Route Description
Iowa Highway 1 begins at a T-intersection with Iowa 2 in rural Van Buren County, south of Keosauqua. It passes through gently rolling farmland for 10 miles (16 km) before entering the Des Moines River valley adjacent to Lacey Keosauqua State Park. The highway crosses the Des Moines River and enters Keosauqua along Main Street. At Broad Street, Iowa 1 turned north and headed out of town. Between Keosauqua and the southern junction with Iowa 16, the highway runs parallel to the Des Moines River, the river's course bending sharply around Keosauqua. South of Birmingham, Iowa 1 briefly overlaps Iowa 16 for 2 miles (3.2 km). The next 7 miles (11 km) run due north passing through Birmingham, before the highway crosses Cedar Creek south of Fairfield.
On the south side of Fairfield, the highway meets the new U.S. Route 34 / Iowa Highway 163 bypass at a partial cloverleaf interchange. Highway 1 enters Fairfield along Main Street. For one block, Iowa 1 overlaps US 34 Business on Burlington Street before turning onto Second Street. Along Second Street, the highway passes under a BNSF Railway / Amtrak viaduct. North of the viaduct, Iowa 1 turns west for two blocks along Merrill Avenue and turns north again onto Fourth Street. On the northern edge of Fairfield, the highway passes next to Maharishi International University.
North of Fairfield, Iowa 1 passes the Fairfield Municipal Airport and Maharishi Vedic City. For the next 9 miles (14 km), the highway continues due north through Jefferson and Keokuk County. Southeast of Richland, Iowa 1 meets Iowa 78 at a T-intersection. Heading east from this intersection, Highways 1 and 78 overlap for 71⁄2 miles (12 km) until entering Brighton on Fountain Street. Iowa 1 splits off to the north onto Benton Street while Iowa 78 turns to the south and east. North of Brighton, it crosses the Skunk River and passes through the river's 1-mile (1.6 km) wide valley. For 9 miles (14 km), Iowa 1 passes through southern Washington County heading northeast towards Washington.
At Washington, Iowa 1 intersects Iowa 92 on the southwestern edge of town. The two highways curve around to the north and split 3 miles (4.8 km) later. Highway 1 passes through flat farmland before crossing the English River south of Kalona. Iowa 1 skirts the western edge of Kalona and intersects Iowa Highway 22. It continues north for 7 miles (11 km) before turning northeast for 8 miles (13 km) more towards Iowa City.
Iowa Highway 1 intersects U.S. Route 218 and Iowa Highway 27, the Avenue of the Saints, at a diamond interchange on the southwestern edge of Iowa City. Highway 1 curves to the north of Iowa City Municipal Airport, intersecting U.S. Route 6 at Riverside Drive. For 3⁄4 miles (1.2 km), Iowa 1 overlaps US 6 on Riverside Drive before crossing the Iowa River in downtown Iowa City. On Burlington Street, Iowa 1 passes the University of Iowa library, the old state capitol, and the Ped Mall. Iowa 1 turns north onto the one-way Governor Street; Dodge Street handles the accompanying southbound lanes of traffic. The one-way streets rejoin as Dodge Street before intersecting Interstate 80 at another diamond interchange.
Iowa 1 continues north through Johnson County for 12 miles (19 km), passing through Solon. At Solon, it intersects Johnson County Road F16, which provides access to Lake MacBride State Park, the eponymous reservoir created by damming the Iowa River. 6 miles (9.7 km) southwest of Mount Vernon, Highway 1 turns to the northeast, entering Linn County and crossing the Cedar River before entering Mount Vernon, where it intersects U.S. Route 30. At First Street, Iowa 1 crosses the Lincoln Highway. On the northern edge of Mount Vernon, Highway 1 crosses a major Union Pacific Railroad line. Iowa 1 continues north towards Martelle, where it enters Jones County. 31⁄2 miles (5.6 km) northeast of Martelle, Iowa 1 ends at a partial cloverleaf interchange with U.S. Route 151.
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