Category Archives: States

Why you should plan a Great River Road trip next year

Monday, November 25, 2024

Looking for a one-of-a-kind American adventure? Plan a road trip along the Great River Road, which follows the mighty Mississippi River for nearly 3,000 miles. The 10-state route offers a little bit of everything, from engaging historical sites to stunning scenery to delicious dining—here are four reasons to plan your road trip today.

It’s America’s greatest drive.

The Great River Road, which stretches from Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana, is a National Scenic Byway and an All-American Road, a designation given to only the most notable National Scenic Byways. All-American Roads offer a truly unique experience to travelers that they can’t find anywhere else.

The Great River Road was established in 1938 and has encouraged road trippers to discover the heart of America ever since. The Great River Road passes through big cities and small river towns, passing National Park Service sites, state parks, historic bridges, and locks & dams.

Taking the whole road in one trip is about 36 hours of driving, but most visitors spend 10 to 14 days if they’re doing the whole route (which isn’t mandatory—many travelers will just travel on one state’s section of the Great River Road or hope back and forth between neighboring states.

Learn more about the best drive in America.

There are lots of stunning sights along the way.

A trip along the Great River Road is a trip through some of America’s most beautiful scenery. Start your trip at the same place the Mississippi River does: Itasca State Park in northern Minnesota, where the river is so narrow you can walk across it (or roll up your pants and wade across in the summer).

The northern section of the road—especially Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois—are home to lots of scenic overlooks at state and local parks that offer outstanding views of the river and the surrounding scenery. Get your cameras ready and head to photo hotspots like Garvin Heights Park in Winona, Minnesota; Buena Vista Park in Alma, Wisconsin; Pike’s Peak State Park in McGregor, Iowa; or Aerie’s Resort in Grafton, Illinois, where you can take a chair lift or gondola from the river to the blufftops.

See more scenic spots on the Great River Road here and here.

You’ll learn a lot at our Interpretive Centers.

There are nearly 100 official Great River Road Interpretive Centers—museums, historical sites, and other attractions that tell the story of the river and its people. Interpretive Centers can be found up and down the Great River Road and cover everything from music history (the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, Mississippi) to Mississippi River ecology (the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque, Iowa) to some of the region’s earliest settlers (Cahokia Mounds State Historical Site in Collinsville, Illinois, and Poverty Point in Pioneer, Louisiana, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.)

Learn more about our Interpretive Centers.

You don’t want to miss the food.

From walleye in Minnesota to cheese curds in Wisconsin to catfish in Mississippi to… well, almost everything in New Orleans, the Great River Road’s outstanding local and regional cuisines are enough to fulfill almost any appetite. Diners will find a little bit of everything, from James Beard Award-winning restaurants to family-owned roadside stops that have been in business for generations.

And that’s not to mention the ice cream stands, sweets shops, and bakeries you’ll find all along the route, as well as the wineries, breweries, and distilleries that craft some of your favorite beverages with care.

Learn more about the flavors of the Great River Road.

Photo: Confluence of the Yazoo and Mississippi Rivers in Vicksburg, Mississippi/Lola McCrarey

All about our Interpretive Centers

Friday, November 01, 2024

Up and down the Great River Road, you’ll find special spots where you can learn about the history, culture, and natural wonders of the Mississippi River region. Here’s what you need to know about the Great River Road’s official network of Interpretive Centers.

What is an Interpretive Center?

The Great River Road’s Interpretive Centers include a wide variety of attractions, including museums, historical sites, state and national parks, and even UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These Interpretive Centers can be found in big cities and small towns all along the Mississippi River and tell the story of the river, its people, and the events—geological and otherwise—that have shaped life and culture here over the centuries. 

How many Interpretive Centers are there on the Great River Road?

The Great River Road’s official network of Interpretive Centers features nearly 100 sites across our 10-state region. Iowa’s stretch of the Great River Road has the most Interpretive Centers with 18, followed by Arkansas with 15.

Here’s how many Interpretive Centers you can find in each of the Great River Road states:

  • Iowa: 18
  • Arkansas:15
  • Minnesota: 14
  • Illinois, Louisiana: 9 each
  • Mississippi: 8
  • Missouri, Wisconsin: 7 each
  • Tennessee: 3
  • Kentucky: 2

See a full list of Interpretive Centers by state here.

All the Great River Road Interpretive Centers are also included on our free 10-state map.

