{{Short description|State highway in Iowa, United States}} {{Use American English|date=May 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox road |state=IA |type=IA |route=81 |map={{maplink-road|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Wikipedia KML/Iowa Highway 81}}}} |map_custom=yes |map_notes=Iowa 81 highlighted in red |length_mi=2.215 |length_ref=<ref name=IowaDOT>{{IowaDOT|2011-01-15|year=2009}}</ref> |established={{start date|1969|1|1}}<ref name="Hatfield">{{cite news|title=Iowa's Highway Route Numbers Revised|last=Hatfield|first=Richard|date=November 12, 1968|work=Des Moines Tribune}}</ref> |direction_a=South |terminus_a={{Jct|state=MO|MO|81}} southwest of Farmington |junction= |direction_b=North |terminus_b={{Jct|state=IA|IA|2}} in Farmington |counties=Van Buren |previous_type=I |previous_route=80 |next_type=IA |next_route=83 }} '''Iowa Highway 81''' is a state highway that runs from south to north in southeastern Iowa. It begins at the Missouri state line southwest of Farmington, where it continues as Missouri Route 81 and ends at Iowa 2 in Farmington. The route Iowa 81 takes has been in the primary highway system since the 1920s. The current Iowa 81 was created on January 1, 1969, when it traded route numbers with Iowa 114 in the southeast-central part of the state.
==Route description== Iowa 81 begins at the Missouri border, where it is a continuation of Missouri Route 81. The highway heads in a northeasterly direction from that point, passing by Indian Lake Park along the way. It ends at Iowa 2 on the west side of Farmington.<ref name="2011 DOT map">{{cite IowaDOT map|year=2011|accessdate=May 7, 2011|link=no}}</ref>
==History== Prior to its current designation, Iowa 81 was known as Iowa 114. On January 1, 1969, Iowa 114 and Iowa 81 traded route numbers in order to harmonize route numbers with neighboring states, Route 81 in Missouri, in this case.<ref name="Hatfield" /> At the time of its designation, the highway was a fully paved road.<ref name=DOT1969>{{cite IowaDOT map|year=1969|accessdate=May 7, 2011}}</ref>
==Major intersections== {{Jcttop|state=IA|county=Van Buren|length_ref=<ref name=IowaDOT />}} {{IAint |township=Farmington |ctdab=Van Buren |mile=0.000 |road={{Jct|state=MO|MO|81|dir1=south|city1=Kahoka}} |notes=Continuation into Missouri }} {{IAint |location=Farmington |mile=2.215 |road={{Jct|state=IA|IA|2|city1=Farmington|city2=Cantril}} }} {{Jctbtm}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Attached KML}} *[http://www.iowahighwayends.net/ends/ia81.html End of Iowa 81] at Iowa Highway Ends
081 Category:Transportation in Van Buren County, Iowa