Interstate 35, while in Iowa, is the main north-south freeway running down Iowa's central backbone. It's instrumental for reaching Des Moines, the capital in the middle of the state of Iowa. It has a very slight angle toward the northeast (or southwest) while in Iowa, because, on a broader scale, it connects Kansas City to the Twin Cities of Minnesota.
Interstate 35's southern entrance into Iowa occurs near Lamoni, Iowa, at a point slightly closer to the Missouri River than to the Mississippi. Continuing north, Interstate 35 proceeds through the middle of Iowa to flank the west side of Des Moines. In the southwest corner of the Des Moines area, Interstate 35 meets the western end of the Iowa Highway 5 expressway. Soon after, on the west side of Des Moines, Interstate 35 meets an interchange where Interstate 80 joins it northerly; at the same interchange, Interstate 235 is given its eastbound beginning toward downtown Des Moines. Interstates 35 and Interstate 80 run north concurrently, and then bend into an easterly path together around the northern side of Des Moines; the bend is home to the southeastern beginning of Iowa Route 141. In northeast Des Moines, Interstate 35 splits from Interstate 80 to continue north, at an interchange home to the northeastern end of Interstate 235. Interstate 35 is now on its own, continuing north past Ankeny and Ames. At Clear Lake, just west of Mason City, Interstate 35 picks up Iowa Route 27, also known as the Avenue of the Saints. The freeway carries that added designation for its remaining 37 miles in Iowa, crossing the Minnesota border south of Albert Lea.
For now, I'll just include a couple of photos of Interstate 35. But I will soon get some more photos from the Interstates in Iowa so I can provide full exit lists for everyone. Those exit lists will have a photo for every exit. In the meantime, enjoy a short reel of photos.
First of all, though, here is the photo showing where I got my shield image for Interstate 35. This photo comes from the interchange where Interstates 35 and 80, running concurrently, have ramps to the northern extent of Iowa Route 28. The photo was taken in February 2016, showing the south-facing signage that helps northbound traffic find where to turn onto the eastbound side of the freeway.
Interstate 35's southern entrance into Iowa occurs near Lamoni, Iowa, at a point slightly closer to the Missouri River than to the Mississippi. Continuing north, Interstate 35 proceeds through the middle of Iowa to flank the west side of Des Moines. In the southwest corner of the Des Moines area, Interstate 35 meets the western end of the Iowa Highway 5 expressway. Soon after, on the west side of Des Moines, Interstate 35 meets an interchange where Interstate 80 joins it northerly; at the same interchange, Interstate 235 is given its eastbound beginning toward downtown Des Moines. Interstates 35 and Interstate 80 run north concurrently, and then bend into an easterly path together around the northern side of Des Moines; the bend is home to the southeastern beginning of Iowa Route 141. In northeast Des Moines, Interstate 35 splits from Interstate 80 to continue north, at an interchange home to the northeastern end of Interstate 235. Interstate 35 is now on its own, continuing north past Ankeny and Ames. At Clear Lake, just west of Mason City, Interstate 35 picks up Iowa Route 27, also known as the Avenue of the Saints. The freeway carries that added designation for its remaining 37 miles in Iowa, crossing the Minnesota border south of Albert Lea.
For now, I'll just include a couple of photos of Interstate 35. But I will soon get some more photos from the Interstates in Iowa so I can provide full exit lists for everyone. Those exit lists will have a photo for every exit. In the meantime, enjoy a short reel of photos.
First of all, though, here is the photo showing where I got my shield image for Interstate 35. This photo comes from the interchange where Interstates 35 and 80, running concurrently, have ramps to the northern extent of Iowa Route 28. The photo was taken in February 2016, showing the south-facing signage that helps northbound traffic find where to turn onto the eastbound side of the freeway.
