Quad Cities
Around Quad Cities
Photo: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Iowa · 381k people
Quad Cities
“Quad Cities”, “QC”, “River City”
Davenport · Moline · Rock Island
Two states, one river, endless heart.
River Bandits RedMississippi BlueBluff Green
Welcome to the Quad Cities! Whether you're here for the river, the pizza, or the friendly rivalry across the bridge, you'll find a community that loves its local roots. Enjoy the riverfront and the small-town charm with big-city amenities.
Clubs for Quad Cities
No clubs for Quad Cities yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Quad Cities. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Quad Cities. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- John Deere Pavilion Interactive exhibits celebrating the company's history and modern machinery
- Figge Art Museum Major art museum with a strong collection of American and European works
- Putnam Museum and Science Center Natural history and science museum with a giant screen theater
- Modern Woodmen Park Historic baseball stadium with a Ferris wheel overlooking the river
- Rock Island Arsenal Historic military installation with a museum and scenic grounds
- Centennial Bridge Iconic bridge connecting Davenport and Rock Island across the Mississippi
- Outdoors Bike the riverfront trail
- Outdoors Kayak on the Mississippi
- With kids Visit the Putnam Museum and Science Center
- With kids Spend a day at Niabi Zoo
- Evenings Catch a show at the Rust Belt
- Evenings Enjoy a River Bandits night game
- Locals love Riverfront parks and trails
- Locals love Farmers markets
Through the year
- Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival July Jazz performances celebrating the legendary cornetist
- Bix 7 Road Race July Famous 7-mile run with a challenging hill
- John Deere Classic July PGA Tour golf tournament in the Quad Cities
- Mississippi Valley Fair August County fair with rides, food, and entertainment
- Tug Fest August Annual tug-of-war across the Mississippi River between Le Claire, IA and Port Byron, IL
The Quad Cities has a continental climate with hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. The best times to be out are spring and fall, when temperatures are mild and the riverfront is most inviting. Best: Spring and fall offer mild temperatures and less humidity, ideal for outdoor activities.
Talk like a local
- “QC”
- Short for the Quad Cities, the local name for the metro area
- “The Arsenal”
- Refers to the Rock Island Arsenal, a historic military installation
- “Bix”
- The Bix 7 road race and jazz festival, named after Bix Beiderbecke
- “Taco pizza”
- A local pizza style topped with taco ingredients, a must-try
Getaways
- Iowa City College town with a vibrant downtown and literary history
- Cedar Rapids Larger city with museums, breweries, and a riverfront
- Muscatine River town known for pearl buttons and historic homes
- Galesburg Home to Knox College and a historic downtown
Local flavour
Teams
- Quad Cities River Bandits MiLB High-A
- Quad City Storm SPHL
- Quad City Steamwheelers IFL
Also rooting for Chicago Bears (NFL), Chicago Cubs (MLB), Chicago White Sox (MLB), Chicago Bulls (NBA), Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), Iowa Hawkeyes (NCAA DI), Iowa State Cyclones (NCAA DI)
Eat and drink
- Quad City-style pizza Thin, chewy crust, cut into strips, with a sweet sauce and Italian sausage.
- Taco pizza Invented at Happy Joe's, a local chain staple with taco meat, lettuce, and tomato on a pizza.
- Whitey's Ice Cream Local ice cream chain famous for its rich flavors and seasonal delights.
- Loose meat sandwiches Maid-Rite style, a regional Midwest classic.
Where people go
- Riverfront parks and trails The Mississippi riverfront is the heart of the metro, with trails and parks connecting the cities.
- Historic downtowns Davenport, Rock Island, and Moline all have distinct historic downtown cores.
- John Deere pavilions and factories
- Bridge crossings over the Mississippi The Centennial Bridge and others are iconic landmarks connecting Iowa and Illinois.
Heritage and traditions
The Quad Cities are proud of their Mississippi River heritage, their role as the birthplace of jazz great Bix Beiderbecke, and their unique bi-state community spanning Iowa and Illinois, with a strong German and Scandinavian immigrant legacy.
