
14 of 30
rank #1–#6
Hotel Blackhawk
13 of 30
rank #1–#4
The Current Iowa
13 of 30
rank #2–#6
The Surety Hotel
13 of 30
rank #1–#6
The Merrill HotelNew
9 of 30
rank #2–#5
Rankings: Volatile
42 places moved rank this check
27 new
Field of Dreams Movie Site
27 of 30
rank #1–#10
Effigy Mounds National Monument
26 of 30
rank #1–#10
Maquoketa Caves State Park
25 of 30
rank #2–#9
Amana Colonies
23 of 30
rank #1–#14
Pikes Peak State Park
22 of 30
rank #2–#9
Iowa State Capitol
21 of 30
rank #1–#15
Bridges of Madison County
17 of 30
rank #2–#17
Iowa State Fair
16 of 30
rank #2–#17
Rankings: Volatile
38 places moved rank this check
25 new
Hotel Julien Dubuque
22 of 30
rank #1–#6
Hotel Blackhawk
11 of 30
rank #1–#7
Hotel Pattee
10 of 30
rank #2–#9
Des Lux Hotel
9 of 30
rank #2–#7
Hotel Winneshiek
8 of 30
rank #1–#10
The Highlander Hotel
8 of 30
rank #2–#11
The Surety Hotel
8 of 30
rank #1–#9
Hotel Fort Des Moines
7 of 30
rank #1–#5
Rankings: Volatile
45 places moved rank this check
29 new
Blank Park Zoo
27 of 30
rank #1–#5
Science Center of Iowa
27 of 30
rank #1–#8
Adventureland
26 of 30
rank #1–#8
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
26 of 30
rank #2–#12
Living History Farms
23 of 30
rank #2–#10
Field of Dreams Movie Site
16 of 30
rank #4–#19
Maquoketa Caves State Park
16 of 30
rank #6–#12
Iowa Children’s Museum
15 of 30
rank #1–#13
Rankings: Volatile
76 places moved rank this check
60 new6 returning4 in & out
Hamburg Inn No. 2
18 of 37
rank #1–#10
Maid-Rite
16 of 37
rank #1–#16
Tasty Tacos
15 of 37
rank #1–#8
Zombie Burger↔
15 of 37
rank #1–#5
Hickory Park↔
11 of 37
rank #1–#13
Casey's General Store↔
10 of 37
rank #7–#15
Short's Burger & ShineBack
10 of 37
rank #5–#10
DevotayNew
8 of 37
rank #5–#9
See more categories
Rankings: Volatile
36 places moved rank this check
25 new11 in & out
Amana Colonies↔
27 of 32
rank #1–#10
Pella↔
20 of 32
rank #1–#12
Decorah Driftless Area↔
13 of 32
rank #1–#11
Effigy Mounds National MonumentNew
13 of 32
rank #2–#10
Winterset↔
12 of 32
rank #1–#17
Ledges State ParkNew
10 of 32
rank #1–#6
Bridges of Madison County↔
9 of 32
rank #3–#18
Maquoketa Caves State ParkNew
8 of 32
rank #2–#8
Rankings: Volatile
60 places moved rank this check
47 new2 in & out
Iowa State Fair
25 of 32
rank #1–#10
Maid-Rite
19 of 32
rank #1–#17
Amana ColoniesNew
18 of 32
rank #2–#6
Sweet Corn↔
11 of 32
rank #2–#15
Breaded Pork Tenderloin SandwichNew
9 of 32
rank #1–#16
Archie’s Waeside
8 of 32
rank #4–#14
Downtown Des Moines Farmers' Market
8 of 32
rank #3–#16
Ox Yoke Inn
7 of 32
rank #5–#9
Rankings: Volatile
71 places moved rank this check
55 new5 in & out
Grotto of the Redemption
29 of 32
rank #1–#13
Maquoketa Caves State Park
26 of 32
rank #1–#8
Effigy Mounds National MonumentNew
21 of 32
rank #1–#18
Pikes Peak State Park
19 of 32
rank #1–#15
Loess Hills
18 of 32
rank #1–#14
Matchstick Marvels
13 of 32
rank #3–#12
American Gothic House
12 of 32
rank #2–#15
Amana ColoniesNew
10 of 32
rank #3–#12
Rankings: Volatile
38 places moved rank this check
31 new5 in & out
Days Inn↔
16 of 31
rank #3–#10
Super 8↔
13 of 31
rank #1–#9
Motel 6↔
12 of 31
rank #1–#6
Hampton InnNew
9 of 31
rank #1–#9
Cedar Rapids
8 of 31
rank #1–#10
Drury Inn & Suites West Des Moines
8 of 31
rank #1–#10
Quality Inn & Suites Davenport Near I-80↔
8 of 31
rank #3–#10
Baymont by Wyndham Des Moines AirportNew
7 of 31
rank #1–#6
Rankings: Volatile
43 places moved rank this check
35 new2 in & out
Orchard Green↔
21 of 31
rank #1–#8
Cobble Hill
20 of 31
rank #1–#9
801 Chophouse
14 of 31
rank #1–#5
DjangoNew
12 of 31
rank #1–#3
CentroNew
11 of 31
rank #1–#5
AlbaNew
10 of 31
rank #1–#5
DevotayNew
9 of 31
rank #5–#6
The Webster
9 of 31
rank #2–#10
Rankings: Volatile
50 places moved rank this check
36 new8 in & out
Maid-Rite
19 of 31
rank #1–#11
Machine Shed↔
16 of 31
rank #1–#13
Ox Yoke Inn↔
14 of 31
rank #2–#10
