Shortest and most scenic route to Oelwein, IA for PPC Caravan start:

 

+ From Chicago    -       take US Hwy 20 east to Exit 245 north

+ From Minneapolis or Des Moines  -   take I35   to Hwy 20 west to Exit 245 north

 

1) Exit 245 north to Jesup on V62 through business district (it jogs left west 2 blocks on south side of town, then back right east on north side by school) for about 4 miles to country road D16 (175th St)

2) Go right (east) on D16 towards and through little Littleton for about 5 miles to T intersection at W13 (Fairbank-Amish Blvd)

3) Go left (north) on W13 for about 12 miles of very enjoyable SCENIC AMISH COUNRYSIDE to C50 (40th St.)

4) Go right (east) on C50 for ¼ mile and see Oelwein airport on your right.

 

 

 

INTERESTING BACKGROUND

Iowa’s hard surfaced county roads, often called “blacktops” by locals, are logically named in grids.  Names consist of a letter followed by a number, i.e. W13, A5, D17, V56.

 

Latitudinal east & west roads are labeled A,B,C…J, starting on the north border at Minnesota.  Those running longitudinally north & south are labeled K,L,M,…Z starting on the west Missouri River border.

 

Because there are multiple roads in each of these lettered groups, a number is also assigned that can be used as an estimate of the distance between them in kilometers.   For example, between D17 and D27 is a difference of 10K, or roughly 6.2 miles.

 

 

Tips for driving into Oelwein Iowa with motorhomes

 

There is a LOW  9’ 9”  overpass near downtown Oelwein you want to avoid when driving east from the airport on C50 for 3 miles to downtown Oelwein:   

 

County road C50 turns into Charles Street as you continue east in town. 

Turn right (south) on  SW 6th Ave NW (see a big, beige, square brick building on the right) and go 4 blocks.

Turn left (east) on  4th St SW   and continue about 3 blocks.

Turn left (north) on South Frederick and go about 3 blocks to Two Brothers Pizza Restaurant on your left at Frederick & Charles.

 

 

OELWEIN NOTES:

A tornado destroyed much of downtown Oelwein in 1968.

You will fly over a huge railroad salvage yard with hundreds of boxcars on the NW corner of Oelwein.

The town of Hazelton is 2 miles south of Oelwein, and west of Hazelton are about 170 Amish families with farms and business dotting the countryside.

Fontana Park on the SW corner of Hazelton features buffalo, deer, bears, and many birds of prey.

 

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