Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Route
Visitor Services

Service	Description	Service	Description
	Fees There are no fees along the byway proper and ferries on the byway are free.		Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities Touted as the longest and perhaps the most scenic bicycle path in the region, the 25-mile Vandalabene (Great River Road) Bicycle Trail runs parallel to the Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Route...
	Camping Camping is available at the Pere Marquette State Park.		Food Alton, St. Louis, Grafton, Elsah, and Wood River have several places to eat.
	Gasoline There are multiple gas stations along the byway in Alton, Hartford, and Godfrey.		Information The byway passes by the Melvin Price Visitors Center, a state-of-the-art interpretive center. This visitor's center tells the story of the Mississippi River and draws more than 500,000 visitors...
	Lodging Travelers can find lodging along the byway in towns like Alton, St. Louis, Grafton, and Wood River. If you are interested in a great bed and breakfast experience, stay at one in the town of Elsah.		Phone Phones can be found at any of the gas stations in Alton, Hartford, or Godfrey.
	Restrooms Public restrooms are available along the route in Alton, Hartford, and Godfrey.		Retail There are many different types of places to shop along the Byway. Some great shopping areas are in Wood River, Alton, St. Louis, Grafton, and Elsah.

NOTE: The America's Byways® website is federally funded and cannot promote commercial businesses. This data may not be complete or up to date. The National Scenic Byways Program is not responsible for the quality of your travel experience. See the right column on the Byway Overview page for local contact information.

Special Considerations

There are several special considerations when driving this byway:

• There are multiple gas stations along the byway in Alton, Hartford, and Godfrey.
• Over half of the 50-mile route is a paved, four-lane facility, and the remaining half is a paved, two-lane road. The five state routes are in excellent condition, have no high-accident locations, and have been designed to serve higher levels of traffic than presently exist on the route.
• However, the area is hampered by periodic flooding during the spring, particularly in the northern parts of the byway from Grafton north. During periods of road closure due to flooding, alternate routes are posted for the convenience of motorists.
• There may be times during the coldest winter months that the river ferries cannot operate due to either the river freezing or ice jams coming down the river from the north. During these times, motorists can use the Joe Paige Bridge at Hardin to connect with Kampsville in Calhoun County. The route has recently been reconstructed and resurfaced. The Clark Bridge, which was opened in 1994, serves as the major river crossing from Missouri. The route can accommodate all types of vehicles, including commercial, agricultural, and recreational vehicles. In most cases, surrounding local roads provide access to businesses and other activities off of the byway.
• The best time to come for fall colors is mid-week. Saturday and Sunday traffic is extremely heavy during the fall, so extra time must be added to the trip. The normal 30-minute drive from Alton to Grafton can take two to three hours on beautiful fall weekends.

Restrictions

Roads can be closed during the spring due to flooding and during the winter due to freezing and ice. When this happens, alternate routes are provided for motorists. Also, ferries cannot operate when the river freezes.

Seasons

Best Time to Drive

The byway is beautiful in both the spring and the fall.

Fall

In the fall, people come from miles around to see the colors of the leaves and to enjoy harvest in the orchards and vineyards. In mid-October, people are out picking apples or participating in the wine tour in Grafton.

High Season

Each season on the byway has a different virtue and each season sees its share of travelers.

Spring

During the spring, the Dogwoods and Redwoods are in bloom.

Summer

In the summer, recreational activities are abundant on the byway.

Winter

In the winter, people come to see the eagles swooping near the bluffs.

Road Conditions

To find up to date information about the road conditions along Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Route, please visit the FHWA listing of web sites for more information.

Illinois