Burlington is a city in Southeast Iowa. It is on the Mississippi River and has a population of about 27,000.

From the raising of the American flag here in 1805 by Zebulon Pike to becoming a post of the American Fur Company in 1829 and then Iowa Territory's first territorial capital in 1838, Burlington has been a place of considerable historical value. Intriguingly, it is the source for the name Hawkeye State (from the name of a newspaper honoring Chief Black Hawk) and the name Burlington Railroad.

Get in

By train

• 1 Amtrak, 300 S Main St. The California Zephyr stops in Burlington on its runs between Chicago and San Francisco. 

By plane

• 2 Southeast Iowa Regional Airport (BRL  ^IATA), (BRL  ^IATA) (about five miles south of town). Has nonstop service on Air Choice One to Chicago-O'Hare, Mason City and St. Louis.  

See

• 1 Snake Alley. Downtown Burlington's 'crookedest street in the world'. Like a miniature version of San Francisco's Lombard Street.  
• Des Moines County Historical Society, N.3rd Street. site of old public library. Now home to Historical Society. Changing exhibites creates fresh interesting local history. 
• Crapo Park, 2800 Madison Ave. A riverfront park featuring a scenic overlook, arboretum, and the Hawkeye Cabin.
• Starr's Cave Nature Center, 11627 Starrs Cave Park Rd. Nature reserve encompassing the Flint Creek ravine and other craggy topography, with a sealed-off "cave". Hiking and exploring opportunities. Sa-Su Noon-4pm.

Do

• Burlington Bees, 2712 Mt. Pleasant St, ☏ +1 319 754-5705. Burlington Bees is a Minor league baseball team. The season runs from the second week in April to the second week in September. Price ranges are from $8 to $6 and can be as little as $1 on promotion days. 
• Catfish Bend Casino, 3001 Winegard Dr. Casino with an attached Hampton Inn, buffet, gift shop, and even a water park.
  • FunCity Resort, this outdoor/indoor water park has a number of slides, not to mention a go-kart track, bowling alley, and arcade.
• Wildlife Lakes Elk Farm Inc, 13810 Washington Rd, West Burlington. For when you've ever had an interest in petting or just watching an elk. +1 319-759-7548
• 34 Raceway, 10463 S Prairie Grove Rd, West Burlington. This is a country style race track where you can watch OHV dragsters and such compete.

Sleep

Catfish Bend Casino/FunCity Resort has a Hampton Inn as mentioned above as well its own hotel property.

Or, for a more quaint experience with views of the river, you could try:

• Squirrel's Nest Bed & Breakfast, 500 North St, Burlington. +1 319-752-8382

Safety

Burlington has a touch of crime, so take heed when heading out, especially at night. Unfortunately, there was a traumatic LGBT hate crime death here in 2016, not wholly unlike what happened in Laramie, only this time the victim was only 16 years old.

Go next

Routes through Burlington

Omaha ← Ottumwa ←	W  E	→ Galesburg → Chicago
Osceola ← Fairfield ←	W  E	→ Galesburg → Aurora
Davenport ← Muscatine ←	N  S	→ Fort Madison → Hannibal