What kinds of things can I learn about at the Interpretive Centers?

The Great River Road’s Interpretive Centers educate visitors about a wide range of topics, from natural history to the Civil War and everything in between. Here’s a little taste of what you’ll discover:

The Mississippi River & more: Visit the headwaters of the Mississippi River and learn about the area’s ecology and history at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center at Itasca State Park. Further south along the river in Minneapolis, the National Park Service’s Mississippi River Visitor Center in St. Paul has exhibits about the river and its related recreational offerings. The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque, Iowa, is home to dozens of species of fish and other animals that call the river home. 

History: See remnants from ancient Mississippi River cultures at Cahokia Mounds Historical Site in Illinois and Poverty Point in Louisiana, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Military history buffs can visit Vicksburg National Military Park in Mississippi and Columbus-Belmont State Park in Kentucky to see two important sites from the Civil War. Learn about the life of America’s most famous author at the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal, Missouri.

Music: The Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, Mississippi, is a must-visit for any music lover—visitors can see Muddy Waters’ sharecropper home, instruments played by blues legends like B.B. King and John Lee Hooker, and much more. Learn about the early life of country music legend Johnny Cash at the History Dyess Colony and Johnny Cash Boyhood Home in the Arkansas Delta.

Are there other attractions along the Great River Road?

Yes! The Great River Road is home to lots of interesting places to stop, including scenic overlooks and locks & dams. See a state-by-state list here.

Photo: Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism

Interpretive Centers to visit on the southern Great River Road

Tuesday, August 06, 2024

The Great River Road’s network of Interpretive Centers tells the story of the Mississippi River, its people, and its history at museums, historical sites, parks, and more through 10 states. Here are some of the Interpretive Centers you shouldn’t miss on the southern half of the road in Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

See more Interpretive Centers along the Great River Road here.

Fun for everyone

Discovery Park of America is a one-of-a-kind museum in northwestern Tennessee that features exhibits about Native American history, space exploration, dinosaurs, natural history, and loads more, as well as a 50-acre heritage park featuring gardens, a grist mill, and a manmade river.

Learn about the birth of blues music at the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale in the Mississippi Delta, about a 90-minute drive from Memphis. The museum features interesting exhibits and artifacts, including Muddy Waters’ sharecropper home, instruments played by greats like B.B. King and John Lee Hooker, and the sign from the juke joint where Robert Johnson played his final show.

Music fans can also see where a young Johnny Cash grew up at the Historic Dyess Colony/Johnny Cash Boyhood Home in northeastern Arkansas. This Arkansas State University Heritage Site educates visitors about the Great Depression and the Dyess Colony (a farm resettlement colony established by the federal government) and how these factors shaped the early life of the famed musician and many others. 

Parks and natural areas

Anglers, boaters, and birdwatchers will find a lot to explore at Lake Chicot State Park in southeastern Arkansas. Lake Chicot is 20 miles long and is the largest oxbow lake in North America, offering outstanding opportunities for fishing and boating, and programs at the park include tours of the lake and the Mississippi River levee.

Reelfoot Lake State Park in northwestern Tennessee has an interesting geologic history—the largest natural lake in Tennessee, Reelfoot Lake was formed during a violent earthquake in 1811 that caused the Mississippi River to flow backward and sank the area’s cypress trees under a massive rush of water. Today, Reelfoot Lake is a popular fishing destination (it’s one of the world’s best natural fish hatcheries) and a good spot for birdwatching, camping, and other activities.

The Jean Lafitte National Historic Park & Preserve invites visitors to explore New Orleans and beyond, offering free walking tours of the city’s famed French Quarter and lots of other sites to discover, including the 23,000-acre Barataria Preserve and three Acadian attractions that focus on Cajun life and traditions.

A trip through history

Kentucky’s stretch of the Great River Road is the shortest in the 10-state region, but visitors can still find some interesting historical attractions. Columbus-Belmont State Park sits on the site of a former Confederate fortification where the Battle of Belmont began in 1861, marking the opening of the Union’s western campaign (it was also Ulysses S. Grant’s first active engagement in the Civil War). Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site is home to Native American mounds built by the Mississippian culture from the 12th to 14th century—a museum on site contains artifacts and shows visitors how the inhabitants used the river’s resources in their daily lives.

Another Civil War site worth visiting is Vicksburg National Military Park in east-central Mississippi. Vicksburg was the site of one of the most important campaigns of the Civil War, and visitors will learn about the men who fought this pitched battle for control of the Mississippi River, a key conflict that shaped the outcome of the war.

