Prairie design, limestone bluffs & the Mississippi
This is leg 1 of 2, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Iowa Driftless & River Towns
Des Moines to Decorah
Des Moines and Decorah sit about 243 km (151 mi) apart in a straight line, with Decorah to the north-east. It is leg 1 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
- 243 km · 151 mi
- Est. road distance
- 292–341 km
- Est. drive time
- 3 h – 5 h 15 min
- Direction
- Heading north-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 292–341 km (181–212 mi) of road and 3 h – 5 h 15 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 Decorah
Spend a full day biking and hiking the bluffs, then Nordic history and a beer at Toppling Goliath.
Vesterheim National Norwegian-American Museum
Large Norwegian-American heritage museum with folk art and historic buildings.
Trout Run Trail
11-mile paved bike loop past a trout hatchery, bluffs and farmland.
Dunning's Spring Park
Short walk to a 200-foot waterfall tumbling off a limestone bluff.
Mabe's Pizza
Family pizza place on Water Street since 1953.
Toppling Goliath Brewing Co.
Taproom of the brewery behind Pseudo Sue and other hoppy cult beers.
Phelps Park
Hilltop park with stone overlooks above the Upper Iowa River.
Before you leave Des Moines
Give it a full day: sculpture park and Capitol in the morning, East Village shops and dinner, a brewery to finish.
Downtown Farmers' Market
One of the largest Saturday markets in the Midwest, filling Court Avenue blocks.
Pappajohn Sculpture Park
Free outdoor park with works by Jaume Plensa, Claes Oldenburg and others.
Zombie Burger + Bird
Horror-themed burger joint in the East Village with over-the-top burgers and thick shakes.
On this curated route
Where Des Moines → Decorah sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Decorah to Des Moines is the same 243 km in a straight line, heading south-west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in March, when Decorah averages highs 4°C cooler than Des Moines.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines high | -1° | 2° | 10° | 17° | 23° | 28° | 31° | 30° | 26° | 17° | 9° | 2° |
| Decorah high | -4° | -2° | 6° | 14° | 20° | 25° | 28° | 27° | 23° | 14° | 6° | -1° |
| Des Moines rain | 23 | 29 | 48 | 91 | 120 | 130 | 94 | 110 | 87 | 71 | 42 | 38 |
| Decorah rain | 26 | 32 | 51 | 96 | 120 | 147 | 102 | 106 | 101 | 73 | 43 | 42 |
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 Decorah month guides.
Des Moines to Decorah: questions travelers ask
How far is Des Moines from Decorah?
Des Moines is about 243 km (151 mi) from Decorah in a straight line, with Decorah to the north-east. By road, we estimate 292–341 km (181–212 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 Des Moines to Decorah?
An estimated 3 h – 5 h 15 min, assuming 292–341 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 Des Moines to Decorah?
Our Iowa Driftless & River Towns itinerary includes this leg. Iowa Driftless & River Towns runs about 6 days across 3 stops, best in May – Oct.
Onward from Decorah
- Decorah to Dubuque 128 km
Guides for both ends
- Des Moines travel guide
- Des Moines weather best time to visit
- Decorah travel guide
- Decorah weather best time to visit
Decorah by month
Plan Des Moines → Decorah 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.