Lamoni and the Amish Country Store: A Day Trip Guide From Your Osceola Hotel

Staying at a hotel in Osceola Iowa near Lamoni puts visitors within an easy southbound drive of one of the most popular roadside stops in southern Iowa. The Amish Country Store in Lamoni sits just off I-35 and has grown into a barn style marketplace where travelers and locals come for baked goods, pantry staples, gifts, and a steady stream of small town conversation.

A Lamoni loop works well as a quiet, uncomplicated day. The pattern is simple: leave Osceola, head south to the Amish Country Store and welcome center, explore a couple of in town spots or a nearby park, then return to the hotel before dark with snacks in the bag and a few new things to talk about.

Getting from Osceola to Lamoni

Lamoni sits roughly twenty five to thirty minutes south of Osceola along Interstate 35. The route is straightforward:

• Join I-35 south from the Osceola area.
• Follow I-35 to Exit 4 for Lamoni.
• Turn toward town; the Amish Country Store and Iowa Welcome Center sit just off the exit on South Spruce Drive.

The store, welcome center, and Greyhound stop all share the same general address and parking lot, which makes the site easy to find from the highway and easy to recognize on the way back.

Parking and layout at the Amish Country Store

The Amish Country Store complex includes:

• A large barn style building that holds the main store area.
• The Southern Iowa Welcome Center functions, including information racks and restrooms.
• A Maid Rite diner space at the same address, known for loose meat sandwiches, broasted chicken, and an Amish bakery case.

Parking typically wraps around the front and side of the building in a standard paved lot, with room for cars, pickups, and travelers coming off the interstate. The lot also functions as a bus stop area, so it helps to park a little off to the side when possible to keep clear lanes for coaches and larger vehicles.

Most visitors budget at least forty five minutes to an hour here, more if lunch or a sit down snack is part of the plan.

What the Amish Country Store offers

Inside the store, shelves and displays are packed with a mix of Amish and locally made goods, road trip staples, and gift items. The store’s own description highlights:

• Jams, jellies, pickles, honey, and other canned pantry items.
• Bulk candies and snack mixes.
• Handmade quilts, woven baskets, barn quilt art, and other home goods.

Travelers also find:

• An Amish bakery presence with pies, cookies, cinnamon rolls, and breads.
• Locally themed items such as embroidered towels and small crafts made in Lamoni.
• Gift baskets and curated sets that bundle canned goods and handmade items from the store’s shelves.

Because the building also houses the Southern Iowa Welcome Center, there are typically maps, brochures, and staff or volunteers who can point guests toward nearby parks, scenic drives, and other Lamoni stops.

A comfortable pattern for many groups is to walk the store slowly once, pick out snacks and pantry items on the second pass, then sit down for a simple meal or dessert from the Maid Rite side of the building before moving on.

Additional Lamoni stops

After the Amish Country Store, the rest of Lamoni feels very close. The town functions as one of the main communities in Decatur County and supports visitors with basic services, small parks, and campus life linked to Graceland University.

Common follow up stops include:

• Downtown Lamoni: A short drive from the interstate cluster takes visitors into the heart of town, where they find small businesses, local services, and a traditional main street feel. Walking a few blocks gives a sense of the community beyond the highway exit.
• Graceland University area: The campus sits near town and provides sidewalks, green spaces, and buildings that are easy to see from public streets. A slow drive around the perimeter or a brief campus walk can round out the day for guests who enjoy seeing college towns.
• Local parks: City parks in Lamoni offer playgrounds, green space, and simple walking loops. They work well for families traveling with children who need time to run and climb before heading back to the hotel. Information on local parks and amenities is available through the City of Lamoni or chamber sites.

Time allowing, some visitors combine Lamoni with a slightly longer loop to nearby outdoor spots on a future trip, once the basic southbound route feels familiar.

Respectful travel in Amish country

Parts of the Lamoni area include Amish families and businesses. The store itself pulls together products from Amish artisans and other local makers, and some roads around town see horse drawn buggies as well as cars.

A few simple habits help keep the visit respectful:

• Driving near buggies: Slow down early, give buggies plenty of space, and pass only when sight lines are clear and it is legal and safe to do so. Nighttime and low visibility conditions call for extra patience.
• Photography: It is usually fine to photograph the store exterior, barn quilt art, and scenery. Direct photos of Amish individuals can be sensitive, so many visitors choose to focus on landscapes, buildings, and products rather than people.
• Noise and behavior: Treat the parking lot and lobby like shared community spaces. Keeping music volume reasonable, watching children near displays, and leaving spaces as clean as they were found helps everyone feel welcome.

A quick look at store and city websites before the day trip can give an updated sense of any local guidelines or events that might affect traffic or store flow.

Timing, daylight, and weather considerations

Since Lamoni sits only a short distance from Osceola, the day can flex around weather and daylight. Many guests:

• Leave Osceola midmorning, spend late morning and early afternoon in Lamoni, then return before sunset.
• Or visit in the afternoon for shopping and a meal, then head back to the hotel before dark, especially in winter months.

Basic planning goes a long way:

• Check the Amish Country Store website or listings for current hours and any seasonal changes or holiday closures.
• Keep an eye on the forecast for rain, snow, or high winds, particularly during winter or storm seasons.
• Pack a small bag with water, a light jacket, and simple snacks, even if a full meal is planned at the store or in town.

The return drive follows the same I-35 route north, and the limited number of turns makes it easy to navigate at the end of the day, even for newcomers.

Making the Lamoni loop part of a longer stay

A Lamoni and Amish Country Store loop is often the first southbound adventure for guests based in Osceola. Once the route is familiar, it becomes one more option in a small library of easy day trips that start and end at the same hotel.



Travelers who like quiet roads and small town routes often enjoy pairing this outing with other nearby drives. A quiet roads and photo drive post can help highlight other backroad stretches that are worth a slow loop, and another small town day trip, such as a Lacona or Milo drive, can give guests a second template for simple, repeatable days out. Taken together, these guides show how a hotel in Osceola Iowa near Lamoni can serve as a comfortable base for exploring several directions without long, complicated travel days.