With some terrific day trip options available in the surrounding area, having your own car makes good sense. Without one, it’d be much harder to explore all that Storm Lake, 55 miles away, has to offer. Living Heritage Tree Museum, Storm Lake Golf Course and Chautauqua Park alone justify the drive out here. The locals will also likely point you toward Winterset, 60 miles away. If you can only find time for one attraction here, make sure it’s John Wayne Birthplace Museum. (But we’re also huge fans of The Winterset Stage and Roseman Bridge.)