Going to CoMo to cover the event for work.
I'll stray a little bit the day off depending on the forecast, but that general vicinity is where I'm going.
To experience the eclipse at 100% vs 99% is a pretty large difference. If you have the ability, get to an area in the path of totality. In total eclipse, temps will drop the most extreme there. Only the area in totality will see the sky turn as dark as a full moon night. There will be an effective 'sunrise/sunset' circling you. Animals/birds/bugs will be confused and come out. The sun's corona will be visible! Stars/Planets will be visible.
Those in the partial zone across Iowa will see dramatically fuzzy colors/shadows and once you reach peak eclipse there will be a slight darkening of the sky than normal, but probably too minimal for you even notice too much. I'd equate it to a mid-evening sky in the middle of the day. Temps will also go stagnant or drop in the middle of the day due to a significant loss of solar radiation.
This will be cool to witness no matter where you are in the US but infinitely more awesome if you get the chance to be in the path of totality.
IF you're going to the area with the path of totality, it's at max 2 min 40 sec long. Take your eye protection off and savor it. Don't waste your time taking a lot of pictures unless you're a professional photographer. You don't have a lot of time. Frankly... your phone camera won't take a very good picture of it anyway. You risk damaging the sensor (at any point in the partial eclipse stage) in your camera if you zoom in at the sun without a uv filter over it.