Iowa 163 is a divided highway with some freeway sections for most of its length and serves as a connector between Des Moines with Burlington.

It continues east and meets Iowa Highway 117 near Prairie City.

In the 1970s the highway was divided through Polk County east of Pleasant Hill.

The segments of 163 in rural areas were converted to four lanes, but the main highway still went through the city centers.

Today 163 is divided its entire length, except for short stretches of undivided highway in the Des Moines area.