The World’s Most Crooked Street: An Iowa Road Trip Like No Other

I remember riding to the Wisconsin Dells when I was a kid and being enamored with the windy roads.  A vivid memory I have to this day is watching my mom as she traversed back into the RV we borrowed from my Aunt Kathy as my dad hit the gas around the tight corners.

The Cupboards were flying open and she was falling into the counter and eventually on her butt as we cackled with laughter.

After that, I would've bet the most crooked street in the world was in Wisconsin somewhere...but I'd have bet wrong.

"Where We're Going We Don't Need (straight) Roads"

There's a road called Snake Alley - the "crookedest street in the world" (or so they say). It's a fun little attraction in this small Iowa town...but was originally built to tackle a hill that was too steep for a straight road.

Even back in the day they knew it was a crazy unique road and became an attraction that gained the nickname "Snake Alley". But despite its popularity, it wasn't the best street for horses. They struggled to climb its curves, so the street became one-way, and it still is to this day.

According to Ripleys.com, "Snake Alley consists of five half-curves and two quarter-curves! Believe it or not, that spans 275 feet".  That's pretty crooked!

Snake Alley vs Lombard Street

Now, there's a bit of a rivalry between Snake Alley and Lombard Street in San Francisco. People argue about which street is more crooked, but let's be real, they're both pretty darn crooked. It's like choosing between two flavors of ice cream - they're both good, but in different ways.

If you're into more turns, go for Lombard Street. But if you want a real adrenaline rush, Snake Alley is the one for you.

Where Can I Find Snake Alley?

Snake Alley is located in Burlington, Iowa where during the summer months you can actually drive your car down the one-way at a brisk 3 mph so let's start planning a road trip for this summer!

So there you have it, Snake Alley - the crookedest street around with a touch of history and a lot of personality.