Iowa 44 begins at its junction with U.S. Highway 30 four miles (6 km) northeast of Logan.

It ends at an interchange with the Iowa Highway 141 freeway at Grimes.

It then intersects U.S. Highway 169 three miles (5 km) before entering Dallas Center and ends at a freeway interchange with Iowa Highway 141 in Grimes in the Des Moines metropolitan area.

Iowa 44 was one of 26 state highways to receive a new route number.

The westernmost 74 miles (119 km) of Iowa 44 are part of the state's Western Skies Scenic Byway.