The Fenelon Place Elevator climbs a bluff for wide views over Dubuque, a river city on the Mississippi, right where Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin meet. It is Iowa's oldest city, and its hills, church steeples and old brick buildings give it a look unlike most of the Midwest. About 59,000 people live here.
The riverfront is the draw. The National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium anchors the Port of Dubuque. Galena, Illinois is about 15 miles away and the Field of Dreams site in Dyersville about 25. Mines of Spain and Eagle Point Park are good for walks. Costs are below the national average, especially housing, though moderately priced homes are in short supply. Winters are snowy and icy, steep streets get slick, and spring can bring Mississippi flooding. Crime is moderate, mostly theft and car break-ins.
Trip planning at a glance
Peak season
Summer through fall foliage (June to October)
Nearest airport
Dubuque Regional Airport (DBQ), 8 miles south (limited commercial service
Highlights
National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium
Fenelon Place Elevator (Fourth Street Elevator)
Port of Dubuque Riverwalk
Field of Dreams movie site in nearby Dyersville (about 25 miles)
Mines of Spain State Recreation Area
Eagle Point Park
Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
Grand River Center and Diamond Jo Casino
Cable Car Square and Historic Millwork District
Mississippi River cruises and lock and dam viewing
Out of 10. Open any score to see how it’s worked out. “Data-based” scores come from published figures; “Hey! En Route estimate” scores are worked out from what we know about the city; “Hey! En Route rating” scores were set by our editors.
5.8/10Good
Connector Score7.0
5 worthwhile cities within three hours; reachable by road, intercity train, and air; lodging and sights for an overnight stop. Hey! En Route estimate
Safety7.6
About 300 violent crimes per 100,000 people a year; the US average is about 370. Data-based
Affordability7.3
Cost of living index about 92, where the national average is 100. Data-based
Transportation7.0
Reachable by: road, intercity train, and air. Hey! En Route estimate
Car-free friendliness4.5
Intercity train or bus, plus local transit and walkability. Hey! En Route estimate
Walkability3.9
Estimated from city size and transit; no walkable downtown noted. Hey! En Route estimate
Things to do6.1
Known for 7 kinds of attraction, with 7 annual events listed. Hey! En Route estimate
Food & dining4.8
Estimated from city size and dining listings. Hey! En Route estimate
Places to stay5.4
Lodging at budget, mid-range and luxury prices. Hey! En Route estimate
Nature & outdoors3.5
Known for lakes & rivers. Hey! En Route estimate
Scenic value4.8
From its landscape: coast, mountains, lakes and parks. Hey! En Route estimate
Family friendliness7.0
Zoos, aquariums, theme parks and museums, weighted by safety. Hey! En Route estimate
Solo-traveler friendliness6.0
Safety, getting around without a car, hostels, and things to do. Hey! En Route estimate
Nightlife6.7
Known for its nightlife. Hey! En Route estimate
Remote-work friendliness5.7
City size, affordability, cafés and connections. Hey! En Route estimate
Road-trip convenience6.0
5 worthwhile cities within three hours’ drive, plus parking, EV charging and RV options. Hey! En Route estimate
Train-trip convenience7.0
Intercity train service, with 9 nearby cities reachable by rail. Hey! En Route estimate
Bus-trip convenience1.5
No intercity bus service noted. Hey! En Route estimate
Masterpiece on the Mississippi; Iowa's oldest city; Gateway to the Driftless Area; Home of the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium
Founded
1833 settled (Julien Dubuque mining post from 1788); 1841 incorporated as a town; 1857 chartered as a city
Languages
English; Spanish; Marshallese; Tagalog and other smaller communities
Airports
Dubuque Regional Airport (DBQ), about 8 miles south (limited commercial service); Eastern Iowa Airport, Cedar Rapids (CID), about 70 miles southwest; Quad City International (MLI), about 80 miles southeast; Chicago O'Hare (ORD), about 180 miles east; Madison Dane County (MSN), about 90 miles northeast
Tipping
Restaurants 18-20%; bars $1-2 per drink or 15-20% of tab; taxis and rideshare 15-20%; hotel housekeeping $3-5 per night; bellhops $2-5 per bag; counter service optional
About this data
Population 59,148 (Census QuickFacts, July 1 2025 estimate); land area 30.91 sq mi (80.1 km2); median value and rent from Census ACS 2020-2024, fetched. Metro figure 99,000 is an approximate Dubuque MSA (Dubuque County) population from memory of Census estimates near 99,000-100,000, not retrieved in this pass, so lower confidence. Elevation, coordinates, founding, events (dates approximate and some not verified as current), hotel ranges, tipping, cost-of-living index, crime rates, airport distances and 1BR rent are approximate or from general knowledge and not verified in this pass. Official URLs found via search but not load-tested
Last updated September 25, 2026 · Source: Research spreadsheet · Editorial ·
Neighborhoods
7 areas to know, and who each one suits.
