2-Day Dubuque to Decorah Road Trip

Arrival day

Before Day 1. The days run in a line: Dubuque on Day 1, farm country and the river bluffs on Day 2, then the mounds and Decorah on Day 3.Details

Flying in: Dubuque has a small regional airport, so check ahead on flights. Many visitors fly into a larger airport such as Cedar Rapids, Moline, Madison or Chicago and drive the rest, which is a long road from some of them. Check the road and the weather before you set out.
You need a car: The places on this trip are far apart and the roads between them run through farm country and river bluffs. A car is the way to do it. Fill the tank in the larger towns, since some stretches have few services.
A night after Day 2: Day 2 ends on the river near McGregor, and Day 3 starts at the mounds just north of it, so a room in or near McGregor or Marquette saves backtracking. Small river towns fill on fall weekends when the bluffs turn color, so book ahead.
What to wear: The bluffs are steep and the trails climb, so pack shoes with grip and a layer for cool mornings. The weather can change fast in the Midwest, so carry a rain jacket and, in summer, insect repellent. Day 1 starts in Dubuque, so settle in the evening before.

How much walking? On foot, about 0.4 miles a day, and 142.6 miles by car in all across 2 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.

Day 1. Dubuque and Dyersville and farm country

4 stops · 0.4 mi on foot, 23.2 mi by car

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1
Morning
Field of Dreams movie site
The baseball field built in 1988 on two farms outside Dyersville for the 1989 film Field of Dreams. It was left behind when filming ended, beside the farmhouse, and it is now a place people come to walk and play catch. It is open farmland with little shade, so check ahead on the season and the access.
Go when Morning, before the heat and the crowds build.
Local tip It is a field and a farmhouse, not a ticketed attraction in the usual sense, so go for the walk and the open sky. There is little shade in summer, so bring water, and check ahead on the season and access.
Photo: Madmaxmarchhare of Englis…, CC BY 2.5 on Wikimedia Commons
About 45 min by car21.0 mi
2
Morning
Mines of Spain State Recreation Area
A state park on the southern edge of Dubuque, with walking trails, a bird and butterfly garden and the sites of the early lead mines led by Julien Dubuque, who is buried here. The sites form a National Historic Landmark District. Wear shoes with grip, and check ahead on the nature center.
Go when Morning, while the trails are cool.
Local tip Pick one trail rather than trying them all, since the park is large and hilly. Take water, wear shoes with grip, and check ahead on the nature center and on trail conditions after rain.
Photo: Bill Whittaker, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Lunch
Pork tenderloin sandwich
A thin, breaded and fried pork cutlet, often wider than the bun it comes on, with pickles and mustard, a sandwich the state is known for.
Local tip Share one if you do not have a big appetite, since the cutlet is large.
About 11 min by car or transit2.2 mi
3
MiddayIndoor
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
A museum on the Dubuque riverfront about the culture and history of the rivers of America, with more than a dozen aquariums of river wildlife, such as catfish and sturgeon, and outdoor exhibits. It is an indoor stop, so it works in rain. Check ahead on the opening.
Go when Midday, as an indoor stop.
Local tip Start with the river history, then spend your time at the aquariums with the big river fish. It suits a wet or cold day. Check ahead on the opening.
Photo: Dirk Hansen, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 8 min walk0.4 mi
4
Afternoon
Fenelon Place Elevator
A small funicular railway that has carried riders up the bluff since 1884, rebuilt in 1893. Two observation decks at the top look out over downtown Dubuque. It is a short ride, so treat it as a stop of its own. Check ahead on whether it is running in the season you come.
Go when Afternoon, on a clear day.
Local tip It is a short ride up a steep slope, so it works as a stop on your way through town. The view from the top is clearer on a bright day. Check ahead on the season and whether it is running.
Photo: Dirk, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Dinner
Walleye
A mild freshwater fish, fried or baked, a regular dish in the river towns of the upper Mississippi, served with potatoes or slaw.
Local tip Ask whether the fish is local and how it is cooked.

If it rains. National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium is covered, so keep it. Move Field of Dreams movie site, Mines of Spain State Recreation Area and Fenelon Place Elevator to a dry day if you can.

