# Iowa 511 — user reviews > 75 indexed App Store user reviews of Iowa 511 by Iowa Department of Transportation, rated 3.45/5 from 602 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iowa-511/id528047799/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iowa-511/id528047799.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 273 · 4★ 64 · 3★ 38 · 2★ 39 · 1★ 163 ## What do users think of Iowa 511? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 🚀 Great app for driving - 👍 Helpful for winter driving - 👍 Useful for seeing road conditions - 👍 Loved the camera features **Cons** - 🐛 Cameras not working - 🐛 App freezes/crashes - 🐛 Inaccurate road condition reporting - 🤔 Confusing new layout **Commonly reported bugs** - Cameras not loading - Map not showing any information - App locking up when trying to use layers - Road condition data not updating in real-time **Most requested features** - Include tow ban information with expiration times - Improve map legend and visibility of road conditions - Bring back old app design ## Newest reviews (11 of 75) ### 4/5 — Great App for driving *2025-10-17* I had Iowa511 on my old phone, didn’t put it on my new one. I lasted about two weeks, got bottled up in a traffic snarl yesterday and immediately loaded a new copy to the phone. It was a big help. By the way, I was a passenger and not the driver. I don’t text and drive… ### 3/5 — Too many layers *2023-04-20, version 5.6.88* It’s helpful to see road conditions and traffic speeds but I have to unselect and reselect the boxes for it to show every time I open the app. ### 4/5 — Very good *2023-01-15* I will be a dissenter with all the negative reviews on this app. I found it very easy to use and the different layers are awesome. I accessed a few cameras and played the live feed without any issues. Will definitely keep this app handy for any travels access IA. **Developer response:** Thanks for the super positive words and rating. I'm really glad that you found it useful. Share with your friends so they know before they go. :-) ### 3/5 — Hit and Miss *2023-01-04, version 5.6.75* More times than not this is very inaccurate information. ### 2/5 — Winter driving *2022-12-26, version 5.6.75* The red and pink are pretty close in shade and difficult to tell the difference unless they are right next to each other ### 1/5 — Difficult *2022-12-22* I want your old road conditions map/information back. This new 511 site is very complicated when all you want is road conditions. Why do you make it so difficult? You are trying to pack too much overall DOT information into what used to be very easy to use. Please bring the old 511 back! **Developer response:** If you just want to see the road conditions, check out the layers and customize your view. The app will remember the settings for the next time you use it. We make the app customizable because different people want to see different things. If you'd like to reach out to us to share more specific feedback, we'd love to hear it - 511feedback@iowadot.us ### 1/5 — Map doesn’t show any information *2022-12-22, version 5.6.69* The map won’t update to show road conditions or any of the other features. Yes I have logged in. ### 1/5 — Hate the update *2022-12-22, version 5.6.69* Update is too challenging to use. ### 1/5 — Terrible Design *2022-12-20* The old app was way better. Can’t see any road conditions on the map unless you zoom in quite a bit. No legend on the map, have to go through menus and scroll to find what type of weather conditions. The legend used to be visible on the bottom of the map for easy identification. Not a fan. **Developer response:** Hi, This doesn't sound right. You should be able to see the road conditions at a statewide zoom level. As for the legend, we've been listening to the feedback, like yours, and we have an update coming out early next week (approx 12/27) that will move the legend to the bottom like it was in the old app as well as removing the "where to" search bar. A helpful tip, you can tap on the colored line of the road conditions to see more information - like when it was updated, what it's covered with (snow, ice, etc..) and a weather forecast for that segment of road. If you have more feedback, please email us at 511feedback@iowadot.us ### 1/5 — Bad *2022-12-20, version 5.6.69* Do not like show how the road are it takes me for every to find out and I still haven’t not like the old app you could just look at the color of the road ### 2/5 — Change is not good *2022-12-20* Your change on the app is for the worst! ! The old App was much better. Would like to go back if I could! I don’t need that location to show up every time I use it. If I’m traveling in Iowa I don’t need the location to be on the front screen! I don’t see how to cancel it off the screen, if you can! Harder to navigate! Needs a lot of changes! **Developer response:** Hi, We've been listening to our user's feedback and actually have an update coming out early next week (approx 12/27) that will remove the "where to" search bar. We'd love to hear more of the things you don't like so we can better our app for our users. Please email us at 511feedback@iowadot.us. