East Iowa

East Iowa covers the Mississippi-river country in the eastern third of the state, the bluff-and-river belt running from Clinton north to Dubuque. The terrain is dramatically more rugged than most of Iowa — the Driftless Area’s limestone bluffs rising several hundred feet above the river, deeper hardwood forest along the watercourses, narrow stream valleys cutting east. The Mississippi runs the entire eastern boundary. Five counties cover the region: Scott, Clinton, Jackson, Dubuque, and Jones. Scott holds Davenport (part of the Quad Cities) and Bettendorf; Clinton holds Clinton and DeWitt; Jackson holds Maquoketa and Bellevue; Dubuque holds the city of Dubuque and Dyersville; Jones holds Anamosa. The Field of Dreams Movie Site sits in Dyersville; the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium and the Fenelon Place Elevator (the world’s shortest, steepest scenic railway) anchor Dubuque; Maquoketa Caves State Park covers the karst country in Jackson. Most trips run river-and-Americana focused. Dubuque handles the Mississippi River Museum and the Diamond Jo riverboat casino; Dyersville runs the Field of Dreams day; Maquoketa Caves draws hikers and spelunkers; the Grant Wood Studio in Anamosa fills cultural visits; the Quad Cities anchor a multi-day John Deere and Mississippi-river itinerary.