The northern states of the Great River Road—Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri—offer an abundance of natural beauty (including the headwaters of the Mississippi River), interesting attractions, and much more to explore. Here’s a closer look at the Great River Road in each of these states—what routes to drive, what towns and cities you shouldn’t miss, and what Interpretive Centers you should visit.

Minnesota

The Great River Road starts (or ends, depending on which way you’re driving) at Itasca State Park in far northern Minnesota and travels through the beautiful woodlands of northern Minnesota as it heads north to Bemidji then south to the Twin Cities before reaching the southeastern corner of the state, where it follows the Mississippi River alongside stunning limestone bluffs.  

Notable Great River Road towns & cities in Minnesota:

• Bemidji
• Minneapolis
• St. Paul
• Red Wing
• Winona

Notable highways that make up the Great River Road in Minnesota:

• County Highway 75 (Beltrami County – Bemidji)
• U.S. Highway 169 (Aitkin)
• Interstate 494 (Twin Cities)
• U.S. Highway 61 (Hastings to La Crescent)

Notable Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Minnesota: 

• Itasca State Park, Park Rapids
• Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, St. Paul
• National Eagle Center, Wabasha

See more Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Minnesota here.

Wisconsin

On the eastern side of the Mississippi River, the Wisconsin Great River Road travels for 250 miles through 33 river towns on the state’s western border, offering great opportunities for recreation on and off the river, easy-to-explore historic cities and towns, and interesting attractions throughout the region.

Notable Great River Road towns & cities in Wisconsin:

• Pepin
• Onalaska
• La Crosse
• Prairie du Chien
• Potosi

Notable highways that make up the Great River Road in Wisconsin:

• State Highway 35 (Prescott to Dickeyville)

Notable Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Wisconsin:

• Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge Visitor Center, Onalaska
• Stonefield Historic Site, Cassville
• Villa Louis, Prairie du Chien

See more Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Wisconsin here.

Illinois

Illinois is home to the longest stretch of the Great River Road—over 500 miles—and road trippers will discover a lot to explore along the way, including Galena (a historic town that’s often named one of the top towns in America), Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (a UNESCO World Heritage Site that tells the story of the largest native civilization north of Mexico), and the meeting of the Great River Road and historic Route 66 in southwestern Illinois.

Notable Great River Road towns & cities in Illinois:

• Galena
• Quad Cities (Moline and Rock Island in Illinois)
• Nauvoo
• Quincy
• Alton

Notable highways that make up the Great River Road in Illinois:

• U.S Highway 20 (Galena)
• State Highway 84 (Elizabeth to the Quad Cities)
• State Highway 96 (Nauvoo to Kampsville)
• State Highway 100 (Grafton and Alton)
• State Highway 3 (Wood River to Cairo)

Notable Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Illinois:

• Mississippi River Visitor Center at Locks & Dam 15, Rock Island
• Pere Marquette State Park, Grafton
• Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Collinsville

See more Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Illinois here.

Iowa

Motorists will find postcard-perfect historic towns and eye-catching riverscapes along Iowa’s section of the Great River Road, which passes through big cities and small towns alike. Stunning views abound as well—don’t miss the stunning vistas from Pike’s Peak State Park in McGregor or the views from the top of Dubuque’s Fenelon Place Elevator.

Notable Great River Road towns & cities in Iowa:

• Lansing
• Dubuque
• Quad Cities (Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa)
• Burlington
• Keokuk

Notable highways that make up the Great River Road in Iowa:

• County Road X52 (Lansing to Harpers Ferry)
• State Highway 76 (Harpers Ferry to Marquette-McGregor)
• U.S. Highway 67 (Sabula to the Quad Cities)
• State Highway 99 (Wapello to Burlington)
• U.S. Highway 61 (Fort Madison to Keokuk)

Notable Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Iowa:

• Effigy Mounds National Monument, Harpers Ferry
• National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, Dubuque
• Putnam Museum & Science Center, Davenport

See more Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Iowa here.

Missouri

A trip along Missouri’s Great River Road is a trip through history. Stop in Hannibal in the northeastern part of the state to learn about the life of America’s most famous author, Mark Twain—the Mark Twain Boyhood & Home is a must-visit, and the historic city is home to many other Twain-themed attractions and events. St. Louis’ Gateway Arch offers outstanding views and tells the story of America’s westward expansion, and the town of Ste. Genevieve was settled nearly 300 years ago.

Notable Great River Road towns & cities in Missouri:

• Hannibal
• St. Louis
• Ste. Genevieve
• Cape Girardeau
• New Madrid

Notable highways that make up the Great River Road in Missouri:

• U.S. Highway 61 (Hannibal)
• State Highway 79 (Hannibal to St. Charles)
• Interstate 70 (St. Charles, St. Louis)
• U.S. Highway 61 (Herculaneum to Sikeston)

Notable Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Missouri:

• Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum, Hannibal
• Gateway Arch National Park, St. Louis
• Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center

See more Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Missouri here.

Photo: Mississippi River overlook at Buena Vista Park in Alma on the Wisconsin Great River Road/Travel Wisconsin