Did you know that Louisiana is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site? Poverty Point World Heritage Site in the northeastern corner of the state preserves the remnants of a complex array of earthworks that predate the Mayan periods. The site dates to as early as 1700 BC and encompasses more than 400 acres.

Interpretive Centers to visit on the northern Great River Road

Monday, July 08, 2024

The Great River Road’s network of Interpretive Centers tells the story of the Mississippi River, its people, and its history at museums, historical sites, parks, and more. Here are some of the Interpretive Centers you shouldn’t miss in the northern Great River Road states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri.

See more Interpretive Centers along the Great River Road here.

All about the Mississippi River

Looking to learn a little bit about the mighty Mississippi River as you follow it through the Great River Road’s northern states?  Start at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center at Itasca State Park (where the Mississippi River starts), where you’ll find exhibits about the park’s history, the local environment, and more—plus, the headwaters of the Mississippi are just a short walk from the visitor center. The Mississippi River Visitor Center in Rock Island, Illinois, overlooks Lock & Dam 15, and visitors can learn about the Army Corps of Engineers’ efforts to tame the river and how barges and other boat traffic navigate the waterway.

Discover the fish and other animals that make their home in and around the Mississippi River at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque. This popular attraction in northeastern Iowa is home to 14 acres of river animals, including ducks, turtles, otters, stingrays, fish, and even an alligator.

In Wisconsin, the Genoa National Fish Hatchery and Great River Road Interpretive Center features two aquariums filled with fish native to the Mississippi River and a stream aquarium including fish typically found int the state’s streams. The hatchery grounds are also a good spot for birdwatching.

Parks and natural areas

Explore everything the Mississippi River has to offer at the National Park Service’s Mississippi River Visitor Center in St. Paul, which includes exhibits on the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and river culture, biology, and history, as well as information on recreational opportunities like hiking, biking, boating, fishing, and more in the recreation area.

The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Refuge—which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024—stretches from Reads Landing, Minnesota, to Princeton, Iowa, and the refuge’s visitor center can be found in Onalaska, Wisconsin. The visitor center has exhibits about the river region and its wildlife, as well as an overlook frequented by bald eagles, swans, and other birds.

Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton is one of Illinois’ most beautiful parks, offering outstanding views of the Illinois River—a tributary of the Mississippi River—and great trails for hiking, scenic campsites, and excellent fishing.  Located along the Mississippi River in southeastern Missouri, the Cape Girardeau Conservation Campus Nature Center can be found in the city’s North County Park and is a great place for birdwatching and hiking.

One of several National Park Service sites on the Great River Road, Effigy Mounds National Monument in Harpers Ferry, Iowa, features more than 200 earthen mounds, some of which were constructed 1,400 years ago. The 2,500-acre park also has 14 miles of trails, some of which offer breathtaking views of the Mississippi River and its surroundings.

A trip through history

The confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers has long been an important place of gathering, and St. Paul’s Historic Fort Snelling—situated at the meeting of these two waterways—tells a story that stretches back more than 10,000 years and includes Native American cultures like the Dakota, French fur traders, American soldiers, and many more.

Two iconic Interpretive Centers in Missouri take visitors through the history of the Mississippi River and America’s westward expansion: the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal honors one of the country’s most famous authors, and Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis includes not only the famous 550-foot-tall Arch but also the Museum of Westward Expansion, which includes artifacts from the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Speaking of iconic Americans, William F. Cody (aka “Buffalo Bill”) was born in LeClaire, Iowa, and fans of Western history can learn about his life at the city’s Buffalo Bill Museum and Lone Star Steamer, which is also home to the nation’s sole remaining wood-hulled steamboat. 

Learn about Wisconsin’s agricultural history at Stonefield Historic Site in Cassville, which is located on the former estate of the Dairy State’s first governor and boasts more than 30 restored historic businesses and Wisconsin’s largest collection of farm equipment and vintage tractors.

Did you know that Illinois’ section of the Great River Road is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site? Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville tells the story of the most sophisticated prehistoric native civilization north of Mexico, which once covered more than 4,000 acres and included more than 120 earthen mounds.

Photo: Itasca State Park/Peter Hawkins

All about the southern Great River Road

Friday, May 03, 2024

Come explore the southern states of the Great River Road—Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Learn about what highways make up the Great River Road, river towns and cities to visit, and Interpretive Centers you shouldn’t miss.

