U.S. Route 6 in Iowa - Route Description

Route Description

U.S. Route 6 crosses the Missouri River via the Grenville Dodge Memorial Bridge into Council Bluffs, Iowa with Interstate 480 (I-480). Just 3⁄₄ miles (1.2 km) into the state, I-480 ends at an interchange with Interstate 29. US 6 heads east along Broadway, where it is overlapped by Iowa Highway 192 (Iowa 192) for just over 1+1⁄₂ miles (2.4 km). On the eastern side of Council Bluffs, it intersects Interstate 80 and continues due east. Near Oakland, it overlaps the north–south U.S. Route 59 for 2 miles (3.2 km). Near Lewis, it turns to the north-northeast until it reaches Atlantic. In Atlantic, it turns back to the east and heads towards downtown where it meets Iowa Highway 83. US 6 / Iowa 83 travel together to the eastern side of Atlantic where they meet U.S. Route 71. The three routes run together for 4 miles (6.4 km), when US 6 / US 71 split away from Iowa 83 and continue north to I-80. At I-80, US 6 splits away from US 71 and joins I-80. US 6 overlaps I-80 until De Soto, approximately 50 miles (80 km).

At De Soto, US 6 turns to the north, overlapping U.S. Route 169 for 5 miles (8.0 km) to Adel. East of Adel, US 6 is a four-lane divided highway for 14 miles (23 km), during which, it passes through Waukee, Clive, and Urbandale along Hickman Road, and intersects Interstate 35 / Interstate 80. Over the next 2 miles (3.2 km), it serves as the border between Urbandale and Windsor Heights. At 63rd Street in Des Moines, US 6 intersects Iowa Highway 28. For 1⁄₂ miles (0.80 km), US 6 / Iowa 28 run together on Hickman Road. Turning north, they run together for another mile (1.6 km) along Merle Hay Road. At Douglas Avenue, US 6 splits away from Iowa 28 and continues east, becoming Euclid Avenue just west of the Des Moines River. In north-central Des Moines, it intersects U.S. Route 69 and Interstate 235. In northeast Des Moines, it turns to the northeast along Hubbell Avenue, which takes US 6 to Altoona. West of Altoona, it intersects U.S. Route 65 and continues northeast passing Adventureland theme park and Prairie Meadows casino. In northwest Altoona, US 6 intersects I-80 and US 65. US 6 overlaps I-80 for a second time for approximately 25 miles (40 km).

At Newton, US 6 splits away from I-80 at the Iowa Highway 14 interchange. US 6 overlaps Iowa 14 for 1⁄₃ miles (0.54 km). It turns off of Iowa 14 and enters the western side of Newton, passing through its downtown area and the Jasper County courthouse. Between Newton and Grinnell, the route becomes hillier and curvier, crossing the North Skunk River near Kellogg. At Grinnell, it intersects Iowa Highway 146 southwest of the Grinnell College campus. East of Grinnell, the route straightens out and it is overlapped by U.S. Route 63 for 2 miles (3.2 km) and by Iowa Highway 21 for 4 miles (6.4 km). Near Victor, US 6 take a northeasterly course through Ladora towards Marengo. At Marengo, it intersects the eastern end of Iowa Highway 212. Five miles (8.0 km) east of Marengo is the western end of Iowa Highway 220. Here, US 6 forms the southern leg of the Amana Colonies Trail. Three miles (4.8 km) later, it's joined by U.S. Route 151 for 2 miles (3.2 km). It heads to the southeast towards Tiffin and passes underneath Interstate 380, but does not have direct access.

At Coralville, US 6 passes underneath Interstate 80, but 1⁄₂ miles (0.80 km) to the east, Coral Ridge Avenue provides direct access to I-80. Entering Iowa City, it passes the campus of the University of Iowa, its main hospital, and VA Hospital. US 6 curves to the south to be adjacent to the Iowa River, where it meets and overlaps Iowa Highway 1 for 1⁄₂ miles (0.80 km). US 6 and Iowa 1 go in separate directions at a signal controlled intersection, where, less than 1⁄₄ miles (0.40 km) away, US 6 crosses the Iowa River. From Iowa City, it heads in an east-southeast direction towards West Liberty. The highway enters West Liberty from the northwest corner and curves southward. At the northern end of Iowa Highway 70, it turns to the east again towards Atalissa and Wilton. Ten miles (16 km) southwest of Wilton, it crosses the Cedar River. Three miles (4.8 km) south of Wilton, the highway overlaps Iowa Highway 38 and the two routes head towards I-80. At I-80, the two routes head in opposite directions on the interstate; US 6 overlaps I-80 for 35 miles (56 km).

On the outskirts of Davenport, US 6 splits away from Interstate 80 and joins Interstate 280 at its western end. U.S. Route 61 also joins I-280 at this interchange, but from the opposite direction. US 6 only overlaps I-280 / US 61 for 4⁄₅ miles (1.3 km) before exiting onto Kimberly Road. Heading southeast into Davenport, it is a two-lane highway for 3 miles (4.8 km). At Fairmount Street, it becomes a four-lane divided highway and straightens out to head due east. Near Northpark Mall, it intersects Northwest Boulevard, which becomes Iowa Highway 130 at I-80, and both one-way legs, Welcome Way southbound and Brady Street northbound, of U.S. Route 61 Business, which prior to 2010 was U.S. Route 61. US 6 briefly dips to the southeast and straightens out again towards Interstate 74. It joins I-74 and heads to the south towards Moline, Illinois. For about one mile (1.6 km), I-74 / US 6 forms the boundary of Davenport and Bettendorf. The two routes completely enter Bettendorf and descend into the Mississippi River valley, where they meet U.S. Route 67 at a complex series of exit and entrance ramps. They then ascend the Iowa-Illinois Memorial Bridge, known locally as the I-74 Bridge, and cross the Mississippi River into Illinois.