US National Pool Championships, July 5-12, 2026, Dubuque, IA

[Island Drive]

Amtrak stations service major cities throughout the Midwest and the US.
Have an event Somewhere... along their routes from Milwaukee to Chicago, then s/w towards KC.
Not a big deal to fly into a major airport/Ohare/Midway then catch a train.

 

[Bob Jewett]

Amtrak stations service major cities throughout the Midwest and the US.
Have an event Somewhere... along their routes from Milwaukee to Chicago, then s/w towards KC.
Not a big deal to fly into a major airport/Ohare/Midway then catch a train.

I suppose a "Playing On The Rail" tour could be interesting.

For the present discussion: the nearest Amtrak station to Dubuque is 70 miles away, same as the Quad Cities airport.

 

[jeephawk]

Amtrak stations service major cities throughout the Midwest and the US.
Have an event Somewhere... along their routes from Milwaukee to Chicago, then s/w towards KC.
Not a big deal to fly into a major airport/Ohare/Midway then catch a train.

Amtrak from Chicago (once you get to Union Station from the airport) to anywhere within an hour or more of Dubuque would be about the most inconvenient way to travel, if you even can. Likely take longer than the plane trip from California.

 

[overlord]

Well, they used to fly to Dubuque -- I checked when I made the OP. Orbitz now says there is nothing from Chicago on the dates I chose in July. The airport webpage says they only have charter flights on Sun Country.

When I ask American to get me to Dubuque, they propose to fly me to Madison, Wisconsin. That's only an hour and a half drive.

Southwest flies to Des Moines, and then I don't have to drive across any big rivers. Three hour drive. My great grandfather was from Des Moines. I don't know who these Gilcrest people are, though.

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It's been an on and off situation for a number of years.

 

[Cord]

Well, they used to fly to Dubuque -- I checked when I made the OP. Orbitz now says there is nothing from Chicago on the dates I chose in July. The airport webpage says they only have charter flights on Sun Country.

When I ask American to get me to Dubuque, they propose to fly me to Madison, Wisconsin. That's only an hour and a half drive.

Southwest flies to Des Moines, and then I don't have to drive across any big rivers. Three hour drive. My great grandfather was from Des Moines. I don't know who these Gilcrest people are, though.

Grew up in central Iowa, but trekked to Dubuque pretty often for drum corps camps & rehearsals. The drive is pretty easy, as long as the a/c in your rental car doesn't conk out. Myself, I would avoid driving from Chicago, even if it is less expensive.

 

[Island Drive]

There's a few Large KS pool rooms along the rail. Maybe there's a good room in Milwaukee, short train ride north from airport, nice part of the country to see looking east to the great lakes.

 

[Island Drive]

Amtrak from Chicago (once you get to Union Station from the airport) to anywhere within an hour or more of Dubuque would be about the most inconvenient way to travel, if you even can. Likely take longer than the plane trip from California.

Why, not a straight shot?

 

[Bob Jewett]

Why, not a straight shot?

There is no passenger rail service to Dubuque. You can see this for yourself with a quick visit to the Amtrak site. Here you go:

Amtrak Tickets, Schedules and Train Routes

Book your train and bus tickets today by choosing from over 30 U.S. train routes and 500 destinations in North America.

www.amtrak.com

If you ask for Dubuque, they will tell you they can get you to Davenport. Davenport is 70 miles from Dubuque. I guess there might be a bus. You could look into it.

 

[Island Drive]

Amtrak is just another thought is all. Major cities in the US have rail, it's common in other areas of the planet.

 

[Island Drive]

I love this breaking news.

I don't fly in airplanes and drive everywhere. My first cross-country tip to Vegas was by car to an IPT tournament. My all-time favorite place en route was Iowa, the beautiful landscaped cornfields and azure blue skies. I will never forget it. If I am fully retired by then, I'm going.

Photo of 2017 Iowa Operatives of Music and Amusement (IOMA) annual state championship pool tournament. They know how to do pool in Iowa.



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I reffed an event last yr in Davenport IA at the convention center. 5 days, had a good time enjoyed the midwestern spirit.

 

[Island Drive]

What's nice about this location, short Drive for Stich keeps costs down.

 

[jax_joe]

Its Iowa.

 

[Island Drive]

NOT.... OK