A Traveler's Experience

Ohio River Scenic Byway (IL, IN, OH)

The thought to take the Ohio River Byway trip started by accident. We were going to head out to the Confluence of the Mississippi and the Ohio from Kentucky for Spring Break...and the more we thought about it, the more we thought about heading over to Pittsburgh first (where the Ohio River starts!) and drive the entire river (for a spring break trip, one mom, one eighth grader and one toddler!).

All I have to say is WOW! What a great (long too!) drive! It definitely takes a week to travel its entire length, and there are lots of neat things to see!

MUST SEES (from our perspective!) -
Fort Steuben
The Hannibal Locks and Dam (Ohio)
Bob Evans Farm
The Murals in Portsmouth
Ironton, Ohio (which is really pretty!)
John Rankin House (Ohio)
U.S. Grant's Birthplace (Ohio)
The Newport Aquarium (Kentucky near Cinti)
Madison (IN)
The Falls of the Ohio (IN)
The Overlook Restaurant (IN)
The Museum of Art and Science (Evansville)
The homes in Evansville
Cafe Belle' Mia (Golconda - the most incredible European food)
The Garden of the Gods (IL, Shawnee National Forest)
Superman (Metropolis)
Fort Defiance (The End)

Things we learned:
Ohio has the best river views, the roads (7 and 52) are well marked, and follow the river quite closely. You will never be more than 10-15 minutes without a beautiful river view.

IN - A lot of the byway is, quite frankly, nowhere near the river, but is very rural and beautiful (you will see incredible farm views). Indiana's portion of the byway (from Louisville through to Evansville) is extremely twisty and turny, and makes for some "fun" driving.

Illinois - Unless you take several of the spurs, you will only get glimpses of the river 3 or 4 times. Much of the time, you are seemingly 30 or more miles from the river. Be careful if you are following the signs for the byway, as, at several points, the signs point in opposite directions, or have been removed by pranksters. Also, be careful, as there are several bridges out (April '06) without detours marked (near Shawneetown, Illinois). If you try to follow the byway in Metropolis, you will make a beautiful trip around the town in a square, and go nowhere! BUT.. you will also go near the Garden of the Gods rock formations in Shawnee National Forest...which is worth the incredible trip!

All in all, quite memorable... beautiful... and well worth this family's ROAD TRIP!

(Photo submitted is a piece of the Ohio River Flood Wall Murals in Portsmouth OH... commemorating the Flood of Portsmouth... In...cred..i..ble.