Monthly Archives: July 2025

How to cool down along the Great River Road

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Summer heat got you beat? Don’t worry: there are plenty of ways to keep cool along the Great River Road when the weather’s warm, from waterparks and beaches to canoeing and kayaking on the Mighty Mississippi itself. Here’s a closer look.

Waterparks & other attractions

Located in Grafton, Illinois—just a short drive from St. Louis—Raging Rivers Water Park covers 24 acres and boasts multiple waterslides, a 700-foot-long lazy river, an 18,000-square-foot wave pool, and an interactive play area. 

Those looking to beat the heat in Memphis can head to Shelby Farms Park—a 4,500-acre natural area in the eastern part of the city—to find the Water Play Sprayground, a 4,000-square-foot play area that’s perfect for kids and features a water tunnel, interactive jets, geyser boulders, and more. There are also more than 20 bodies of water to explore in the park itself.

Parks, lakes & beaches

While you’ll obviously see the mighty Mississippi River (and other rivers that flow into it) as you cruise the Great River Road, the region is also home to some notable lakes that are great places to explore on a summer day. One must-see stop is Itasca State Park in far northern Minnesota, where you can walk across (or wade into) the headwaters of the Mississippi River at Lake Itasca. 

Wyalusing State Park is one of western Wisconsin’s most scenic sites, offering stunning views of the Mississippi River from the towering limestone bluffs, but head just a few minutes south and you’ll find a popular public beach along the river in the town of Wyalusing.

Head to Deep Lakes Park—a former sand and gravel pit site that now boasts more than 120 acres of water for boating and other watersports—in Muscatine, Iowa, to find a large swimming beach on the shores of Lake Chester.

Located in northeastern Arkansas, Mississippi River State Park is home to stunning Delta scenery and lots of opportunities for fun on the water, including canoeing, kayaking, and fishing, as well as two swimming beaches on Bear Creek Lake and Storm Creek Lake.

Canoeing & kayaking

Want to get out on the Mississippi River itself? Quapaw Canoe Company has locations in Clarksdale and Vicksburg in Mississippi and offers guided canoe adventures along the Lower Mississippi River, including day trips (where you can have a picnic lunch on a sandbar in the river), multi-day camping trips, and more.

New Orleans Kayak Swamp Tours offers—what else?—guided kayak tours of New Orleans and its surrounding waterways, including the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge, Manchac Swamp, and the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area.

Photo: Kayaking in Mississippi River State Park in Marianna, Arkansas/Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism

Where to go camping on the Mississippi River

Monday, July 14, 2025

Planning a camping trip along the Mississippi River this year? Here’s a look at one can’t-miss campsite in each state along the Great River Road, from north to south.

Itasca State Park*, Minnesota

This state park—Minnesota’s oldest—is the starting point of both the Mississippi River and the Great River Road. Located about 20 miles north of Park Rapids in northern Minnesota, the 32,000-acre park includes more than 100 lakes, including Lake Itasca, the headwaters of the Mississippi River. It’s also home to nearly 50 miles of trails, historic cabins & lodges, the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center, which is an official Great River Road Interpretive Center.

How many campsites are there? More than 200, including campgrounds and backcountry sites; cabins & lodges also available

Wyalusing State Park, Wisconsin

One of Wisconsin’s most scenic state parks, Wyalusing State Park sits at the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers and offers outstanding views from atop a 500-foot bluff that overlooks the Mississippi River and its backwaters. The park features group campsites and family campsites, as well as a group lodge, and visitors will enjoy hiking trails, fishing, boating, paddling, and other recreational activities.

How many campsites are there? 100+

Pikes Peak State Park, Iowa

From Wyalusing State Park, head west across the Mississippi River into Iowa and you’ll find Pikes Peak State Park, which also offers great camping, recreation, and scenic views. The park boasts 11 miles of trails and several overlooks where visitors can see the nearby town of McGregor and the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers.

How many campsites are there? 75+

Pere Marquette State Park, Illinois

A popular destination for hiking, fishing, and boating, Pere Marquette State Park is Illinois’ largest state park. The park is situated at the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi rivers and features impressive views of the two waterways, as well as a scenic drive, more than a dozen miles of hiking trails, equestrian routes, and opportunities for rock climbing.

How many campsites are there? 80+; lodging is also available at the Pere Marquette Lodge

Mark Twain Cave Complex Campground, Missouri

Want to learn more about an American literary icon? Head to the city of Hannibal in northeastern Missouri (about a 2-hour drive north of St. Louis) to learn about the early life of native son Mark Twain and how his surroundings in this Mississippi River community shaped his work. One site featured prominently in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is what’s now known as the Mark Twain Cave Complex, which features the famed cave, as well as a winery and a campsite with more than 100 sites, ranging from tent sites to deluxe RV sites.

How many campsites are there? More than 100; the Little House in the Hollow is also available to rent

Columbus-Belmont State Park*, Kentucky

This state park offers outstanding views of the Mississippi River and boasts an interesting history—a former fortification at the site was an important location along the river and saw Ulysses S. Grant’s first active engagement in the Civil War. The park also features a historical museum, a 2.5-mile hiking trail, miniature golf, a picnic area, and a playground.

How many campsites are there? 38

Reelfoot Lake State Park*, Tennessee

This lake in northwestern Tennessee has an amazing natural history: it’s a flooded cypress forest that was created during a series of earthquakes along the Mississippi River in the 1810s. Today, is a popular lake for fishing, birdwatching, and camping. The park’s nature center features educational exhibits about local wildlife and live raptors and other animals on display.

How many campsites are there? 100+; premium cabins are also available

Mississippi River State Park*, Arkansas

This popular state park in east-central Arkansas is a great way to get out on the Mississippi River and its backwaters via canoe or kayak, and anglers find good success in the park’s waters for largemouth bass, crappie, and channel catfish. Mississippi River State Park is also an excellent spot for birdwatching, as it’s part of the Audubon Great River Birding Trail.

How many campsites are there? 50+

Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park, Mississippi

Located just east of the historic city of Natchez, this park covers 48,000 acres and is a good spot for fishing (it’s the site of the state’s record largemouth bass catch). The park is also home to a nine-hole disc golf course, a playground, a nature trail, picnic sites, and a pavilion.

How many campsites are there? 60+; vacation cabins are also available

Bayou Segnette State Park, Louisiana

Bayou Segnette State Park may not technically be on the Mississippi River—it takes about a 15-minute drive south of New Orleans to get there), it’s still a fantastic spot for outdoor recreation in southern Louisiana. Recreation options include saltwater and freshwater fishing, boating, paddling, and hiking, and the park also has a wave pool, a 3-mile nature trail and playgrounds.

How many campsites are there? Approximately 100; deluxe cabins are also available to rent

 

*denotes an Official Great River Road Interpretive Center

 

Photo: Mississippi River Overlook at Pikes Peak State Park, Iowa/Charles Fischer