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Urbandale
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Urbandale, Iowa blends suburban ease with prairie heritage, Living History Farms, green trails, family parks and easy access to Des Moines culture.

From Prairie Settlement to Suburban City

Urbandale occupies a gently rolling part of central Iowa immediately west and north-west of Des Moines. Although today it is known primarily as a residential city within the Des Moines metropolitan area, its landscape still reflects the prairie, farmsteads and transport routes that shaped its development. The community grew around agriculture and the railway, later expanding as roads and suburban neighbourhoods connected it more closely with the capital city.
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History in the Landscape

The clearest expression of Iowa’s earlier rural life is Living History Farms, a large open-air museum in Urbandale where historic buildings, cultivated fields and interpreters explore farming and domestic life from different periods. Elsewhere, local parks and trails offer a quieter interpretation of the landscape, with the Trestle to Trestle Trail and the recreational paths around Walker Johnston Park linking neighbourhoods, woodland and open ground.

A Practical Base for Central Iowa

Urbandale’s appeal lies in its balance of calm residential surroundings and convenient access to the wider Des Moines area. Commercial corridors along 86th Street and adjacent thoroughfares contain everyday shops, cafés and restaurants, while community parks provide space for walking, sport and family activities. The city is not a traditional sightseeing centre with a dense historic core; instead, it offers an accessible base for exploring central Iowa, combining local history, outdoor recreation and suburban ease with Des Moines’s museums, events and cultural institutions nearby.

When is the best time to visit Urbandale?

Best: June, August–September · 24–28°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January025
February328
March1047
April1676
May22111
June (best)27119
July29107
August (best)28107
September (best)2486
October1766
November948
December231

Getting to and around Urbandale

How to get there

Urbandale is served principally by road and forms part of the Des Moines metropolitan area. Des Moines International Airport is the main commercial airport for visitors arriving by air, while Interstate 80 and Interstate 35 provide the principal regional road connections near the city. Interstate 235 links Urbandale with downtown Des Moines and other metropolitan communities. Long-distance bus and rail arrangements are generally centred on Des Moines rather than Urbandale itself, so travellers should check the final local connection when arriving without a car. Because attractions and commercial areas are dispersed, a hired car or taxi connection can be useful for reaching different parts of the city.

Transportation

Urbandale is a car-oriented suburban city, with broad arterial roads connecting residential areas, parks, shopping corridors and neighbouring communities. Walking is practical within individual neighbourhoods and around some parks, but destinations are often separated by busy roads and suburban distances. The Des Moines metropolitan area is served by DART, the local public transport network, although routes and service levels vary by district and should be checked for the precise address. Multi-use trails provide opportunities for walking and cycling, including connections through the regional trail system. Taxis and app-based car services may be available, while parking is generally easier than in central Des Moines.

Best attractions in Urbandale

Living History Farms is Urbandale’s defining visitor attraction, presenting Iowa’s agricultural past through reconstructed farms, historic buildings, cultivated fields and living-history interpretation across a large open-air site. Its scale makes it closer to an outdoor museum than a conventional gallery, with different parts of the grounds illustrating changing rural life. For a different pace, Walker Johnston Park combines open lawns, sports facilities, walking routes and space for community recreation, while the Trestle to Trestle Trail offers a way to experience the wooded edges and gently varied terrain of the Des Moines metropolitan area. Smaller parks, including Lions Park and Terra Park, reflect Urbandale’s emphasis on neighbourhood recreation rather than monumental sightseeing. The Urbandale Historical Museum adds local context through collections concerning the community’s people, civic development and suburban transformation. Visitors seeking a larger selection of museums, galleries and performing arts venues can reach central Des Moines by road.

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Best landmarks in Urbandale

Urbandale’s most meaningful landmarks are connected with local history, civic development and the landscape rather than with a dense collection of monumental buildings. Living History Farms is the city’s principal cultural landmark, using reconstructed rural settings to interpret Iowa’s changing agricultural society and the region’s older prairie environment. The Urbandale Historical Museum provides a more intimate record of municipal life, preserving objects and stories associated with the community’s development from rural settlement to metropolitan suburb. The city’s network of parks and trails, including Walker Johnston Park and the Trestle to Trestle Trail, serves as a contemporary civic landscape, showing how open space has been retained within suburban expansion. Nearby Des Moines contains the region’s larger concentration of state, religious and architectural landmarks, but Urbandale’s identity is best read through these heritage and recreational sites rather than through a traditional historic core.

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Best restaurants in Urbandale

Urbandale’s dining scene reflects the straightforward, varied character of a Des Moines suburb, with restaurants distributed along major roads and commercial corridors rather than concentrated in a historic centre. Visitors will find American comfort food, burgers, pizza, sandwiches and cafés alongside Mexican, Asian and other international cuisines shaped by the wider metropolitan population. Iowa staples such as breaded pork tenderloin, sweet corn, locally produced beef and seasonal produce appear most naturally in casual restaurants, diners, farmers’ markets and regional menus. Coffee shops and bakery counters provide informal daytime stops, while family restaurants and contemporary suburban eateries cover evening meals. The strongest dining choice is often geographical: 86th Street and nearby corridors offer a broad selection, while central Des Moines provides a denser restaurant scene and more specialised culinary options. Seasonal fairs and community events may also bring local food vendors into public spaces.

