It is a loooonnng day trip to drive from south central Wisconsin to west of Des Moines and back, (650 miles and 14 hours) but the covered bridges of Madison County, Iowa are iconic and well worth a visit ( even though Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep were nowhere to be found.)
The bridges are all located near Winterset, Iowa. They are close together and the roads are well marked, so it is easy to move seamlessly from one to the next. According to the website for the Madison County Chamber & Welcome Center, http://www.madisoncounty.com/the-covered-bridges/, (where you can download a printable map), Madison County has the largest group of covered bridges that exist in one area in the western half of the Mississippi river.
For a hearty, reasonably priced meal, we recommend the China Cafe in Winterset. If you like wine and have the time, stop at Covered Bridges Winery 2207 170th Trail, Winterset. They have a very attractive facility, friendly people, and good wines. Darlene recommends Rattlesnake Red and Marquette.
On the Road With Daphne & Darlene 