This time of year in Quad Cities
- Riverssance Fall September
- Oktoberfest Fall October
- Oktoberfest at the German American Heritage Center October German food, music, and traditions at the museum.
Say it like a local: “Cross the bridge” — Going between Iowa and Illinois.
Festivals
- Riverssance Fine Art Festival September Held in Davenport's LeClaire Park, showcasing local and regional artists.
- Alternating Currents August Features live music, film, and art in downtown Davenport.
- Quad Cities Hispanic Heritage Festival September Celebrates Latino culture with food, music, and dance.
- Oktoberfest at the German American Heritage Center October German food, music, and traditions at the museum.
- St. Patrick's Day Parade March Rock Island's parade with Irish music and dancers.
- Cinco de Mayo Festival May Celebrated in Silvis and Moline with Mexican food and music.
Landmarks with a story
- Black Hawk State Historic Site Rock Island, commemorates the Sauk tribe and Black Hawk War.
- Buffalo Bill Museum Le Claire, dedicated to William F. Cody, born there.
- German American Heritage Center Davenport, preserves German immigrant history.
- Colonel Davenport House Rock Island Arsenal, built in 1833.
- Sacred Heart Cathedral Davenport, Catholic cathedral.
- Hauberg Estate Rock Island, built by a lumber baron.
Food traditions
- Pork tenderloin sandwich A breaded, fried pork cutlet served on a bun, an Iowa classic.
- German bratwurst with sauerkraut From the area's German settlers, often served at festivals.
- Fried catfish From the Mississippi River, a local favorite.
- Beer cheese soup A creamy soup with beer and cheese, common in German-influenced Midwestern restaurants.
- Lenten fish fry During Lent, many churches host fish fries, a tradition in the Catholic community.
Music and arts
- Jazz heritage Bix Beiderbecke's legacy celebrated at the Bix Jazz Festival.
- Quad City Symphony Orchestra Regional orchestra based in Davenport.
- River Music Experience Music venue and education center in Davenport.
- German American Heritage Center Hosts cultural arts events.
A little history
- 1832 Black Hawk War ends
- 1836 Davenport founded by Antoine LeClaire
- 1847 John Deere establishes his plow factory in Moline
- 1856 First railroad bridge across the Mississippi completed
- 1862 Rock Island Arsenal established during the Civil War
Rivalries
- Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Iowa State Cyclones College football and basketball rivalry splits local fans
- Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox Baseball loyalty divides the area between north and south side fans
- Game day Friday night lights
- Game day Tailgating at Modern Woodmen Park
- Outdoors Drive the Great River Road
- Outdoors Go apple picking at a local orchard
- With kids Visit the Buffalo Bill Museum
- With kids Explore the Black Hawk State Historic Site
Locals speak with a typical Midwestern accent, using 'pop' for soda and 'you guys' for everyone. There's a slight German influence in some pronunciations, like 'Bettendorf' with a hard 't'. The area is often called 'the QC'.
Only here
- The first railroad bridge across the Mississippi was built here.
- The only metro area that spans two states with the Mississippi as the border.
- The World's Largest Truck Stop (Iowa 80) is in Walcott.
- Bix Beiderbecke was born in Davenport.
New here? A few tips
- Be prepared for humid summers and cold, snowy winters.
- Cross the Mississippi often: bridges connect Iowa and Illinois.
- Try Quad City-style pizza (thin crust, cut into strips) and a pork tenderloin sandwich.
- Get a Whitey's Ice Cream for a local treat.
- Explore the riverfront trails and parks.
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Part of Quad Cities area
Nearby
Every areaMuscatineIowaWhere the river meets the melon patch.ClintonIowaRiver town, heartland home.Cedar CountyIowaWhere the prairie meets the riverMaquoketaIowaWhere the river meets the bluffsGalesburgIllinoisA prairie town with a big railroad heart.MonmouthIllinoisWhere the prairie meets the riverSterlingIllinoisWhere the Rock River flows through a hardworking heartland.Iowa CityIowaWhere the river meets the page.
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.