The northeast region of Iowa is bounded by the Clear Lake recreational area and Interstate 35 on the west, limestone bluffs and forested hills above the Mississippi River to the east, the Iowa/Minnesota state line to the north, and rich farmland along the Interstate 80 corridor on the south.

The hilly terrain and rocky cliffs in the upper reaches of northeast Iowa have earned the name "Little Switzerland." Along the Iowa/Wisconsin border, the Great River Road follows a winding path above the scenic and legendary Mississippi River.

Northeast Iowa is also home to the University of Northern Iowa in the Cedar Falls/Waterloo metropolitan area; a Norwegian community, museum and private college in Decorah; the Victorian neighborhoods and Mississippi riverboat history in Dubuque; the “Field of Dreams” movie site at Dyersville; and other scenic and welcoming communities throughout the region. Cedar Rapids, the second largest metro area in the state, and Clinton, named an Iowa "Great Place" in 2005, are located here.

The northeast Iowa region covers 24 of Iowa’s 99 counties, including: Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Clayton, Clinton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Grundy, Howard, Jackson, Jones, Linn, Mitchell, Tama, Winneshiek and Worth.