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Minneapolis to Des Moines via the Mississippi
Rochester, La Crosse, Dubuque and Iowa City, finishing in Des Moines. Dubuque to Iowa City is about 1.5 hours and Iowa City to Des Moines about 2 hours.
Route: Minneapolis → Rochester → La Crosse → Dubuque → Iowa City → Des Moines · 10 record stores across 6 stops
Stop by stop
Stop 1: Minneapolis Twin Cities Dig
Electric Fetus
Twin Cities landmark with an unmatched new-vinyl selection and a deep Prince collection.
Tip: A must for Prince fans — extensive memorabilia and pressings on hand.
2000 4th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404, USA
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Wednesday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Thursday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Friday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Know Name Records
Indie shop strong on older decades plus a solid country vinyl selection.
Tip: Good for country digging specifically — reviewers highlight consistent finds.
6009 Portland Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA
Hours
Monday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Tuesday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Wednesday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Thursday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Friday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Saturday 9:30 AM - 8:00 PM Sunday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Down In The Valley
Suburban shop with a strong punk selection and a broader gift-shop feel.
Tip: A bit of a drive from downtown but worth it for the punk bins.
8020 Olson Mem Hwy, Golden Valley, MN 55427, USA
Hours
Monday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Tuesday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Wednesday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Thursday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Friday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Sunday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Stop 2: Rochester
Rochester Records
Large stock of used records plus cassettes, 45s and home stereo gear in southern Minnesota.
Tip: Open Tuesday to Saturday afternoons only, so plan your Rochester stop around that.
2130 Broadway Ave S, Rochester, MN 55904
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Wednesday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Thursday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Friday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Saturday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Sunday Closed
Stop 3: La Crosse
Deaf Ear Record Exchange
Downtown La Crosse shop with vinyl, cassettes and CDs alongside comics and collectibles.
Tip: Open every day, which makes it a dependable stop between the Twin Cities and Madison.
112 4th St S, La Crosse, WI 54601
Hours
Monday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Tuesday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Wednesday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Thursday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Friday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Sunday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Stop 4: Dubuque
Ruix Records
Well-organized downtown Dubuque shop with LPs and CDs across genres and some vintage clothing.
Tip: Downtown Main Street makes it easy to walk to lunch afterwards.
129 Main St, Dubuque, IA 52001
Hours
Monday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Tuesday Closed Wednesday 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM Thursday 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Sunday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Stop 5: Iowa City
Record Collector
Iowa City classic with high standards for selection and condition, carrying new and used vinyl, CDs, and cassettes, including local releases.
Tip: Closed Tuesdays. Reviewers rank it among the best record shops in the Midwest, so give yourself time.
116 S Linn St, Iowa City, IA 52240, USA
Hours
Monday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Tuesday Closed Wednesday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Thursday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sunday 12:00 - 5:00 PM
Stop 6: Des Moines Record Hop
Zzz Records
A long-running Ingersoll shop with a big budget vinyl section, plenty of 7-inch singles, tapes and CDs.
Tip: Shorter Monday and Sunday hours (noon to 6pm).
2200 Ingersoll Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312
Hours
Monday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Tuesday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Wednesday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Thursday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Friday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Rogue Planet Music
A small Des Moines shop with an alternative bent, well divided into sections, with record players and accessories.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday.
4211 Chamberlain Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Wednesday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Thursday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday Closed Vinyl Cup Records
Light-filled Des Moines shop that is part record store, part vintage shop, part coffee stop, with a relaxed listening room and autographed, limited, and import pressings.
Tip: Grab a drink and use the listening room to hear records before you pick them. Open until 9 PM every night.
2702 Beaver Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310, USA
Hours
Monday 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Tuesday 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Wednesday 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Thursday 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Friday 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Saturday 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM Sunday 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Hours and details come from public listings and may have changed. Small shops often keep short or irregular hours, so check or call before a long trip. See something wrong? Use Still open? in the app and we will look into it.
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