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — App updates *2026-05-05, version 5.8.96* I do not appreciate being forced to update the app before I can view the map. I was not in a place where I could perform an update so I was unable to check traffic before driving using this app. ### 1/5 — Fix the cameras!! *2026-02-20, version 5.8.51* Was working ok until a major storm hit. Roadside cameras won’t load at all!! ### 1/5 — Confused *2025-02-16, version 5.7.133* I can see road conditions regionally, but Iowa road conditions are blank, or orange triangles. I would like to see what the conditions are, or wind conditions, not whether or not they are applying material ### 1/5 — Map vs. alerts *2024-06-27, version 5.7.108* It provides no help to list counties affected by flooding if the map doesn’t show the counties!!!???!!! ### 1/5 — No info on tow bans *2024-01-15, version 5.7.61* Seriously the roads are clear enough now that the ban is no longer needed. If your going to have the tow ban info on the app then include a time when it will be lifted. ### 1/5 — 511 *2024-01-13, version 5.7.61* Can not get anything but homepage. Last year got locations of plows and cameras. ### 1/5 — Does not properly reflect road conditions *2023-03-16, version 5.6.88* I think the past reporting of road conditions have been good. Lately, the app has been way off. Roads have been horrendous which I would consider pink or purple but were reported green or seasonal. Very incorrect in my opinion. I don’t trust it anymore ### 1/5 — Does not update to road conditions. *2023-02-28, version 5.6.75* Tama co for instance make a PSA that all roads are 100 percent ice. App still shows blue. So beware it does track or update in real time ### 1/5 — Road cameras *2023-01-03* I used to really like this app I could look at the cameras and see what the weather is doing out on the roads that I have to drive so I know how to prepare or what I’m getting into when I go out on the roads now I can’t get the cameras to come up at all. really dislike the way stuff has been redone and you can’t look at nothing. not knowing what the roads are like in the winter time is not fun. **Developer response:** Hi, You can find the cameras by turning on the Roadside Camera or Plow Camera layers from the Layers button in the bottom right corner. Then just tap on the icon to see the cameras. For the Roadside Cameras (our permanent, non-moving cameras), after you tap the icon, you can scroll through the cameras along that route by tapping the arrows at the bottom of the screen. Also, the road conditions layer is turned on by default. If you'd like more information about those conditions (what the pavement is covered with and the time the condition was last updated), you can tap the colored line. If you'd like more help, please reach out to us at 511feedback@iowadot.us. ### 1/5 — Don’t bother *2022-12-23, version 5.6.69* The cameras never work. What’s the point ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Great app! other states need to model this. *2025-12-01* Used this app on 11/28 through 11/30 while traveling in Iowa. It is great, loved the camera features on the road trucks and interstates. Very useful to see actual road conditions. ### 5/5 — Great for winter *2025-01-04, version 5.7.133* SO helpful during the winter to see the road conditions and where the plows are at. Thanks! ### 5/5 — 511 *2025-01-01, version 5.7.133* you’re so helpful thank you so much ### 5/5 — Thank you! *2024-01-19* This is one of the things I love about living in Iowa. Four seasons are wonderful, but the havoc that can be played by mother nature is sometimes terrifying. 511 takes the guesswork out of the dangers of driving during storms. The video cameras show real time footage of road conditions on all major thoroughfares. It's one thing too read that roads are partially covered, but it's another much better thing to actually see the condition of the road. A picture is worth 1000 words! ### 5/5 — Awesome App *2024-01-18, version 5.7.61* I love this app! Just moved to Iowa and not used to snow or the road conditions that follow. This app gives great insights about the roads and has great functionality. ### 5/5 — Saved me from tragedy *2024-01-14* This app sent me alerts in real time this week and it saved me time and grief not once but several times! I was informed of major traffic conditions that caused accidents and resulted in tow bans across in my local area. I was able to inform my clients to stay home instead of attempting to drive to my office, and they were grateful that I cared enough to reschedule. A+ 511 thank you!! ### 5/5 — Thanks IA DOT! *2024-01-14* Thank you all so much for this app! We have young drivers and it is so helpful to know when the roads are safe for everyone in our family. A lot of work has gone into this app and we really appreciate it!! I’ve seen many recommend it, on an ISU parent page as well, for students traveling back after winter break…lots of people praising the app! Thank you! ### 5/5 — Iowa DOT *2023-02-23* Great website, easy navigation, great location information. I grew up in Iowa and now work for Washington DOT. The winter information gives a great snapshot of road conditions. Be safe and give the roadway workers space **Developer response:** Thanks so much for the nice review. Hopefully the winters are a little better for you out in the PNW. ### 5/5 — Map *2022-12-22* The old app was very easy to use. Made it harder to use. No ledge d so I don’t know what color means what on the road conditions. **Developer response:** Currently, the legend is actually under the button in the upper right corner with the layers. However, we've been listening to our users and with an update that will be in the app store in the next few days (from 12/23) the legend and layer buttons will now be on the bottom bar and the legend will function like it did in the old app. ### 5/5 — New app *2022-11-29, version 5.6.53* You should have never changed it! --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-18.*