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Tiffin, Iowa: Literary Rest Stop

Most people probably aren't thinking about literature as they drive across Iowa on I-80, until they pull off here.

Address:
I-80 E., Tiffin, IA
Directions:
The rest area is on eastbound Interstate 80, just before exit 237.
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Visitor Tips and News About Literary Rest Stop

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Literary Rest Stop.

Literary Rest Stop

Great stop to let the kids run around and take some cool photos.

[Kate Malicek, 10/19/2020]
Literary Rest Stop

Great rest stop. While exercising myself and our pups it was fun to read the quotes. My favorite was Tennessee Williams: "Death is one moment, and life is so many of them."

[Marie Aliotta, 09/10/2019]
Literary Rest Stop

The Literary Rest Stop is very well maintained and is modernized. Tile floors and walls. The outside picnic benches each have one wall with quotes from Iowa literature and culture stenciled into the wall material, allowing sunlight to filter through the wall. It is beautiful and well designed.

Inside the building you'll see an electronic ticker tape (long narrow black screen with red words scrolling on it) with excerpts from Iowa literature. Cute oversized yellow pencils with orange erasers line the front sidewalk. There is a nature trail but it was too muddy for us to explore much. We did not see the stacks of books referenced in the other tip.

[Fornaz Roadsters, 03/09/2016]

Giant pen nib.

Literary Rest Stop

This rest stop near Exit 237 on I-80 has a literary theme, including a giant fountain pen nib visible from the highway and some wood and glass shelters featuring lines from Iowa-related literature -- including the "big trouble right here in River City" lyrics from The Music Man.

Yes, the bathrooms are clean.

[Megan Brown, 06/21/2015]

Stack of books.

Rest Area Book Stacks and Building Blocks

This is a really interesting rest stop based on Education, there are statues of stacked books and building blocks, I wish I would have had longer to explore but we had to get back on the road.

[Barbara Henderson, 10/04/2014]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Firefighter and 9/11 MemorialFirefighter and 9/11 Memorial, Coralville, IA - 6 mi.
World's Largest Wooden NickelWorld's Largest Wooden Nickel, Iowa City, IA - 7 mi.
Steel Hawk Mascot StatueSteel Hawk Mascot Statue, Iowa City, IA - 7 mi.
In the region:
Awkward Airport Sculptures, Cedar Rapids, IA - 14 mi.

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