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Best bars in Urbandale

Urbandale’s evening scene is modest and dispersed, centred more on relaxed restaurants, neighbourhood bars, cafés and community recreation than on a concentrated club district. Casual venues along the city’s commercial roads provide places for a drink or informal gathering, while the wider Des Moines metropolitan area offers a fuller selection of breweries, cocktail bars, live music rooms, theatres and late-evening entertainment. Sports and ice activities at Buccaneer Arena contribute to the city’s recreational character, particularly when organised events are taking place. Visitors seeking a traditional pub crawl or larger live-music programme will generally find more choice in Des Moines, which is readily connected by road. Evening plans should account for suburban distances, limited pedestrian links between venues and the need for a designated driver or reliable ride service when alcohol is involved.

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Best nightclubs in Urbandale

Urbandale’s evening scene is modest and dispersed, centred more on relaxed restaurants, neighbourhood bars, cafés and community recreation than on a concentrated club district. Casual venues along the city’s commercial roads provide places for a drink or informal gathering, while the wider Des Moines metropolitan area offers a fuller selection of breweries, cocktail bars, live music rooms, theatres and late-evening entertainment. Sports and ice activities at Buccaneer Arena contribute to the city’s recreational character, particularly when organised events are taking place. Visitors seeking a traditional pub crawl or larger live-music programme will generally find more choice in Des Moines, which is readily connected by road. Evening plans should account for suburban distances, limited pedestrian links between venues and the need for a designated driver or reliable ride service when alcohol is involved.

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Best shops in Urbandale

Shopping in Urbandale is practical and suburban, with retail concentrated along major roads such as 86th Street and in commercial areas serving everyday needs. Visitors will find supermarkets, national retailers, independent services, cafés and restaurants, while smaller specialist businesses provide opportunities to browse gifts, home goods and locally oriented products. The city does not have a large traditional bazaar or an old market quarter, so distinctive Iowa purchases are more likely to come from farmers’ markets, seasonal community events, regional food shops and artisan stalls elsewhere in the Des Moines area. Useful gifts may include Iowa-made food products, coffee, craft beverages, locally designed items and goods associated with prairie or agricultural heritage. For antiques, boutiques and a broader range of independent retailers, Des Moines’s established commercial districts offer more variety than Urbandale’s road-based shopping corridors.

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Urbandale essentials

Currency and Payment
The currency is the United States dollar, written as USD or $. Credit and debit cards are widely used in shops, restaurants, attractions and accommodation across Urbandale, and contactless or mobile-wallet payments are increasingly accepted. Carrying a small amount of cash remains sensible for minor purchases, community events or businesses whose payment facilities may be limited. ATMs are available in commercial areas, banks and some larger shops, although foreign-card users should review their own bank’s exchange-rate and withdrawal policies. Prices displayed in the United States normally exclude sales tax, which is added at the till.
Safety
Urbandale is a spread-out suburban environment, but ordinary urban precautions remain appropriate. Keep valuables out of sight in parked vehicles, secure bags in busy commercial areas and take care when crossing or cycling beside major roads. At night, use well-lit routes and arrange a reliable lift if walking between widely separated destinations is impractical. Trail users should remain aware of cyclists, changing weather and limited lighting on some stretches. Winter conditions can affect roads and footpaths, while summer heat and thunderstorms require attention to local forecasts. Visitors should follow posted rules in parks, museums and recreational facilities.
Emergency Situations
In the United States, call 911 for police, fire or medical emergencies and provide the exact address or clearly identifiable location. The operator can send the appropriate emergency service and may provide instructions while help is on the way. For non-urgent concerns, visitors can contact the relevant local police or fire department through a non-emergency number, which should be confirmed locally rather than assumed. Travellers should carry identification, prescription details and insurance information, and remember that emergency medical treatment in the United States can be expensive without suitable cover. Ask accommodation staff or hosts about the nearest urgent-care or hospital facility when necessary.
Do's and Don'ts
Observe posted rules in parks, on trails and at Living History Farms, particularly where historic structures, crops or demonstrations are involved. Drivers should yield carefully to pedestrians and cyclists and follow American road conventions, including driving on the right. Tipping is customary for table service, taxi rides and some personal services, with the amount judged according to the service received; it is not normally expected for every counter purchase. Keep conversations and phone use considerate in museums and public facilities, and ask before photographing people closely. Iowa hospitality is generally informal, but ordinary courtesy and respect for personal space remain important.
Local Tips
Plan Urbandale geographically: pair Living History Farms with nearby western-metro stops rather than assuming every attraction lies in a walkable centre. The city’s parks and trails are most enjoyable in daylight, when their relationship with streams, woodland and open ground is easiest to appreciate. Exploring 86th Street and adjoining commercial corridors gives a clearer sense of everyday local life than searching for a traditional downtown. For broader cultural programming, include Des Moines in the itinerary, while checking transport connections before returning to Urbandale. Seasonal weather can change quickly, so flexible clothing and a forecast check are useful for outdoor visits.
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From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHey[hey]
GoodbyeSee ya[see ya]
YesYep[yep]
NoNah[nah]
Please/You're welcomePlease/You're welcome[please/you're welcome]
Thank youThanks[thanks]
Excuse me/SorrySorry[sorry]
How are you?How's it going?[how's it going?]
Fine. And you?Good. You?[good. you?]
Do you speak English?You speak English?[you speak English?]
I don't understandI don't get it[I don't get it]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseMenu, please[menu, please]
I don't eat meatNo meat for me[no meat for me]
Cheers!Cheers![cheers!]
I would like to pay, pleaseCheck, please[check, please]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![help!]
Go away!Leave me alone![leave me alone!]
Call the Police!Call the cops![call the cops!]
Call a doctor!Get a doctor![get a doctor!]
I'm lostI'm lost[I'm lost]
I'm illI'm sick[I'm sick]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...I want to buy...[I want to buy...]
I'm just lookingJust looking[just looking]
How much is it?How much?[how much?]
That's too expensiveToo pricey[too pricey]
Can you lower the price?Can you do better?[can you do better?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?What time is it?[what time is it?]
It's one o'clockIt's one o'clock[it's one o'clock]
Half past (10)Half past ten[half past ten]
MorningMorning[morning]
AfternoonAfternoon[afternoon]
EveningEvening[evening]
YesterdayYesterday[yesterday]
TodayToday[today]
TomorrowTomorrow[tomorrow]
1One[one]
2Two[two]
3Three[three]
4Four[four]
5Five[five]
6Six[six]
7Seven[seven]
8Eight[eight]
9Nine[nine]
10Ten[ten]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Where's the...?[where's the...?]
What's the address?What's the address?[what's the address?]
Can you show me (on the map)?Show me (on the map)[show me (on the map)]
When's the next (bus)?When's the next (bus)?[when's the next (bus)?]
A ticket (to ....)Ticket (to ....)[ticket (to ....)]