Kentucky

Kentucky’s section of the Great River Road is the shortest (only about 60 miles or so), but it’s not lacking in scenery or history. Columbus-Belmont State Park offers outstanding views of the Mississippi River and shares the area’s Civil War history. Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site preserves structures and artifacts from the native people who inhabited the region in the 12th to 14th centuries.

Notable Great River Road towns & cities in Kentucky:

  • Wickliffe
  • Bardwell
  • Clinton

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

  • U.S. Highway 51

Notable Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Kentucky: 

  • Columbus-Belmont State Park, Columbus
  • Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site, Wickliffe

Learn more about the Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Kentucky here.

Tennessee

Whether you’re looking for outdoor recreation options, iconic music attractions, delicious barbeque, or anything else, you’ll find it along Tennessee’s stretch of the Great River Road. The route starts in the northwestern part of the state, which is home to Reelfoot Lake, a popular fishing and birding destination that’s actually a flooded forest. It ends in southwestern Tennessee in Memphis, which is home to everything from Elvis Presley’s Graceland to can’t miss-music attractions on Beale Street. 

Notable Great River Road towns & cities in Tennessee:

  • Tiptonville
  • Ripley
  • Covington
  • Memphis

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

  • State Highway 78 (Reelfoot Lake State Park/Tiptonville)
  • U.S. Highway 51 (Ripley to Memphis)

Notable Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Tennessee: 

  • Discovery Park of America, Union City
  • Reelfoot Lake State Park, Tiptonville
  • Chucalissa and the C.H. Nash Museum, Memphis

Learn more about the Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Tennessee here.

Arkansas

The Great River Road passes through Arkansas’ Delta, offering great chances to explore the state’s natural beauty, including national forests, wildlife refuges, and lakes (like Lake Chicot, the largest natural lake in Arkansas and the largest oxbow lake in North America). Visitors will discover engaging history, too—travelers can visit Johnny Cash’s boyhood home or learn about the worst maritime disaster in U.S. history.

Notable Great River Road towns & cities in Arkansas:

  • Osceola
  • West Memphis
  • Marianna
  • Helena-West Helena
  • Lake Village

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

  • U.S. Highway 61 (Blytheville to Wilson)
  • State Highway 79 (West Memphis to Marianna)
  • U.S. Highway 65 (Dumas to Eudora)

Notable Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Arkansas: 

  • Delta Cultural Center, Helena
  • Historic Dyess Colony: Johnny Cash Boyhood Home, Dyess
  • Sultana Disaster Museum, Marion

See more Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Arkansas here.

Mississippi

Part of Mississippi’s stretch of the Great River Road includes U.S. Highway 61—“the Blues Highway”—and road trippers will discover important sites along the Mississippi Blues Trail in Tunica, Cleveland, Clarksdale, and other cities and towns along the way. Be sure to stop in Natchez (the oldest city on the Mississippi River) and discover a vital Civil War site in Vicksburg.

Notable Great River Road towns & cities in Mississippi:

  • Tunica
  • Clarksdale
  • Vicksburg
  • Natchez

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

  • State Highway 1 (Lula to Rolling Fork)
  • U.S. Highway 61 (Onward to Woodsville)

Notable Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Mississippi: 

  • Delta Blues Museum, Clarksdale
  • Vicksburg National Military Park
  • Natchez Convention and Visitors Bureau

See more Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Mississippi here.

Louisiana

Louisiana is the only state that has a section of the Great River Road on either side of the Mississippi River—the western section starts at the Louisiana-Arkansas border and travels all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, and the eastern section starts at Louisiana’s border with Mississippi and travels through St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans. There’s lots of history, culture, and delicious cuisine to discover along the route.

Notable Great River Road towns & cities in Louisiana:

  • St. Francisville
  • Plaquemine
  • Baton Rouge
  • New Orleans

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

  • U.S. Highway 65 (State line to Vidalia) – west of Mississippi River
  • U.S. Highway 61 (State line to Baton Rouge) – east of Mississippi River
  • State Highway 15 (Vidalia to Plaquemine)
  • Interstate 10 (Baton Rouge to New Orleans)

Notable Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Louisiana: 

  • Poverty Point UNESCO World Heritage Site, Pioneer
  • The Louisiana Great River Road Interpretive Center and Museum, Darrow
  • Jean Lafitte National Historic Park & Preserve, New Orleans

See more Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Louisiana here.