Breitbach's Country Dining↔
12 of 31
rank #1–#13
Hamburg Inn No. 2↔
9 of 31
rank #4–#10
Northside CafeNew
9 of 31
rank #1–#10
Canteen Lunch in the Alley↔
8 of 31
rank #1–#10
Ronneburg RestaurantNew
8 of 31
rank #3–#13
Rankings: Volatile
29 places moved rank this check
18 new
Hotel Julien Dubuque
22 of 30
rank #1–#9
Hotel Pattee
15 of 30
rank #1–#8
Hotel Grinnell
13 of 30
rank #1–#5
The Surety Hotel
13 of 30
rank #1–#10
Des Lux Hotel
12 of 30
rank #3–#14
Hotel BlackhawkNew
11 of 30
rank #2–#7
Hotel Fort Des Moines
10 of 30
rank #1–#9
Hotel VetroNew
9 of 30
rank #3–#10
Rankings: Volatile
38 places moved rank this check
30 new
Grand Harbor Resort and Waterpark
24 of 30
rank #1–#8
King’s Pointe Resort
11 of 30
rank #1–#7
Adventureland
10 of 30
rank #1–#4
Hotel Julien DubuqueNew
10 of 30
rank #1–#9
Embassy Suites Des Moines Downtown
9 of 30
rank #1–#6
Hampton InnNew
7 of 30
rank #2–#10
Hotel Blackhawk
7 of 30
rank #5–#9
Stoney Creek Hotel
7 of 30
rank #2–#7
Rankings: Volatile
35 places moved rank this check
21 new6 in & out
Amana Colonies
27 of 30
rank #1–#6
Effigy Mounds National Monument
27 of 30
rank #1–#3
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site↔
24 of 30
rank #1–#6
Iowa State Capitol↔
18 of 30
rank #3–#11
Living History Farms↔
17 of 30
rank #3–#12
Sergeant Floyd Monument
12 of 30
rank #2–#10
Villisca Ax Murder House
11 of 30
rank #4–#11
Bridges of Madison County↔
9 of 30
rank #5–#12
Rankings: Volatile
77 places moved rank this check
62 new
Iowa State Fair
20 of 30
rank #1–#14
Amana Colonies
17 of 30
rank #2–#12
PellaNew
14 of 30
rank #1–#14
RAGBRAI
12 of 30
rank #1–#13
Downtown Des Moines Farmers' Market
11 of 30
rank #1–#9
Field of Dreams Movie Site
11 of 30
rank #2–#13
Effigy Mounds National Monument
10 of 30
rank #4–#14
Loess Hills
9 of 30
rank #4–#9
Rankings: Volatile
47 places moved rank this check
31 new
Science Center of Iowa
25 of 30
rank #1–#10
Figge Art Museum
20 of 30
rank #2–#8
Des Moines Art Center
16 of 30
rank #1–#10
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
16 of 30
rank #1–#13
State Historical Museum of IowaNew
14 of 30
rank #1–#7
National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
12 of 30
rank #2–#10
Climb Iowa
10 of 30
rank #1–#16
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
8 of 30
rank #1–#11
Rankings: Volatile
49 places moved rank this check
39 new
Orchard Green
16 of 30
rank #1–#8
Cobble Hill
13 of 30
rank #1–#11
DjangoNew
13 of 30
rank #1–#12
CentroNew
12 of 30
rank #1–#4
DevotayNew
10 of 30
rank #3–#5
The Class ActNew
9 of 30
rank #2–#12
801 Chophouse
6 of 30
rank #1–#5
AlbaNew
6 of 30
rank #2–#4
Rankings: Volatile
28 places moved rank this check
20 new
Pikes Peak State Park
27 of 30
rank #1–#5
Effigy Mounds National Monument
23 of 30
rank #1–#7
Loess HillsNew
21 of 30
rank #1–#6
Ledges State Park
20 of 30
rank #3–#10
Backbone State ParkNew
12 of 30
rank #3–#9
Maquoketa Caves State ParkNew
11 of 30
rank #2–#10
Preparation Canyon State Park
11 of 30
rank #2–#7
Hitchcock Nature Center Tower
10 of 30
rank #1–#8
Rankings: Volatile
71 places moved rank this check
53 new
Seven Oaks Recreation
20 of 30
rank #1–#8
Amana Colonies
19 of 30
rank #6–#28
Sundown Mountain
19 of 30
rank #1–#13
University of Okoboji Winter Games
14 of 30
rank #1–#18
Brenton Skating PlazaNew
10 of 30
rank #1–#9
Jolly Holiday LightsNew
10 of 30
rank #5–#15
Ledges State Park
10 of 30
rank #3–#13
National Mississippi River Museum & AquariumNew
10 of 30
rank #5–#18
Where Perplexity's answers about Iowa come from
The web domains Perplexity's live search pulled most while answering tracked travel questions about
Iowa (last 90 days). ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini aren't grounded in our tracking yet.
See the network-wide ranking.
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Other U.S. destinations TakeScout tracks