Day 2. The river bluffs near McGregor and Decorah

4 stops · 119.5 mi by carAbout 3 h 21 min driving

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

Drive from Fenelon Place ElevatorAbout 1 h 18 min by car48.6 mi
Where Day 1 ended.
1
Morning
Effigy Mounds National Monument
A national monument that protects more than 200 prehistoric mounds built by Native peoples, mostly in the first millennium CE. Many are shaped like animals, such as bears and birds. The mounds are a sacred legacy, so keep to the marked paths and treat the site with respect. The trails climb the bluff, and the visitor center is in Harpers Ferry.
Go when Morning, before the heat.
Local tip The mounds are sacred places, so stay on the marked paths and do not touch them. The trails climb the bluff and some are steep, so wear shoes with grip. Check ahead on the visitor center and the trails.
Photo: Archbob, CC0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 59 min by car32.6 mi
2
MiddayBook ahead
Decorah
A small city in the bluffs of the Upper Iowa River, known for its Norwegian-American heritage and home of Luther College. Walk the main streets for the old buildings and the river valley around it. Each July the town holds Nordic Fest (dates vary).
Go when Midday, between the mounds and the museum.
Local tip Walk the main streets for the old buildings and the river valley. The town has a strong Norwegian-American feel, and Nordic Fest fills it each July (dates vary), so book ahead if you come then.
Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Lunch
Iowa sweet corn and a pork chop
A thick grilled pork chop with fresh sweet corn on the cob and butter. Sweet corn is a late summer crop, so check what is in season when you come.
Local tip Corn tastes sweeter soon after it is picked, so ask whether it is from nearby.
About 9 min by car or transit1.3 mi
3
AfternoonIndoor
Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum
The national Norwegian-American museum and folk art school, with more than 33,000 artifacts and 12 historic buildings. Its exhibits follow Norwegian immigrants to America, and it is a place to see folk art such as rosemaling. Check ahead on the opening.
Go when Afternoon, as an indoor stop.
Local tip Choose a few of the historic buildings and exhibits rather than trying to see all of it. Look at the rosemaling and the immigrant stories. Check ahead on the opening and the guided tours.
Photo: Jonathunder, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 1 h 4 min by car36.9 mi
4
Afternoon
Pikes Peak State Park
A state park on a bluff of about 500 feet above the Mississippi, opposite the mouth of the Wisconsin River. Trails run along the top and down to the river. It is named for Zebulon Pike, who climbed the bluff in 1805. Take water, and stay on the paths near the edge.
Go when Afternoon, on a clear day.
Local tip The overlook is on the bluff top and the paths lead on from it. Stay behind the railings, take water, and wear shoes with grip. Check ahead on the park's trail conditions after rain.
Dinner
Cheese curds and a burger
Fresh cheese curds, fried or plain, that squeak when you bite them, with a burger, from a small town on the river near Wisconsin dairy country.
Local tip Eat the fresh ones soon after they are made, since they lose their squeak.

If it rains. Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum is covered, so keep it. Move Effigy Mounds National Monument, Decorah and Pikes Peak State Park to a dry day if you can.

Departure day

After the last day. The trip ends in Decorah, a long road from Dubuque, so plan how you get back.Details

Leaving Decorah: If you hired a car in Dubuque, check when you book whether it can be returned somewhere else, or plan for the long road back. Check the road ahead and the forecast before you leave, and fill the tank the day before.
A last stop: A small painted plate or a woven piece in the Norwegian style is easy to carry home. Wrap anything fragile well.
If you have a few hours: Walk the main streets of Decorah once more, or follow the path in Dunning's Spring Park to the waterfall before you start the drive.

Questions people ask

When is the best time to visit Dubuque?

By average weather from 2021 to 2025, May and August to October are the most comfortable months for walking around Dubuque. This plan is built for september to October, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.

How many days does this plan cover?

It covers 2 days in Dubuque, planned for september to October. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.

Who is this plan for?

It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.

Is anything on this plan booked?

No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.

Can I plan my own days like this?

Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.

Can I change this plan?

Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.

How much walking is there?

On foot, about 0.4 miles a day, and 142.6 miles by car in all across 2 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.