Rockhounding near Des Moines, IA
72 mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Des Moines — most are inside a 2 to 3 hour drive. Below: a map, the closest spots, what they produce, and full coordinates with access notes.
Covering parts of Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota.
Map of rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Des Moines, Iowa
Closest rockhounding spots to Des Moines
The 6 nearest mapped spots, with straight-line distance and an approximate drive time.
- AmesStory County, Iowa31 mi · 39 min driveChalcedony, Fossils
- NevadaStory County, Iowa32 mi · 40 min driveAgate
- PershingMarion County, Iowa39 mi · 49 min driveCalcite
- Orient AreaAdair County, Iowa44 mi · 56 min driveAgate, Quartz, Petrified Wood
- Bells Mill ParkHamilton County, Iowa54 mi · 1 hr 7 min driveCalcite
- UnionHardin County, Iowa55 mi · 1 hr 8 min driveGeode
Most-reported finds near Des Moines
Counts reflect how many spots in this radius mention each material.
Every spot within 150 miles of Des Moines
Sorted by distance from Des Moines. Tap a row to open the spot detail page with full directions, access status, and nearby trips.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AmesAudubon Trail | Story County | 42.0336, -93.6318 | Public | |
| NevadaLincoln Highway | Story County | 42.0083, -93.3819 | Public | |
| Pershing185th Place | Marion County | 41.2629, -93.0069 | Public | |
| Orient AreaHenry A Wallace Road | Adair County | 41.2473, -94.3538 | Public | |
| Bells Mill ParkBell's Mill Road | Hamilton County | 42.3406, -93.8917 | Public | |
| Union305th Street | Hardin County | 42.2540, -93.0581 | Public | |
| EldoraDole Drive | Hardin County | 42.3631, -93.1175 | Public | |
| Steamboat RiverNorth 10th Street | Hardin County | 42.4098, -93.0726 | Public | |
| Fort Dodge | Webster County | 42.4561, -94.1592 | Public | |
| Cedar Creek335th Street | Mahaska County |
| 41.1678, -92.4599 | Public |
| Centerville (gypsum)497th Street | Appanoose County | 40.7658, -92.9153 | Public | |
| Centerville (pyrite)Dewey Road | Appanoose County | 40.7106, -92.8484 | Public | |
| Benton County61st Street | Benton County |
| 42.1359, -92.1265 | Public |
| KeotaKeokuk Washington Road | Washington County | 41.3435, -91.9424 | Public | |
| La Porte CityCedar Valley Nature Trail | Black Hawk County | 42.3215, -92.1875 | Public | |
| ChapinOlive Avenue | Franklin County | 42.8543, -93.2203 | Public | |
| Riverview Recreation AreaCedar Valley Lakes Trail | Black Hawk County | 42.4766, -92.3008 | Public | |
| Red Oak170 Street | Montgomery County |
| 41.0566, -95.2851 | Public |
| SheffieldQuail Avenue | Cerro Gordo County | 42.9217, -93.1778 | Public | |
| Shell RockState Highway 3 | Butler County | 42.7266, -92.5863 | Public | |
| Black Hawk CountyNorth Elk Run Road | Black Hawk County |
| 42.5218, -92.2549 | Public |
| Brandon330th Street | Buchanan County | 42.3164, -91.9902 | Public | |
| Grundy County | Grundy County | 40.1196, -93.5296 | Public | |
| Gentry County | Gentry County | 40.2077, -94.3754 | Public | |
| CoralvilleLL Pelling Road | Johnson County |
| 41.6883, -91.6242 | Public |
Des Moines rockhounding FAQ
Where can I go rockhounding near Des Moines?+
There are 72 mapped rockhounding spots within about 150 miles of Des Moines, Iowa. The closest is Ames in Story County, roughly 31 miles away. The full list is on this page with coordinates and drive times.
What rocks and minerals can you find near Des Moines?+
Spots within driving distance of Des Moines most commonly produce geode, agate, calcite, jasper, lake superior agate, petrified wood.
Is rockhounding legal near Des Moines?+
Casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Each spot page on this site lists access status; always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.
How far do most rockhounders drive from Des Moines?+
Most weekend trips from Des Moines fall inside a 2 to 3 hour drive, which is roughly the 150-mile radius shown on this page. Closer spots are good for half-day outings; the outer ones are better as overnight trips.
More state coverage
The spots above span 5 states. Open the state page for the full county-by-county view.
Pack Des Moines's rockhounding map in your pocket
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