Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Coralville, Iowa

Home to over 22,000 residents, the continuously expanding city of Coralville is situated on the northwest side of Iowa City and the University of Iowa Campus. This city has undergone significant transformation in recent years, resulting in the development of the Iowa River Landing district, which offers a delightful combination of shopping, culture, and entertainment.

The Coral Ridge Mall serves as the preferred shopping destination for the Iowa City area and transcends the typical shopping center; it features an NHL-regulation rink and the esteemed Iowa Children’s Museum.

The University of Iowa prominently influences Coralville, providing access to outstanding sports events and enriching cultural experiences, highlighted by its prestigious writing program and recently reopened art museum.

1. Coralville Center for the Performing Arts

Central to Coralville’s vibrant cultural landscape is this contemporary performing arts center, which inaugurated in 2011. Located adjacent to the public library, the facility boasts a 472-seat auditorium with a 40-foot proscenium, unobstructed sight lines, superior acoustics, an orchestra pit, and an advanced sound system.

Servicing the City Circle Theatre Company, this venue hosts professional-grade musicals and plays, facilitates community classes, and provides ample volunteer opportunities. For youthful audiences, the Young Footliters Youth Theatre stages an impressive series of performances tailored for children.

2. University of Iowa

Coralville neighbors the primary campus of Iowa’s oldest and second-largest university, providing residents with a wealth of sightseeing opportunities, museums, athletic events, and performing arts options right at their doorstep. Additionally, the former state capitol building, constructed in 1842, has been preserved on campus and features a museum detailing the history of Iowa, the university, and the building itself.

The recently reopened Stanley Museum of Art houses an impressive collection rivaling any university museum in the nation, featuring masterpieces by illustrious artists such as Picasso, Kandinsky, Matisse, Pollock, and Chagall, among others. Furthermore, the Iowa Hawkeyes, a formidable power in the Big Ten, deliver a captivating football experience steeped in both traditional and contemporary customs at Kinnick Stadium.

Moreover, the Kinnick Wave is a touching mid-game gesture, recognizing patients in the children’s hospital that overlooks the stadium.

3. Iowa River Landing

Positioned along the riverfront on the eastern side of Coralville is a dynamic district rapidly emerging from a former industrial site. Iowa River Landing marks the entry point to the city along I-80, seamlessly integrating culture, entertainment, dining, and retail experiences.

Among the noteworthy destinations already highlighted are the Johnson County Historical Society Museum and the Antique Car Museum of Iowa, alongside a diverse array of restaurants, a craft brewery, a Hyatt hotel, a seasonal farmers’ market, and the state-of-the-art Xtream Arena.

This area is also pedestrian-friendly, featuring public spaces such as the Sculpture Park, showcasing 11 captivating contemporary sculptures.

4. Xtream Arena

Opened in 2020, the Xtream Arena serves as a multipurpose facility with the capacity to hold 5,100 attendees. Constructed with an investment of $50 million, it functions as the home court for the University of Iowa’s women’s volleyball team and the home ice for the Iowa Heartlanders.

This minor league professional hockey team, which started its operations in 2021, successfully attracted a full house during its inaugural season. Housing two museums, the arena is a versatile venue capable of accommodating a varied array of sports events, including wrestling and indoor football, as well as concerts, comedy acts, and other special occasions.

5. Johnson County Historical Society Museum

Following the debut of the Xtream Arena in 2020, the Johnson County Historical Society initiated the relocation of its museum to the complex, significantly expanding exhibit space. This modern facility is enriched with engaging and informative interpretive boards that detail the lives and customs of the Meskwaki people in Johnson County, as well as showcasing the early 19th-century prairie and timber-lined river environment.

The society’s collections are extensive, and at the time of writing, efforts were underway to relocate various intriguing artifacts, including a vintage Linotype machine from the Daily Iowan, to the newly established site. To further explore the historical narrative of Johnson County, the Historical Society oversees several additional sites, including Plum Grove (1844), Coralville School House (1876), Johnson County Poor Farm (1855), and Coralville Old Town Hall (1892).

6. Antique Car Museum of Iowa

Another attraction that transitioned to the Xtream Arena is this charming car museum, showcasing a collection that dates back to the early days of automobile travel in Iowa. The Antique Car Museum features over 80 vehicles ranging from 1899 to 1965. Among the notable exhibits are one of three remaining Demots in the world, a 1908 Cadillac with a one-cylinder engine, a 1916 Haynes Cloverleaf Coupe with an unusually large hood, and a build-your-own Sears Motor Buggy from 1912.

Complementing these historic vehicles is an extensive display of vintage Iowa license plates and a complete Skelly gas station.

7. The Iowa Children’s Museum

Located within Coral Ridge Mall is a beloved, 28,000-square-foot educational playground designed for children aged 12 and under. The Iowa Children’s Museum offers an immersive, hands-on experience that encourages young minds to discover, create, explore, and imagine in a safe environment. While children learn through play, parents and guardians are provided with the necessary resources to enrich the interactive settings, fostering an active involvement in the learning journey.

