EXHIBIT 5.1

                               December 11, 1998

Board of Directors
McLeodUSA Incorporated
McLeodUSA Technology Park
6400 C Street, SW, P.O.Box 3177
Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-3177


Ladies and Gentlemen:
    
          We are acting as special counsel to McLeodUSA Incorporated, a Delaware
corporation (the "COMPANY"), in connection with its registration statement on 
Form S-4 (the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT") filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission relating to the proposed offering of up to 1,295,000 shares (the 
"SHARES") of the Company's Class A common stock, par value $.01 per share (the 
"MCLEODUSA CLASS A COMMON STOCK"), to shareholders of Dakota Telecommunications 
Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("DTG"). The Shares are being offered in 
connection with that certain merger (the "MERGER") of West Group Acquisition 
Co., a newly formed Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the 
Company ("MERGER SUB"), with and into DTG, as contemplated by the terms of that 
certain Agreement and Plan of Merger among the Company, Merger Sub and DTG dated
as of October 27, 1998 (the "MERGER AGREEMENT"). This opinion letter is 
furnished to you at your request to enable you to fulfill the requirements of 
Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K, 17 C.F.R (S) 229.601(b)(5), in connection with
the Registration Statement.      

          For purposes of this opinion letter, we have examined copies of the 
following documents:

          1.   An executed copy of the Registration Statement.

          2.   The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
               Company, as certified by the Secretary of State of the State of
               Delaware on October 22, 1998 and by the Secretary of the Company
               on the date hereof as then being complete, accurate and in
               effect.

          3.   The Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as certified by
               the Secretary of the Company on the date hereof as then being
               complete, accurate and in effect.

          4.   An executed copy of the Merger Agreement.

          5.   Resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company adopted on
               October 22, 1998, as certified by the Secretary of the Company on
               the

 
               date hereof as then being complete, accurate and in effect,
               relating to the issuance of the Shares and arrangements in
               connection therewith.

          In our examination of the aforesaid documents, we have assumed the 
genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the 
authenticity, accuracy and completeness of all documents submitted to us, and 
the conformity with the original documents of all documents submitted to us as 
certified, telecopied, photostatic, or reproduced copies. This opinion letter is
given, and all statements herein are made, in the context of the foregoing.

          This opinion letter is based as to matters of law solely on the 
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We express no opinion herein 
as to any other laws, statutes, regulations, or ordinances.
    
          Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing, we are of the 
opinion that following (i) effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (ii) the
effectiveness of the Merger under applicable law and the issuance of the Shares
pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement and (iii) receipt by the Company
of the consideration for the Shares specified in the resolutions of the Board of
Directors, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable under
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.      

          We assume no obligation to advise you of any changes in the foregoing 
subsequent to the delivery of this opinion letter. This opinion letter has been 
prepared solely for your use in connection with the filing of the Registration 
Statement on the date of this opinion letter and should not be quoted in whole
or in part or otherwise be referred to, nor filed with or furnished to any
governmental agency or other person or entity, without the prior written consent
of this firm.

          We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 
to the Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the
caption "Legal Matters" in the prospectus constituting a part of the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we
are an "expert" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.


                                        Very truly yours,

                                        /s/ Hogan & Hartson LLP

                                        HOGAN & HARTSON L.L.P.