The Mighty Mississippi is more than just a river. It runs right through the heart of the U.S., and a lot of what makes this country what it is grew from the quaint towns and bustling cities that have grown up along the river. From folktales and music to scenery and food, it’s a perfect slice of the U.S. The best way to discover the history and beauty of the Mississippi is by a road trip down the Great River Road.
When you're hungry, head to the Front Street Cafe over in La Crosse, or go to 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 traditional 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.
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, which is about an hour and twenty minutes away. While you’re in town you should stay at the Historic Trempealeau Hotel and Restaurant. Or, you can drive some more and check into the Holiday Shores Riverfront Motel in McGregor, Iowa, or the nearby Gutenberg Haus B&B, which can be your base for exploring Guttenberg, Iowa, and the iconic "Field of Dreams" movie filming location.
This 14-acre complex features hundreds of animals (including alligators), artifacts, and interactive exhibits about North America’s second-longest river.
If you choose to spend more time in Bellevue, make sure to stop by 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!
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, that is 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 and has grown to encompass nearly 3,000 acres of lush woodland.
If you're still on a history kick, head to Warsaw Brewing. This brewery is a famous Warsaw, IL landmark. It was established in 1861 by Rudolph Giller, who took advantage of the great location along the booming river town. Unfortunately, it no longer brews beer, but it's a gorgeous old building that makes for a great photo op.
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 Mark Twain Cave just outside Hannibal, MO. It's the oldest operating show cave in Missouri, and has been conducting tours since 1886, when people flocked to the caverns after reading about them in Twain's famous novel "Tom Sawyer".
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 tons of outdoors sports from hunting and riding to birding and camping.
When you get to St. Louis, check into the Moonrise Hotel, which is a funky boutique hotel with a galactic theme that promises to take guests "on a journey through space and time." If you’re feeling swanky, then book a stay at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel, a breathtaking converted rail station-turned-hotel that projects a nightly lights show onto the soaring vaulted lobby ceiling.
If you're in the mood for classic American grub, then stop by the historic Crown Candy Kitchen in St. Louis for some sweets and a classic candy counter lunch of sandwiches and burgers. And a can't-miss St. Louis attraction is the City Museum. It's one of America's coolest museums, loaded with repurposed industrial and architectural objects, all put into a converted shoe factory.
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 during the summer you can find plenty of swimming holes to take a dip in, 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"!