Photo: Mississippi River bridge in Helena-West Helena/Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism

Learn all about the northern Great River Road

Tuesday, April 09, 2024

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

Spring recreation along the Great River Road

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Get ready to go outside as you explore the Mississippi River and its surroundings. There are great opportunities for outdoor recreation up and down the Great River Road in spring, from hiking and biking to birdwatching and paddling—here’s where to go.

Hiking

There are lots of places to enjoy a scenic stroll along the Mississippi River in the spring or find a more challenging hike with stunning overlooks that make the hike worth the challenge.  On the northern half of the Great River Road (through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois, and into Missouri), many cities and towns along the river are home to scenic local and state parks that offer outstanding hiking opportunities along the limestone bluffs overlook the Mississippi River. The flatter terrain on the southern half of the river is no less impressive, as places like Mississippi’s Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge and Louisiana’s Barataria Preserve offer outstanding scenic walks as well.

Where to go: Pike’s Peak State Park (McGregor, Iowa); Mississippi River State Park (Marianna, Arkansas); Columbus-Belmont State Park (Columbus, Kentucky)

Biking

Explore the scenery of the Great River Road and the Mississippi River region on two wheels. Many cities along the route—Minneapolis and Saint Paul in Minnesota, the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa, and St. Louis, just to name a few—offer scenic paved bike trails alongside the river, and local and state parks up and down the Great River Road provide mountain bike trails for more adventurous pursuits.

Where to go: Quincy Riverfront Trail (Quincy, Illinois); Mississippi River Levee Bike Path (Baton Rouge, Louisiana); St. Louis Riverfront Trail (St. Louis, Missouri)

Birdwatching

The Great River Road is a perfect place for avid and amateur birdwatchers alike, as the Mississippi River Flyway is the migration route followed by 40 percent of all waterfowl and shorebirds in North America. Spring is a particularly good time to catch migrating birds, as songbirds like warblers, gnatcatchers, and vireos head back north after the winter and swallows, swifts, and migratory woodpeckers return to the bluffs and forests along the Mississippi River

Where to go: Reelfoot Lake State Park, Tiptonville, Tennessee; Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge Visitors Center, Onalaska, Wisconsin 

Paddling

Want to get off the Great River Road and onto the actual Mississippi River? There are plenty of places to do so in the 10 states along the Great River Road, including serene backwaters, massive lakes, and the main channel of the mighty Mississipp’ itself.

Where to go: Mississippi River State Water Trail, Minnesota; Quapaw Canoe Company, Vicksburg, Mississippi 

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

Don’t miss these fun annual events in the South

Friday, February 09, 2024

Mardi Gras, food festivals, and more—the states along the southern Great River Road offer an outstanding calendar of events all year long. Here’s a look at just a few of the annual events you’ll find in Mississippi River cities and towns in Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

Kentucky

  • Banana Festival, Fulton – Every September, the twin towns of Fulton, Kentucky, and South Fulton, Tennessee, come together for this fun event that celebrates the area’s history as an important railroad stop (it had the only icehouse on the way to Chicago from New Orleans, meaning fruits like bananas could make the long trip). The festival includes food vendors, craft vendors, and (obviously) lots of banana treats. 

Tennessee

  • Memphis in May – Head to the Home of the Blues every spring for a monthlong celebration of music, international culture, and food. The festivities traditionally kick off with the Beale Street Music Festival (on pause for 2024), which attracts world-famous acts from a diverse array of genres for a three-day celebration. Bring your appetite for the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest in the middle of the month and work of the calories at the annual Great American River Run over Memorial Day weekend. 
  • Let it Glow Light Show, Union City – Discovery Park of America is part of the official network of Great River Road Interpretive Centers and holds events throughout the year for school groups and other visitors. A holiday highlight is the Let it Glow Light Show, a walk- or drive-thru display that features more than a million lights spread throughout the park’s grounds, as well as live music, visits from Santa and Mrs. Clau, and other attractions.

Arkansas

  • King Biscuit Blues Festival, Helena-West Helena – Discover the sounds of the Delta at this annual event held the weekend before Columbus Day. Named for King Biscuit Time, the longest-running daily radio show (which broadcasts from the Delta Cultural Center in downtown Helena), the festival brings thousands of visitors to the banks of the Mississippi for a weekend of blues music from performers across the South and the country.
  • Lake Chicot Fall Festival, Lake Village – The community of Lake Village in southeastern Arkansas is home to not only Lake Chicot—the state’s largest natural lake and the largest oxbow lake in North America at 20 miles long—but also the annual Lake Chicot Fall Festival, which features a barbecue cookoff, a classic car show, and more fun events.

