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Personal Guided Tour of the Covered Bridges of Madison County

Personal Guided Tour of the Covered Bridges of Madison County

Overview

Travel the back roads through the heart of Madison County under the wing of one of our guide experts, who are all residents of Madison County. Madison County's world-famous covered bridges were the inspiration behind, and the setting of the novel by Robert James Waller and the 1995 film "The Bridges of Madison County", starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep.

Six of the original nineteen covered bridges remain, making Madison County the Covered Bridge Capital of Iowa. Five of the bridges are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Each two-hour personal guided tour includes information about the construction and history of the bridges, the movie production, and a variety of other local historical information. You will visit three of the county's most popular covered bridges and have a chance to walk through them and take plenty of photographs.

City: Iowa

Sun 27 Apr

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $30.77

Make a reservation

Sun 27 Apr

Starting at $30.77

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Local guide

Private tour

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
This tour takes place using the traveler's own vehicle and gas.
Wear and tear on the vehicle is not the responsibility of the tour guide
Must have a proper seat and seat belt available for your tour guide
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Be prepared for uneven surfaces at the sites visited which may be difficult for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair

What To Expect

Madison County Chamber of Commerce & Welcome Center

Meet your tour guide at the Welcome Center, located on Winterset's courthouse square. Your guide will tell you briefly about the history of Winterset and Madison County, and the 1876 limestone courthouse at the town's center.

Roseman Bridge

Explore the Roseman Covered Bridge, one of two bridges featured in the movie "The Bridges of Madison County", starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. Built in 1883, the Roseman spans Middle River and is thought by some to be haunted. The Roseman is a perfect example of the flat-roofed covered bridges that are unique to Madison County.

Cutler-Donahoe Bridge

One of the six remaining covered bridges of Madison County, the Cutler-Donahoe was moved to City Park in Winterset in 1970 on its 100th birthday. City Park also features an English hedge maze, a stone bridge (featured in the movie "The Bridges of Madison County"), and one of Iowa's often cited hidden gems, Clark Tower (a three-story stone monument that resembles a castle).

Holliwell Bridge

Explore the Holliwell Covered Bridge, the second of the two bridges featured in the movie "The Bridges of Madison County", starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. Built in 1880, it is the longest of Madison County's covered bridges, spanning 110 feet over Middle River. Be sure to view this beautiful bridge from the river bank.

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Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (49)

jbryant654

Dec 2024

Guided tour was cancelled due to weather. Guides were unable to participate due to anticipated bad weather. Snow and cold.

Response from Host

Dec 2024

We are sorry that we were not able to conduct this tour. The guide who was scheduled came down sick and we tried at the last minute to find someone who could do the tour but were not able to. We are glad you were still able to come down and see the bridges, and found the information at our welcome center helpful.

SteveJ0910

Oct 2024

After passing by a few times on our way to Kansas City, made the time to do veer off the I35 and overnight in Winterset. We are fans of local tours be they walking, or in this case, driving. Diane was wonderful - knowledgeable, engaging and proud of her community. We could have seen the same sights, but not with the same eyes of being with someone who can provide "value added" insight. Next time we decide to "veer' we may need to take in the wineries in the area. But maybe let someone else do the driving on the tour.

Response from Host

Oct 2024

We are so happy you made the time to veer off I-35 to see our wonderful county and bridges. Diane is very proud and passionate of our area and the bridges. We hope you make it back again, you will definitely enjoy our wineries.

Showme_10

Oct 2024

We loved our tour with Bob as our guide. He gave us so much information on the history of the city of Winterset and the bridges. We would have gotten lost getting to the Roseman Bridge if we hadn't of had Bob with us. Bob also gave us some detailed tidbits about the filming of the movie "Bridges of Madison County" that were so interesting. I highly recommend doing this personal tour!

Response from Host

Oct 2024

Thank you so much for taking the time to review your personal tour of the covered bridges with Bob! Those stories really do enhance the whole experience. We hope you will come back to see us again in the near future!