History of Urbandale

Prairie Settlement and Early Farming

The area that became Urbandale was part of the tall-grass prairie landscape inhabited and travelled by Indigenous peoples before American settlement expanded across central Iowa. During the nineteenth century, settlers established farms in the region, taking advantage of fertile soils and access to nearby Des Moines. Agriculture shaped the early economy and left a lasting imprint on the roads, property boundaries and open spaces that later suburban growth would transform. The community’s surviving historical story is therefore closely tied to the wider development of Polk County, where farming, town building and transport evolved together.

Railways and the Emergence of a Community

Urbandale’s growth accelerated as rail and road connections improved across central Iowa. The railway helped move agricultural goods and linked small settlements with Des Moines and other markets, making the area more attractive for permanent development. Rather than beginning as a large urban centre, Urbandale emerged from a rural setting shaped by farms, transport infrastructure and proximity to the state capital. This relationship with Des Moines remained important as the community developed, giving residents access to metropolitan employment and services while retaining a distinct municipal identity.

Incorporation and Local Government

Urbandale was incorporated as a city in 1917, formalising local government at a time when many communities around Des Moines were negotiating the advantages of organised civic administration. Its early municipal development remained modest, with a landscape still dominated by farms and open land. The city’s name and institutional history belong to Iowa’s pattern of small communities becoming increasingly connected to the capital’s economy. Local historical collections and the Urbandale Historical Museum preserve aspects of this transition, including the people, businesses and civic organisations that gave the community a more defined public life.

Postwar Roads and Suburban Expansion

After the Second World War, improved roads, rising car ownership and population growth around Des Moines changed Urbandale’s scale and character. Former agricultural land was gradually converted into residential subdivisions, schools, commercial areas and public parks. Major roads became the organising lines of a suburban city, while municipal services expanded to support a growing population. The transformation did not erase the earlier landscape entirely: parks, trails and preserved sites continue to reveal the prairie and farming environment that preceded modern development.

Preserving Iowa’s Living Heritage

The preservation of agricultural history became a major part of Urbandale’s cultural identity through Living History Farms, established in 1969. Its reconstructed farms and historic settings interpret changing agricultural practices and everyday life in Iowa from the period before European-American settlement through the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The museum connects Urbandale’s contemporary suburban surroundings with the broader history of the state, where Indigenous presence, farming, technology and migration shaped communities. Today, the city’s parks, trails and heritage institutions reflect both its rural origins and its place within the modern Des Moines metropolitan area.

Urbandale in Photos

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Planning a trip to Urbandale, Iowa? Look no further than Evendo, your ultimate travel companion. This 100% free app-based travel guide provides comprehensive information on the best attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities in Urbandale.

From the historic Living History Farms to the serene Walker Johnston Park, Evendo covers all must-see landmarks. Hungry? Discover top dining spots like the Machine Shed Restaurant and Urban Grill, each with detailed descriptions, local tips, and contact details.

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