Mississippi

  • Juke Joint Festival, Clarksdale – Clarksdale is rich in blues history—it’s the site of the Delta Blues Museum and the famous Crossroads where Robert Johnson supposedly sold his soul for his legendary musical talent—so it makes sense that it’s home to lots of great opportunities to catch live music. One event that visitors shouldn’t miss is the annual Juke Joint Festival, which features a day (and night) of live music from more than 100 blues artists at venues throughout the city.
  • Spring Pilgrimage, Natchez – Every March and April, the historic city of Natchez—the oldest continuous settlement on the Mississippi River, it was officially established in 1716—opens more than a dozen of its iconic homes to the public for tours as part of the Spring Pilgrimage. The event includes guided tours of pre-Civil War homes and other properties on the National Register of Historic Places.

Louisiana

  • Christmas Eve bonfires, St. James Parish – This uniquely Louisiana tradition features the lighting of gigantic bonfires along the levees on the Mississippi River to help “Papa Noel” (the Cajun Santa Claus) navigate his route on Christmas Eve. These bonfires can be found throughout Louisiana’s river parishes but are most common in the communities of Grammercy, Lutcher, and Paulina in St. James Parish, about 30 miles upriver from New Orleans.
  • Festivals & celebrations, New Orleans – New Orleans isn’t called the Festival Capital of the World for nothing. Throughout the year, the Big Easy welcomes millions of visitors to music festivals, cultural celebrations, arts events, and much more. There’s a festival going on every weekend—visitors can find fun at Mardi Gras, Essence Fest, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and many more.

Photo Credit: Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism

Annual events on the northern Great River Road

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

There’s a lot more to explore along the Great River Road than just scenery and history—the cities and towns along the Mississippi River host engaging events that bring visitors back year after year. Here are some of the top recurring events you shouldn’t miss along the Great River Road in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri.

Minnesota

  • Saint Paul Winter Carnival – Held in Minnesota’s capital city from the end of January to early February, the Saint Paul Winter Carnival has celebrated the season for more than 135 years. This 10-day festival features a wide array of events and attractions, including an ice sculpture garden, parades, kids’ activities and much more.  
  • Great River Shakespeare Festival, Winona – Enjoy the classic works of William Shakespeare under the Mississippi River bluffs in the charming river town of Winona in southeastern Minnesota every summer. The Great River Shakespeare Festival features three main stage shows during its seasonal run in June and July, as well as other activities, including free concerts and a sonnet competition.

Wisconsin

  • Potosi Brewfest – Beer lovers: Head to Potosi on the Wisconsin Great River Road, and you’ll find a historic brewery that dates to the 1850s. Potosi Brewing Company was once the fifth-largest brewery in the state and is now home to the National Brewery Museum, a restaurant and brew pub, an event space, and more. Every August, more than 60 vendors (craft breweries, distilleries, and wineries and specialty food vendors) come to the area for the annual Potosi Brewfest, which features games, live music, and food.
  • Oktoberfest, La Crosse – Celebrate German culture and the oncoming fall season at the Midwest’s longest-running Oktoberfest celebration in the Midwest every September in La Crosse. Feel the spirit of Gemütlichkeit (that’s German for friendliness and good cheer) as you enjoy traditional German food and beverages, dance along to German music, or catch some of the fun events like the wiener dog races.

Illinois

  • Great Galena Balloon Race, Galena – Look to the skies over the historic town of Galena in northwestern Illinois every June to marvel at the display of colorful hot air balloons. It’s all part of the Great Galena Balloon Race, an annual fundraiser that’s during the third full weekend of June and includes balloon races, kids’ activities, a car show, and live music.
  • Christmas Wonderland, Alton – When the holiday season rolls around, don’t miss this impressive light display, which starts after Thanksgiving and runs through the end of December at Rock Spring Park in Alton. The drive-through display features more than 4 million lights.

