diff --git a/changelog/57139.fixed b/changelog/57139.fixed
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..af460e9b2a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/57139.fixed
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix boto_route53 issue with (multiple) VPCs.
diff --git a/salt/states/boto_route53.py b/salt/states/boto_route53.py
index bd31def50f4..0143c4e276f 100644
--- a/salt/states/boto_route53.py
+++ b/salt/states/boto_route53.py
@@ -526,8 +526,11 @@ def hosted_zone_present(
             create = True
         else:
             if private_zone:
-                for v, d in deets.get("VPCs", {}).items():
-                    if d["VPCId"] == vpc_id and d["VPCRegion"] == vpc_region:
+                vpcs = deets.get("VPCs", [])
+                if isinstance(vpcs, dict):
+                    vpcs = vpcs.values()
+                for vpc in vpcs:
+                    if vpc["VPCId"] == vpc_id and vpc["VPCRegion"] == vpc_region:
                         create = False
                         break
                     else: