The Mighty Mississippi is more than just a river. It runs right through the heart of the US, and a lot of what makes America so American grew from the quaint towns and bustling cities that have grown up along it. From folktales and music, to scenery and food, it’s a perfect slice of America, and the best way to discover the history and beauty of the Mississippi is by a road trip down the Great River Road.
According to folklore, Paul Bunyan and Babe the Big Blue Ox are the ones responsible for creating the mighty Mississippi. Paul Bunyan’s “official” birthplace is in Akeley, so stop by and pay your respects to the legendary giant. Then head over to Paul Bunyan's Animal Land in Bemidji, MN.
The very beginning of the Mississippi River is at Itasca State Park, Minnesota's oldest state park. It’s over 32,000 acres and has more than 100 lakes. You could easily spend an entire afternoon here. From there head out about a half an hour to Bemidji, and visit Lake Bemidji State Park, where you can enjoy swimming, boating, fishing, birdwatching, hiking, camping, biking, you name it. After that there's Scenic State Park in Bigfork, MN and the National Eagle Center in Minnesota, where the little ones can interact with live eagles, learn through hands-on activities and take a guided eagle viewing family field trip.
Then comes Grand Rapids, Minnesota, a very picturesque vacation spot, with lots of lakes and lush forests, plus it’s Judy Garland's Birthplace, and there's a really cute museum there that's full of Judy Garland memorabilia. After that head to Crosby, a city with a little over 2,000 people, but what it lacks in population, it makes up for in history and natural beauty.
Don't miss Paul Bunyan Land in Brainerd. It's home to an animated, massive, 26-foot tall Paul Bunyan!
via Highway 10
Since the Great River Road cuts through a big chunk of middle America, there’s just tons of awesome, diverse dining. Try the Bachelor Farmer for food that honors Minnesota’s Nordic heritage, if you’re looking to try something a little different. Or there's Kay's Kitchen in St. Joseph, MN. This local favorite is a solid diner known for their burgers, all-day breakfast and tasty homemade pies.
There's also the historic WA Frost & Company in St. Paul, which is more upscale than Kay's, and good for unwinding in the evening with a glass of wine on their patio. Another classic in over in Bena, MN is the Big Fish Supper Club and Resort, which has a killer ambiance, and there’s a massive fish in a restaurant with a super rustic, northern vibe.
When you're ready to call it a day, The Covington Inn in Maplewood, MN is a fantastic place to rest your weary head along the Great River Road. It's a floating bed and breakfast that's moored along the Mississippi river. You sleep in a restored 1946 towboat, just a mile and a half from St. Paul's downtown.
When you're hungry, over in La Crosse there's the Front Street Cafe and the Great River Roadhouse in De Soto. The town of Stockholm, WI is an incredibly-charming town to stop at along the route and the Bogus Creek Cafe & Bakery is absolutely worth a stop for their Swedish donuts.
As you drive through Wisconsin, stop at the 1,270 acre Perrot State Park in Trempealeau, located in Wisconsin's "Driftless Area" where the Trempealeau and Mississippi rivers meet. Here you can get incredible views showcasing limestone bluffs and the river valleys below.
Grandad Bluff Park in La Crosse is another option for hiking and beautiful scenic overlooks. Plus, the town of La Crosse has a charm all its own.
After hiking up Grandad Bluff for some seriously epic scenery, wander through the ancient and mysterious Effigy Mounds National Monument in Iowa. The Effigy Mounds are a peaceful place to take a rest after a long day of driving. The Native American mounds are located in one of the most picturesque sections of the Upper Mississippi River Valley. Then, explore the swamps of Jean Lafitte National Historic Park—maybe you’ll even find buried pirate treasure!
Next stop: Hop the border into Bellevue, Iowa, home to Pike's Peak State Park, which offers fantastic Mississippi overlooks.
From there head south to Trempealeau, Wisconsin, it’s about an hour and twenty minutes away. While you’re in town you should stay at the Historic Trempealeau Hotel and Restaurant. Or drive some more and check into the Holiday Shores Riverfront Motel in McGregor, Iowa, or the nearby Gutenberg Haus B&B, which will be your base for exploring Guttenberg, Iowa, and the "Field of Dreams" movie filming location.
Or, if you'd rather spend more time in Bellevue, there's the Bellevue State Park, which has one of the best scenic Mississippi River overlooks, situated atop a 250-foot limestone bluff. You'll be hard-pressed to find a better view of the Upper Mississippi River.
If you want more than just a scenic overlook, try Blue Heron Eco-Cruises. This is a 26-passenger pontoon boat offering an up-close-and personal tour of the Mississippi River.
History buffs will want to step back in time with a visit to the Villa Louis Historic Site in Prairie du Chien. This was the home of one of the wealthiest families in Wisconsin's history. The Pine Creek Grist Mill in Muscatine, IA is a beautiful historic building in Wildcat Den State Park, it's now on the National Register of Historic Places.
Down in Keithsburg, Illinois you'll find the historic Big River State Forest, a modest conservation area that was acquired way back in 1925.
If you're still on a history kick, head to Warsaw Brewing. This brewery is a famous Warsaw, IL landmark. Established in 1861 by Rudolph Giller, who took advantage of the great location along the booming river town.
You can’t travel down the Great River Road without visiting Mark Twain’s birthplace in Florida, MO. Twain wrote fondly about growing up along the river here. And nearby is another famous Mark Twain landmark, the show cave just outside Hannibal, MO. It's the oldest operating show cave in Missouri, and has been conducting tours since 1886.
If you need more outdoor adventure, hike around Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton. The park also offers lodging, and 8,000 acres of water and outdoors sports from hunting to riding, birding and camping.
Best time to road trip along the Great River Road: The Great River Road is really a wonderful road trip any time of year. During winter you can see many of these charming towns blanketed in snow. And you can find plenty of swimming holes to take a dip in during the hot summers. But, the consensus of road travelers is that fall is the perfect time to drive the Great River Road. The foliage along the route is particularly amazing from Minnesota all the way down through northern Mississippi. Plus, there's loads of festivals and farmers markets to stop at. In fact, the Mississippi River association has declared September to be "Drive the Great River Road Month."