Some featured activities include an art studio, a music area, a room with three model train systems, a construction-themed space featuring thousands of LEGO blocks, and numerous engaging exhibits simulating daily life scenarios, such as a hospital, grocery store, and pizzeria.

8. Coral Ridge Mall

The leading mall in the Iowa City area opened its doors in Coralville in 1998. Coral Ridge Mall’s success is attributed to its offering of far more than just shopping and dining experiences. Notable attractions include the Iowa Children’s Museum and a Marcus Cinema, as well as the Coral Ridge Ice Arena, an NHL-sized rink available to the public and utilized by youth teams and the University of Iowa hockey clubs.

The mall houses over 100 tenants, featuring well-known brands such as Barnes & Noble, H&M, JCPenney, Old Navy, and Target, while the food court near the rink offers options like Sarku, Panda Express, Panera Bread, and Chick-fil-A.

9. Coralville Lake

Located just upstream from Coralville, the Iowa River was dammed in the 1950s to create a massive reservoir, covering nearly 5,300 acres under normal conditions. Coralville Lake is ideal for outdoor recreational activities, featuring 18 boat ramps, three campgrounds, three marinas, four swimming beaches, 29 miles of trails, and 11 distinct recreational areas on its shores.

A short drive from Coralville takes you to the dam complex, featuring campgrounds, a disc golf course, a visitor center, and a beach area. Additionally, there’s an extensive network of wooded trails located a bit north at Squire Point, while the opposite shore is home to the Sugar Bottom Recreation Area, renowned for some of the best mountain biking opportunities in Iowa.

10. Clear Creek Trail

The Clear Creek flows southeast through Coralville, ultimately joining the Iowa River. Along the majority of its route, there is a 4.3-mile trail traversing a woodland area teeming with wildlife. This unpaved trail is perfect for summer strolls or biking, thanks to ample tree cover. At the eastern end, the path connects with the Iowa River Trail, which leads to the University of Iowa campus.

At the time of writing, there were ongoing efforts to extend the trail westwards to Kent Park in Tiffin, located six miles from Coralville, which will include a new bridge spanning Buffalo Creek.

11. Coralville Farmers’ Market

Iowa City boasts one of the best farmers’ markets in the state, conveniently located just ten minutes away. However, Coralville has its own market, recently relocated to Iowa River Landing. Beginning in mid-May, this market occurs on Monday evenings, featuring seasonal local produce, baked goods, honey, eggs, flowers, wine, and a diverse range of handmade arts and crafts.

Live music enhances the experience, with a new guest musician performing each week.

12. Devonian Fossil Gorge

Located south of the Coralville Lake dam, visitors have the unique opportunity to walk along a former ocean floor dating back 375 million years, adorned with remarkable fossils. This limestone bedrock was gradually revealed when floodwaters eroded layers of silt, sand, and vegetation during floods in 1993 and 2008. The site serves as an exceptional testament to life during the Devonian period, complete with interpretive signs to educate visitors on what they are observing.

An informative display at the Entry Plaza features information boards mounted on six monoliths made from 425-million-year-old dolomite, which stand as tall as 15 feet.

13. Iowa Firefighters Memorial

Iowa is recognized as the first state in the nation to establish a monument and visitor center dedicated to its firefighters, reflecting the state’s long-standing commitment to safety education and fire service training. The Iowa Firefighters Memorial, located near the Iowa River in Coralville, aims to “honor, celebrate, and inspire the spirit, courage, and service of Iowa firefighters both past and present.”

The site features a wall inscribed with the names of 700 Iowa firefighters who have made the ultimate sacrifice, alongside a memorial sculpture, eternal flame, garden, and visitor center including restroom facilities.

14. Coralville Community Aquatic Center

Situated by City Hall on the eastern edge of S.T. Morrison Park, Coralville’s outdoor pool complex is a refreshing sanctuary during the hot summer months. The facility encompasses over 11,000 square feet of surface water, centered around a large, L-shaped pool featuring a 25-meter section with lanes, which is connected to a beach-entry recreational pool equipped with climbing apparatus for children in the shallowest areas.

Additionally, a vibrant splash deck with fountains and play structures delights younger visitors, while the center also includes a diving well, three distinct water slides, and a concession stand.

15. Coralville 4thFest

The largest community event of the year in Coralville takes place at S.T. Morrison Park around the Independence Day holiday. This three-day celebration includes a carnival, numerous family-friendly activities, food and craft vendors, a 5K run, a lineup of live entertainment, and the largest 4th of July parade in the region.

The parade commences at noon on the final day and features marching bands and spectacular floats representing various local organizations, clubs, and businesses. Naturally, no Independence Day celebration is complete without fireworks, which light up the sky after dark in S.T. Morrison Park.