Ready for a true Heart of Iowa experience? The Des Moines Downtown scavaHunt is an interactive scavenger hunt adventure packed with riddles, missions, and challenges. Explore playgrounds, theaters, art gardens, and more on this flexible walking tour—perfect for teamwork and sightseeing.
This scavenger hunt will help you explore Des Moines. This top rated Des Moines Downtown Scavenger Hunt scavenger hunt is 1.30 miles and has 5 stops.
4.4 (15 reviews)
Des Moines Downtown pulses with Hawkeye State Capital energy—think Riverfront Des Moines views, East Village Arts flair, and Sculpture Park Hub vibes. This vibrant neighborhood buzzes with history and local pride. On the hunt, you will solve clever riddles at the Playground, snap team photos at Sylvan Theater, and uncover artistic gems like Clare and Miles Mills Rose Garden or Three Cairns. Each mission reveals new sights. Locals rediscover hidden corners while visitors get an immersive intro to iconic landmarks. Whether you crave competition or just fun with friends, this self-guided scavenger hunt adventure brings everyone together.
You can do our interactive scavenger hunt at any time.
Get ready to swing into action at Greenwood Park’s playground! This isn’t just child’s play—it’s your stage for slides, laughter, and legendary teamwork. From daring climbers to champion spinners, this play zone is where fun hits full tilt. Time to raise the “play stakes”!
Cue the spotlight—Sylvan Theater is calling! This leafy outdoor stage has hosted everything from Shakespeare to swing bands. With the birds as your backup singers and the trees as your audience, it’s time to act natural and perform your way through the park’s most dramatic stop!
Stop and smell the victory! The Clare and Miles Mills Rose Garden is a bloom-tiful mix of color and calm. With hundreds of roses bursting in every shade imaginable, it’s a petal-powered paradise that’s thorn to be wild. Ready to rose to the occasion?
Rock on! The “Three Cairns” may not play music, but they rock in their own way. Created by artist Andy Goldsworthy, these towering stone beacons celebrate nature’s rhythm and resilience. Each cairn stands as a reminder that even rocks can make a powerful statement—no pebbles of doubt here!
Let your creativity paint the town! The Des Moines Art Center isn’t just a building—it’s a masterpiece that houses masterpieces. With bold architecture, thought-provoking art, and endless photo ops, this stop proves that art isn’t just on the walls—it’s in the adventure itself.
Grab your phone and rally your crew—it is all you need! The Let's Roam app guides you through Des Moines Downtown as you tackle photo missions, answer trivia riddles, and unlock challenges on your schedule. Earn points for every completed challenge. Compete against other teams on the leaderboard while discovering unique spots in the heart of downtown Des Moines.
Activity Type: Anytime Scavenger Hunt
Starting Area: 4500 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312
Travel Method: Walking
Walking Distance: 1.3 Mi (2.1 KM)
Time:1.5 - 2 Hours
Skill Level:Friend & Family Fun
Extra Admissions: None
Des Moines Downtown Scavenger Hunt Team Building Scavenger Hunts
Engage with your team by going spot to spot on an epic team building scavenger hunt!
Des Moines Downtown Scavenger Hunt Date Night Scavenger Hunt
Explore the most romantic spots of Des Moines on a Date Night Scavenger Hunt!
Des Moines Downtown Scavenger Hunt Bachelorette Scavenger Hunt
Challenges created to bring the bride's squad closer and make the celebration even more unforgettable
Des Moines Downtown Scavenger Hunt Birthday Scavenger Hunt
Celebrate with a birthday party scavenger hunt!
Love a little friendly rivalry? On the Des Moines Downtown Scavenger Hunt adventure, every player gets interactive photo missions at places like Clare and Miles Mills Rose Garden or trivia challenges near Three Cairns. Work together to solve riddles at Sylvan Theater for big points—then see if your team climbs to the top of our leaderboard for ultimate bragging rights in downtown Des Moines!
Team: Max Power
Team: For the Lolz
Team: 1st not Last
Do you have what it takes to be a Des Moines Downtown Scavenger Hunt champion?
ScavengerHunt.com is a fantastic way to see what LODO has to offer. Uncovering historic plaques near Sylvan Theater made for an educational and fun city challenge.
Elliot Warren
As a tourist, I found this Downtown Des Moines walking tour super engaging. The missions led us to hidden gems like Three Cairns and cool local art spots.
Delaney Stroud
If you are looking for an outdoor thing to do in Capital City, this scavenger hunt is awesome. The Des Moines Art Center and Rose Garden were definite highlights.
Miles Benton
Exploring LODO with ScavengerHunt.com was the perfect date idea. We solved riddles at Sylvan Theater and took fun photos around Downtown together.
Reese Fletcher
I loved discovering the Playground and Three Cairns on our Downtown scavenger hunt. It was a family friendly adventure exploring Capital City with my kids.
Shannon Pruitt
The scavenger hunt in LoMo was exactly what I needed after moving here. Exploring Downtown with trivia and puzzles around iconic spots is now my favorite thing to do in River City.
Reid Sanders
Our walking tour of Des Moines with ScavengerHunt.com showed us hidden gems like the Art Center and plaques in the Rose Garden. Highly recommend for tourists looking for things to do.
Tess Windsor
We needed something new for date night so we tried the Downtown scavenger hunt. It was such a fun thing to do and exploring art at Sylvan Theater felt magical together.
Ezra Carson
The Des Moines treasure hunt was a fantastic outdoor activity for our group. Walking LODO, completing challenges at Three Cairns, made it feel like a true adventure through the city.
Holly Benson
I took my family on the Downtown Des Moines Scavenger Hunt and we loved every minute. Our kids especially enjoyed solving riddles at the Playground and Rose Garden.
Miles Everett
ScavengerHunt.com made exploring Downtown feel like a real treasure hunt. We discovered art, solved riddles, and found cool points of interest at every turn.
Laurel Greer
The scavenger hunt through Downtown is easily one of the best things to do in River City. The Sylvan Theater clues really got us thinking while having fun together.
Mitchell Harvey
Walking tour fans will love this as much as I did. Exploring LODO spots like Clare and Miles Mills Rose Garden was an awesome outdoor activity with plenty to see.
Evelyn Rowe
Took my date on the Downtown Scavenger Hunt and we had a blast solving puzzles near Three Cairns and exploring hidden gems all around the Art Center area.
Darren Kipling
Bringing the family to LODO for this Scavenger Hunt adventure was amazing. The playground and Sylvan Theater were big hits with everyone and teamwork made it extra fun.
Samara Brighton
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