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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

Sat 28 Jun

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $30.77

Make a reservation

Sat 28 Jun

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)

Mary_G

May 2023

Wonderful experience! Phyllis, our tour guide, was wonderful and so knowledgeable. I know we could have toured the bridges on our own but knowing the history behind the bridges was nice. You can't get that experience touring on your own. We were a group of 3 friends so the personal touch made the tour the best!

Response from Host

May 2023

Greetings Mary, Thank you for a nice review and yes Phyllis is so knowledgeable regarding the stories of Madison County's history and we are fortunate on have her as part of our team here at the Chamber. Please return and visit us again in he future.

bethmX2689UL

Feb 2023

No one showed up at stated time.lady in chamber of commerce where we were supposed to meet closed at 2 instead of posted 3pm

Response from Host

Feb 2023

Beth, we apologize for the inconvenience. We are looking into the miscommunication with your tour request. We regret the error. (Our Welcome Center is not open on Saturdays in the winter, so it was not a matter of us closing early.)

pamnkev2018

Oct 2022

Just fun to stand on the bridge where Meryl Streep stood! There's a gift shop with fun items and the woman working there was happy to answer our questions about the bridge and the area. Winterset is very charming.

Response from Host

Feb 2023

Thank you, Pam! We're so glad you enjoyed your visit.