Downtown Dubuque
Historic
Port of Dubuque
Riverfront
Historic Millwork District
Redeveloped
Cable Car Square
Historic residential
Point
Older residential
West End and Asbury Road area
Suburban
Bluffs neighborhoods
Residential hillside
No neighborhood matches that.
Suburbs and neighboring towns
East Dubuque IL (2 mi; car); Asbury (5 mi; car); Peosta (8 mi; car); Sherrill (10 mi; car); Epworth (10 mi; car); Galena IL (15 mi; car)
Where to stay
Which part of town suits which kind of trip.
Port of Dubuque and Downtown for riverfront views, walkability and the Grand River Center
Historic Millwork District for boutique stays
the west side near US 20 and Asbury Road for chains
Galena IL for resort and B&B options nearby. Tiers: budget chain motels off US 20 and US 61/151
mid-range Hotel Julien Dubuque, Holiday Inn
upscale Hotel Julien Dubuque and Grand Harbor Resort
Per person per day, with a room shared by two. Change anything below to fit your trip.
Budget
$103/day
Lodging about $85 a night
Mid-range
$150/day
Lodging about $130 a night
Luxury
$251/day
Lodging about $215 a night
Budget calculator
Vehicle
mpg
These are estimates from typical prices, not quotes. Real costs vary with season, events, booking time and your own habits; taxes and fees are approximate.
Cost of living
For longer stays and relocation.
Cost of living index
92 (national average = 100)
Typical 1-bedroom rent
$900a month
Research notes
About 88-95 versus US=100 by common indices (approximate; below average, especially housing); typical 1BR rent about $800-1,000 per month (Census median gross rent for all units $948)
Research notes on prices and seasons
Hotels per night: budget $70-100; mid-range $100-160; high-end $170-260. Peak season is summer through fall foliage (June to October); winters are cheap but cold. Rough daily visitor budget excluding lodging: $60-110
Top sights
National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium
Fenelon Place Elevator (Fourth Street Elevator)
Port of Dubuque Riverwalk
Field of Dreams movie site in nearby Dyersville (about 25 miles)
Mines of Spain State Recreation Area
Eagle Point Park
Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
Grand River Center and Diamond Jo Casino
Cable Car Square and Historic Millwork District
Mississippi River cruises and lock and dam viewing
Known for:Lakes & riversMuseums & galleriesHistoric sitesNightlifeLive musicShoppingFamily & kids
Things to do
3 listings in Dubuque, ranked by traveller reviews. Featured listings are marked.
Safety information is a guide from public data and our research, not a guarantee. Conditions change; check local news and official advice before you go.
7.6
Very good · Data-based
About 300 violent crimes per 100,000 people a year; the US average is about 370.
Safety overview
Violent crime moderate for a Midwestern small city (roughly 250-350 per 100k, approximate); property crime mostly theft and car break-ins. Hospitals: MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center and UnityPoint Health Finley Hospital. Hazards: cold snowy winters with ice storms, steep hills that become slick, spring flooding on the Mississippi River, summer severe thunderstorms, occasional tornadoes, summer humidity
Local notes
Specific places where extra care is worthwhile, especially at night. Most visits are trouble-free.
None of particular note; some blocks in the north end and near downtown bars around Main Street have more late-night disturbances and property crime, so use ordinary caution after dark. Avoid walking on icy bluff streets in winter
Times marked “est.” are estimates: drives use typical road distances at highway speeds, and train or bus times assume both cities have service. Always check a route planner and timetables before you travel.
Route ideas
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