Iowa

  • Snake Alley Art Fair, Burlington – This annual art fair (held every Father’s Day) has taken place for more than 50 years in the welcoming river city of Burlington. Artisans and crafters from across the Midwest set up their booths on the city’s famous Snake Alley—“the crookedest street in the world”—and the event also features art activities for kids, live music, and local food vendors.
  • Dubuquefest – This August festival celebrating music, art, and culture has been held in downtown Dubuque (where else?) every summer since 1979. The free event features live music, food from local restaurants, and a weekend art fair.

Missouri

  • Art in Bloom, St. Louis – One of St. Louis’ signature events, Art in Bloom is held every March at the Saint Louis Art Museum in Forest Park. Dozens of local florists use their creativity to reinterpret art from the museum’s collection, resulting in stunning arrangements that spark the imagination. In addition to displays, the festival features special events, family activities, and food and drink.
  • National Tom Sawyer Days, Hannibal – Head to Mark Twain’s hometown of Hannibal—about an hour’s drive north of St. Louis along the Mississippi River—over the Fourth of July holiday week to join the fun at this festival that’s been going strong since the 1950s. Tom Sawyer Days features and abundance of family-friendly events, from fence painting and frog jumping competitions to live music and a carnival.

Photo Credit: Travel Wisconsin

Unique shops along the Great River Road

Wednesday, December 06, 2023

Whether you’re looking for holiday gifts or just want to visit some of the country’s most unique retailers, you’ll find outstanding shopping opportunities up and down the Great River Road. Here’s a look at some of the distinctive shops you can discover as you travel along the Mississippi River.

Northern Great River Road

Minnesota is home to some one-of-a-kind retailers, and nothing is more one-of-a-kind than the Mall of America (located in the Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington), the country’s largest shopping and entertainment complex and one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world. The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul offer other outstanding local retailers, too, located in shopping districts like Nicollet, downtown Saint Paul, and the North Loop. Head further down the Mississippi to discover charming cities like Red Wing, where shoppers can explore the Red Wing Shoe Company store and museum and find Scandinavian gifts at Uffda Shop, or Winona, which is home to the Minnesota Marine Art Museum (which has an outstanding gift shop).

Galena is consistently cited as one of the most charming small towns in America, and this Illinois city boasts dozens of retailers in its historic downtown district. More than 125 storefronts offer a wide selection of clothing, jewelry, antiques, and more—don’t miss popular destinations like Galena Book & Paper Co. and Flashback. The Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa provide a memorable shopping experience at stores like Antique Archaeology (featured in the History Channel series “American Pickers”) in LeClaire, Iowa, and the John Deere Store (part of the sprawling John Deere Pavilion) in Moline, Illinois.

Central Great River Road

Historic Hannibal, Missouri, is not just the boyhood home of Mark Twain, it’s also a fun shopping spot—visitors can find retailers like the Dutch Country General Store, Mark Twain Book & Gift, and Mississippi Marketplace. Travel south along the river to St. Louis, where unique locales like City Foundry STL (a former foundry building that now houses a food hall and specialty retailers) and the Cherokee Antique Row shopping district await.

In Memphis, shoppers will find interesting souvenir shops all along Beale Street, including A. Schwab’s which was established in 1876 that carries everything from clothing to voodoo supplies. (The store’s motto is “If you can’t find it at Schwab’s, you’re probably better off without it.”) Speaking of iconic shopping spots, don’t forget Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid—a sprawling outdoors store that also features a 103-room hotel, a 600,000-gallon lagoon with more than 1,800 fish, and an amazing observation deck atop the 32-story building on the banks of the Mississippi River.

Southern Great River Road

Mississippi offers a unique shopping experience in historic downtowns all throughout the Delta region. Clarksdale—“the home of the Blues”—is home to the Delta Blues Museum (and its related gift shop) and one-of-a-kind stores like Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art. Vicksburg’s downtown and Washington Street hosts a wide variety of boutiques, antique shops, and more, including the Attic Gallery and the Levee Street Marketplace. Natchez, the oldest city on the Mississippi River, has a historic downtown filled with interesting shops like Silver Street Gallery & Gifts and Lower Lodge Antiques.

The southern end of the Great River Road travels through Louisiana, which is home to can’t-miss retailers in cities like New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Perkins Rowe in Baton Rouge has a mix of retailers, restaurants, and entertainment spaces, and the city’s massive Mall of Louisiana, which features nearly 200 stores and the world’s third-largest indoor carousel. New Orleans is an iconic shopping destination, whether you’re exploring the French Market, Magazine Street, or the French Quarter.

Photo Credit: Explore Minnesota