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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

Mon 28 Apr

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $30.77

Make a reservation

Mon 28 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)

Ila_R

Oct 2019

We enjoyed our two hour tour, and it was great to have someone in our car who knew the country roads, could tell stories about folks who had been important residents, and was extremely pleasant.

Response from Host

Oct 2019

Thank you so much for taking the time to review your guided tour here in Madison County! We agree that having someone so familiar with our stories, the bridges, and the roads adds a lot to the experience. We're so glad you had a great time!

cdyce2019

Sep 2019

Simply said this was an excellent tour - our guide Diane was knowledgeable, friendly and a pleasure to be around. She made my wife and I feel extremely welcomed in Iowa and Madison County. I would absolutely recommend this tour.

Response from Host

Sep 2019

Thank you so much for visiting and for this recommendation! We are thrilled that you enjoyed your covered bridge tour with Diane, and that you got to experience the wonderful Iowa hospitality!

steveroe2018

Sep 2019

My husband and I enjoyed the tour! We paid for the tour guide to ride with us and she was very good at discussing the history of Winterset attractions, the bridges and other history attractions. We loved seeing the bridges, although she was not able to get 2 of the bridges into our 2 hour tour. We did use the map and found the others on our own.

Response from Host

Sep 2019

Thank you so much for visiting and taking the covered bridge tour through our office! We're so glad to hear that you enjoyed yourselves and learned a lot. It is difficult to get to all six remaining bridges in a two hour window and still have time to walk through them. Please come and see us again in the future!