^Looking east along Iowa 2 from Iowa 25's southern end, at an intersection south of Clearfield, October 2021.
Iowa Route 2 is one of Iowa's longest state highways, running across the southern part of Iowa. The highway actually spans the width of Iowa's southernmost (complete) row of counties. The western end of Iowa Route 2 crosses the Missouri River into Nebraska City, Nebraska, where it becomes Nebraska Route 2. The eastern end doesn't quite make it to the Mississippi River, but it did so in the past, formerly reaching Fort Madison's bridge over the river to Illinois Route 9. Nowadays, Iowa Route 2 is cut off at 20th Street and Avenue L in Fort Madison, Iowa; this intersection is the point where Business US Route 61 turns from 20th Street's northern leg to Avenue L's western leg. A mile-long piece of Iowa Route 2 was deleted in Fort Madison when locals' disdain for truck traffic through town won out over political interest in maintaining the continuous east-west thoroughfare. Plus, wrapping around the north side of town on US Route 61 and dropping south to the bridge doesn't create too horribly cumbersome of a detour for trucks and others seeking to use the bridge. Nearly every county seat in Iowa's southernmost complete row of counties is connected by Iowa Route 2.
If you have seen the Iowa Route 1 page, you've seen this photo before. My photo for Iowa Route 2 is the source for both of my shield images corresponding to Iowa Route 1 and Iowa Route 2. The sign assembly depicted sits along Iowa Route 2 at its junction with Iowa Route 1 south of Keosauqua. This junction is the southern end of Iowa Route 1. The signage shows eastbound traffic on Iowa Route 2 where to turn if they want to access Iowa Route 1. This photo was taken on June 30, 2017 as part of my trip across eastern Iowa.
Now see some more photos from Iowa Route 2!
Now see some more photos from Iowa Route 2!
The western end of Iowa 2, where the route crosses the Missouri River to become Nebraska Highway 2 in Nebraska.
Iowa 2 meets US275 and joins it south for a bit. This signage faces westbound travelers reaching Sidney.
Iowa 2 is joined by Iowa 148, which approaches from the south for a short concurrency at Bedford.
Signage encountered by westbound travelers meeting the junction with Iowa 25 southwest of Diagonal.
The westward progression of Iowa 2 is interrupted by a southward jog that starts at the junction with Iowa 25. This sign with flags indicates to those heading south on the job that it's time to turn back toward the west.
Iowa 2 is joined by US Route 69, which comes from the north in Leon.
Iowa 2 crosses US Route 65 between Leon and Corydon.
Looking west on Iowa 2 beyond the intersection with US Route 65.
Iowa 2 meets the southern end of Iowa 14 in Corydon. This sign faces the westbound travelers on Iowa 2.
Iowa 2 meets US Route 63, which joins Iowa 2 eastward into Bloomfield.
Iowa 2 meets the northern end of Iowa 81 in Farmington. This signage serves eastbound traffic.
Iowa 2 looking east from the south end of Iowa 1 near Keosauqua.