Midwest Living Names Decorah 2026’s Best Small Town in Iowa

This spring, Midwest Living put out a list of their picks for the best small towns in all 12 Midwest states for 2026. Here in Iowa, the winner is Decorah!

Located in the Northeast corner of the state in Winneshiek County, Decorah may be small (the population is around 7,500 to 7,600 people), but it has a LOT to offer! Let's get into some of the reasons that Decorah was chosen as this year's honoree.

Outdoor Attractions

According to the list from Midwest Living, one of Decorah's biggest draws is the beautiful scenery. The article reads:

"Wing your way to this campus town (Luther College) in northeast Iowa that once nearly broke the Internet with a live webcam feed of resident eagles. The same limestone bluffs and clear streams that attract the majestic birds also draw nature lovers. They can hike or bike trails around Pulpit Rock and Palisades Park, paddle or fish on the Upper Iowa River, and explore an ice cave."

Here are some of the other awesome, outdoor attractions that Visit Decorah lists on their website:

• Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery
• Decorah Community Prairie & Butterfly Garden
• The Decorah Ice Cave State Preserve
• Dunning’s Spring Park/Waterfall
• Malanaphy Springs State Preserve
• Seed Savers Exchange Heritage Farm

Food & Beverages

When you're done with your nature adventure, you can check out one of Decorah's awesome restaurants, breweries, or coffee shops. In fact, one of Decorah's most popular eateries was just recognized for winning Iowa's Best Burger Contest for 2026! That would be Dixie's Biergarten at 310 College Drive. You can read all about their big win HERE.

Here are some of the other highly-rated places to grab food or beverages in the town of Decorah, courtesy of the Visit Decorah website:

• Blazing Star
  • Restaurant serving grain bowls, salads, and baked goods
  • 4.8-star rating on Google (87 reviews)
• Impact Coffee
  • Coffee shop serving locally-roasted coffee, tea, waffles, bagels, and evening cocktails
  • 4.8-star rating on Google (561 reviews)
• La Rana Bistro
  • A restaurant offering "upscale dining in a casual bistro" - serves dishes with locally-sourced ingredients, plus wine, craft beer, and signature cocktails
  • 4.7-star rating on Google (285 reviews)
• The Landing Market
  • An indoor, modern food hall with a variety of local vendors
  • 4.7-star rating on Google (183 reviews)
• Luna Valley Farm
  • A farm that hosts seasonal wood-fired pizza nights in an outdoor setting
  • 4.9-star rating on Google (181 reviews)
• Pulpit Rock Brewing Company
  • A popular taproom selling local beer with both indoor and outdoor seating
  • 4.8-star rating on Google (494 reviews)
• Rubaiyat
  • A restaurant located inside a historic, 1890s building that serves a seasonal American menu
  • 4.8-star rating on Google (432 reviews)
• Sugar Bowl
  • An ice cream shop serving 32 premium flavors, plus ice cream cakes, shakes, sundaes, and more
  • 4.8-star rating on Google (341 reviews)
• Twin Springs Supper Club
  • A traditional supper club specializing in steak, chops, and seafood
  • 4.8-star rating on Google (407 reviews)
• Water Street Deli
  • A popular local deli serving a "specially curated" seasonal menu and hand-carved, premium meats & cheeses
  • 5-star rating on Google (152 reviews)
• Winneshiek Wildberry Winery
  • A scenic, family-owned winery "specializing in award-winning fruit and Midwestern grape table wine" - also serves appetizers, flatbreads, salads, and sandwiches
  • 4.7-star rating on Google (90 reviews)

Other Events & Attractions

In addition to the outdoor activities and restaurants, there are lots of other things to do in Decorah! Here are some of the other suggestions from the Visit Decorah website:

• Day Spas
  • Acupuncture Center Decorah
  • The Hairloom Salon & Spa
  • The Massage Studio
  • Salú Sauna + Wellness Studio
  • The Wellspring
• Decorah Farmers Market
  • Located in the Oneota Community Co-op parking lot
  • Held May through October on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon
• Downtown Shopping
  • Check out a map of the many local businesses in Decorah's Downtown District HERE
• King Pin Entertainment Center
  • Featuring food & beverages, 16 bowling lanes, an arcade, darts, pool tables, an outdoor patio, and a golf simulator
• Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum
  • "Enjoy a personally guided tour and hear the stories of the hardships and joy the Ingalls family faced in 1876, when Laura was nine years old. The Visitors Center across the street from the museum is the restored Burr Oak Bank Building and houses the original bank vault and a gift shop."
• Nordic Fest
  • Held annually in July (July 23rd through 25th, 2026)
  • Featuring artisans, dancing, demonstrations, food vendors, a parade, contests/tournaments, a 5k, and more
• Silvercrest Golf & Country Club
  • "The course boasts nine holes of picturesque fairways and challenging greens, providing an enjoyable golf experience for all ages."
• Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School
  • "With 33,000 artifacts and 12 historic buildings, this national treasure explores the diversity of American immigration through the lens of the Norwegian-American experience and showcases the best in historic and contemporary Norwegian folk arts."

Other Winners

There were a total of 12 small towns recognized by Midwest Living for the 2026 list. Here are the honorees from other states:

• Galena, Illinois
• New Glarus, Wisconsin
• Stillwater, Minnesota
• St. Charles, Missouri
• Ashland, Nebraska
• Hot Springs, South Dakota
• Medora, North Dakota
• Lindsborg, Kansas
• Granville, Ohio
• Leland, Michigan
• Nashville, Indiana

You can read more about all the winning cities in the article HERE.

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