Prairie design, limestone bluffs & the Mississippi
This is leg 2 of 2, the final leg.
Travel leg · Iowa Driftless & River Towns
Decorah to Dubuque
Decorah and Dubuque sit about 128 km (79 mi) apart in a straight line, with Dubuque to the south-east. It is leg 2 of 2 on our Iowa Driftless & River Towns itinerary, a 6-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 128 km · 79 mi
- Est. road distance
- 153–179 km
- Est. drive time
- 1 h 30 min – 2 h 45 min
- Direction
- Heading south-east
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Iowa Driftless & River Towns itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 153–179 km (95–111 mi) of road and 1 h 30 min – 2 h 45 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
A car is the practical way to cover the distances between Des Moines, Decorah and Dubuque, with farmland and winding roads along the way. Each town is small enough to explore on foot once you have arrived.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Dubuque
Spend a full day on the river: museum, bluff trails and the elevator, with a side trip to Balltown or Dyersville.
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
River history museum and aquarium with a historic dredge you can board.
Fenelon Place Elevator
Short 1882 cable railway up the bluff, with views over three states.
Eagle Point Park
Bluff-top park with stone shelters overlooking Lock and Dam 11.
Breitbach's Country Dining
Iowa's oldest bar and restaurant (1852), known for its buffet and pies.
Stone Cliff Winery
Winery tasting room in the old Dubuque Star Brewery building on the river.
Mines of Spain Recreation Area
Wooded bluff trails to the Julien Dubuque Monument above the river.
Before you leave Decorah
Spend a full day biking and hiking the bluffs, then Nordic history and a beer at Toppling Goliath.
On this curated route
Where Decorah → Dubuque sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Dubuque to Decorah is the same 128 km in a straight line, heading north-west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in January, when Dubuque averages highs 2°C warmer than Decorah.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decorah high | -4° | -2° | 6° | 14° | 20° | 25° | 28° | 27° | 23° | 14° | 6° | -1° |
| Dubuque high | -2° | 0° | 8° | 15° | 21° | 27° | 29° | 28° | 24° | 16° | 8° | 0° |
| Decorah rain | 26 | 32 | 51 | 96 | 120 | 147 | 102 | 106 | 101 | 73 | 43 | 42 |
| Dubuque rain | 31 | 37 | 55 | 95 | 109 | 137 | 112 | 103 | 98 | 79 | 54 | 49 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Dubuque month guides.
Decorah to Dubuque: questions travelers ask
How far is Decorah from Dubuque?
Decorah is about 128 km (79 mi) from Dubuque in a straight line, with Dubuque to the south-east. By road, we estimate 153–179 km (95–111 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Decorah to Dubuque?
An estimated 1 h 30 min – 2 h 45 min, assuming 153–179 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Decorah to Dubuque?
Our Iowa Driftless & River Towns itinerary includes this leg. Iowa Driftless & River Towns runs about 6 days across 3 stops, best in May – Oct.
Getting to Decorah
- Des Moines to Decorah 243 km
Guides for both ends
- Decorah travel guide
- Decorah weather best time to visit
- Dubuque travel guide
- Dubuque weather best time to visit
Dubuque by month
Plan Decorah → Dubuque with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.