A cross state route between Council Bluffs and the Quad Cities, U.S. 6 mostly mirrors the course of Interstate 80 through the Hawkeye State. Entering Iowa alongside Interstate 480, U.S. 6 spans the Missouri River from Downtown Omaha to I-29 at Broadway and the West End of Council Bluffs. Prior to Fall 2016, U.S. 6 followed Broadway and Kanesville Boulevard across Council Bluffs to I-80 at Exit 8. State maintenance of Broadway was relinquished to the city, resulting in the relocation of U.S. 6 onto a combination of I-29 south and I-80 east to bypass Council Bluffs. U.S. 6 leaves the freeway east to Oakland and U.S. 59.
A short overlap with U.S. 59 takes U.S. 6 north before the route resumes eastward to Atlantic and U.S. 71. U.S. 71 takes the route north again to Interstate 80 (Exit 60), where a lengthy overlap ensues east to De Soto. The realignment of U.S. 6 east 10.36 miles from Exit 100 near Dexter to Exit 110 at U.S. 169 was approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) on October 7, 2003.
U.S. 6 Iowa Guides
U.S. 6 departs I-80 at Exit 110 to combine with U.S. 169 north five miles to Adel. East from Adel, U.S. 6 travels 290th Street and Hickman Road through Waukee and the west Des Moines suburbs to Urbandale. The highway bisects the urban area bound by I-35, I-80 and I-235 to Euclid Avenue and Altoona, where Hubbell Avenue angles the route northeast back to Interstate 80 at Exit 142.
Another pairing with I-80 takes U.S. 6 east to Exit 164 and the city of Newton. There U.S. 6 dog legs north to rejoin its two lane alignment east to Grinnell, Ladora and Marengo. U.S. 6 shifts southward from Tiffin through the busy Coralville Strip en route to the University of Iowa and Iowa City.
Beyond Iowa City, U.S. 6 follows a rural two lane route east to West Liberty and Atalissa. Turning north with Iowa 38, U.S. 6 passes by Wilton back to Interstate 80 as Historic U.S. 6 runs east through Durant, Stockton and Walcott.
I-80/U.S. 6 separate again at I-280, which U.S. 6 utilizes briefly to Kimberly Road in Davenport. U.S. 6 lines Kimberly Road east to Interstate 74, with I-74 carrying the route south across the Mississippi River Bridge to Moline, Illinois.
 scenes |
 | Spruce Hills Drive west meets Interstate 74 and U.S. 6 beyond the intersection with Utica Ridge Road. 06/20/15 |
 | Utica Ridge Road leads from a residential area south of Spruce Hills Drive northward through a bevy of business parks parallel to Interstate 74. The road becomes Scott County Road Z16 outside Davenport. 05/25/08 |
 | Spruce Hills Drive expands into a four lane, divided arterial from Utica Ridge Road westward through the parclo interchange with Interstate 74 and U.S. 6 east. 06/20/15 |
 | Spruce Hills Drive west at the westbound ramp for I-74 to 53rd Street and Interstate 80. U.S. 6 overtakes Spruce Hills Drive from I-74 west. 03/28/16 |
Photo Credits:
- 05/25/08 by AARoads and Jake Bear.
- 06/20/15 by AARoads.
- 03/28/16 by AARoads.
Connect with:
Interstate 74
Interstate 80
Interstate 280 Quad Cities
U.S. 61
U.S. 67
Page Updated 06-07-2018.