River to River Retro Road Trip 2026 Recap
September 17–19, 2026
What a memorable three days on Historic U.S. 6! From our welcome gathering on the Davenport riverfront to the finish in Council Bluffs, this year’s trip brought together familiar faces, new friends, local history, and plenty of stories from the road.
Thursday Welcome to Davenport
We kicked things off Thursday evening at the Freight House Farmers Market in Davenport. The weather cooperated, the turnout was encouraging, and about half of our registered vehicles joined us for the first night. It was a pleasure to reconnect with returning participants and meet so many new friends. Special thanks to Antonella’s II, Front Street Brewery & Taproom, and Boozies Bar and Grill for welcoming everyone. The gathering was so well received that we hope to do something similar again next year.
Friday Davenport to Des Moines
Friday morning began with an eye on the weather as approximately 32 cars assembled at the Modern Woodmen Park parking lot. We made our way through Davenport and headed west to our first stop in Durant. Kylie and the Durant Chamber of Commerce treated the group to coffee, donuts, and other refreshments. Participants had time to stroll through City Park and visit the Tri-County Heritage Museum before the approaching rain sent us back to our cars. Thanks also to Durant Police Chief Utter for helping us get safely back onto Highway 6.
The rain came down hard as we passed through Wilton. We appreciate the Wilton Police Department and Chief Clark for helping us make the transition from Highway 6 to Highway 38. By the time we reached Tiffin for lunch, the rain had let up and the day took a welcome turn. Many of us enjoyed Bryant’s Tap & Grill, while others stopped at Tiffin Iron Tap and Jon’s Ice Cream Store & Restaurant. We regrouped at the soccer complex and continued west.
We arrived in Newton roughly on schedule and explored the Jasper County Historical Museum. There was so much to see, and the visit was a favorite for many participants. From there, we continued to Des Moines, where Beaverdale once again welcomed us to the Beaverdale Fall Festival. Our group enjoyed the festivities, food, and warm reception. We ended the evening at Wildwood Lodge in Clive, relaxing around the fire, catching up with fellow travelers, and looking forward to Saturday.
Saturday The road to Council Bluffs
Saturday started with another downpour. We are grateful to Wildwood Lodge for letting us gather beneath its awning for the morning meeting. At the request of our first host, we adjusted our departure a little earlier. After a brief driver’s meeting, we headed west to Redfield and American Legion Post 261, where the Redfield Fire Department served a wonderful firefighter breakfast. The stop was a hit, and many participants are already eager to return. We also had a chance to visit the Marshall G.A.R. House and the Redfield History Museum.
The skies cleared, giving us beautiful weather for a day of exploring Highway 6 and the White Pole Road. Everyone found something different to enjoy along the way. The Dexter Museum was open for visitors, several people stopped at Drew’s Chocolates, and many made the traditional visit to the Friendly Gas Station Man in Menlo. Hearing what people discovered in each town was one of the best parts of the day.
We gathered again at the Pottawattamie County Freedom Rock in Oakland before making the final drive into Council Bluffs. Our cars paraded through the 100 Block Car Show for a fitting finish. Special thanks to Matt at Bryant’s Irish Pub for organizing the car show and giving our participants such a welcoming place to end the trip.
Thank you to every participant, volunteer, business, museum, community partner, and local law enforcement agency that helped make the 18th Annual River to River Retro Road Trip possible. Despite a few stretches of rain, we had a terrific year together. We celebrated the people and places along Historic U.S. 6, made new memories, and came away with even more reasons to keep traveling this road.