In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · United States
Fort Madison
Half a day: see the reconstructed fort, walk the riverfront, then move on. Not a base.
Fort Madison is a small Mississippi River town in southeast Iowa, best known for its reconstructed 1808 fort. The Amtrak Southwest Chief stops here daily, making it a convenient break between Chicago and the West. Most visitors spend 3–4 hours before continuing.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, some attractions closed)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $50–80 excl. bed · Mid $80–150 excl. bed · High $150+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $2–4 |
| Lunch sandwich | $8–12 |
| Dinner entrée | $12–25 |
| Beer (pint) | $4–6 |
| Taxi within town | $10–15 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- FSW · Fort Madison Municipal Airport
- General aviation only; no scheduled passenger service
Typical fares
- Amtrak Chicago → Fort Madison, coach
- about $60, 4 h (check)
- Amtrak Fort Madison → Kansas City, coach
- about $50, 4 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walkable downtown; a car is needed for anything beyond the riverfront. Taxis or rideshares are scarce — arrange ahead.
See and do
Known for
- Old Fort Madison
- Amtrak Southwest Chief stop
- Mississippi Riverfront
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Burlington, Iowa | US 61 north, about 20 min | 25 min |
| Fairfield, Iowa | US 34 west, about 30 min | 35 min |
| Nauvoo, Illinois | US 136 east across the Mississippi, about 15 min | 20 min |
Sleep
- Downtown / Riverfront
- Walkable to the fort and Amtrak station; limited options.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hello |
| Thank you | Thank you |
| How much? | How much? |
| Where is the train station? | Where is the train station? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Amtrak station is unstaffed; buy tickets online or at the ticket machine.
- Old Fort Madison is closed Nov–Apr except by appointment.
- No Uber or Lyft reliably available; call a local taxi service.
Very safe; typical small-town risks. Lock your car and don't leave valuables visible.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Fort Madison yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Old Fort Madison
- Amtrak Southwest Chief stop
- Mississippi Riverfront
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Visit Fort Madison: fortmadison-ia.com/9/Visit-Fort-Madison
- Wikivoyage: Fort Madison, revision 5246957 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5246957
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Fort Madison
Take me to this address
Take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
English is universal; no local phrases needed.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/fort-madison). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.