Great River Road

States: Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, and Wisconsin
Length: 2069.0 mi / 3329.7 km
Time to Allow: Allow six days to drive or ten days to enjoy the entire byway.

Throughout history, the Mississippi River influenced many lives: the Dakota, Chippewa, and Hopewell cultures; early French voyagers; African-Americans seeking freedom on the Underground Railroad; and many more. Through its charming river towns and metropolitan cities, historic sites and cultural artifacts, today's Great River Road still links resources, people, and history.

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  • Taste the Music of the Great River Road

    Taste the Music of the Great River Road

    Updated Apr 25, 2013 in The American Experience and What's Happening on America's Byways

    No matter what kind of music you love, you’ll get your fill on the Great River Road. Traversing ten states, the Mississippi River has tasted every type of lifestyle and every type of music. Travel the Great River Road and get a taste of the music for yourself.

  • Hiawatha: Fact vs. Literature in Minnehaha Park

    Hiawatha: Fact vs. Literature in Minnehaha Park

    Updated Jan 28, 2013 in Famous Americans

    Henry Wadsworth Longfellow has been described as the first truly American poet. Hiawatha became America's most widely read poem of the 19th Century, spreading the fame of Minnehaha Falls and the uppermost regions of the Mississippi. Despite many misconceptions, both fact and literature contribute to the beauty of Minnehaha Park.

See all 13 Stories for Great River Road

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See all 9 Road Trips for Great River Road

The following byways are part of the designated byway Great River Road: