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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Spillville
Spend a half‑day in Spillville to see the Bily Clocks Museum; one day is enough.
Spillville is a tiny Iowa town centered on the Bily Clocks Museum, open May‑Oct. A short visit (half‑day to a full day) covers the museum and a quick walk through Main Street.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- May–Oct (museum open)
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (museum closed)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $30–$50 excl. bed · Mid $50–$80 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police/Fire/Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $2–$4 |
| Sandwich | $5–$8 |
| Petrol (per litre) | $0.90–$1.10 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- ALO · Waterloo Regional Airport
- Nearest commercial airport, about 90 km (56 mi) south; rental car needed for the last leg (check)Nearest commercial airport, about 56 mi (90 km) south; rental car needed for the last leg (check)
- CID · Eastern Iowa Airport, Cedar Rapids
- Larger airport, about 130 km (81 mi) south; about 1 h 45 min drive (check)Larger airport, about 81 mi (130 km) south; about 1 h 45 min drive (check)
- RST · Rochester International Airport, Minnesota
- About 100 km (62 mi) north across the state line; useful from the Twin Cities side (check)About 62 mi (100 km) north across the state line; useful from the Twin Cities side (check)
- MSP · Minneapolis–St Paul International
- About 3 h drive; the usual gateway for this corner of Iowa (check)
Typical fares
- Cedar Falls → Spillville (car)
- about $15 fuel, 30 min drive (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
No public transport listed; drive or bike from nearby towns. Parking available near the museum.
See and do
Known for
- Bily Clocks Museum
- Antonín Dvořák summer exhibit
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Decorah | Drive east 20 km (12 mi) via US‑52, about 20 minDrive east 12 mi (20 km) via US‑52, about 20 min | ≈30 min round trip |
| Dubuque | Drive south 45 km (28 mi) via US‑20, about 45 minDrive south 28 mi (45 km) via US‑20, about 45 min | ≈1 h 30 min |
Sleep
- Cedar Falls
- Nearest larger town with hotels, ~30 km (19 mi) east (≈30 min drive).Nearest larger town with hotels, ~19 mi (30 km) east (≈30 min drive).
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excuse me / SorryExcuse me |
| Thank you | Thank youThank you |
| How much is it? | How much is it?How much is it? |
| Where is the restroom? | Where is the restroom?Where is the restroom? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Museum closed Dec‑Mar; check opening hours for April and November weekend schedule.
- Limited services in town; bring water and fuel if driving.
Spillville is a low‑traffic rural community; typical U.S. safety standards apply.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Spillville yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Bily Clocks Museum
- Antonín Dvořák summer exhibit
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Spillville, revision 4010487 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4010487
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Spillville
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police/Fire/Ambulance911
US consular services are in Iowa City (check address).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/spillville). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.