The Great River Road

Welcome to the official travel site of the Great River Road - historic byway of the Mississippi River. A leisurely scenic drive is the classic American way to relax and connect to the countryside. As one of the oldest. longest and most unique scenic byways in North America, the Great River Road offers respite to millions of travelers seeking a getaway - from a leisurely day's drive to an extended vacation. And there's plenty of Great River Road to see. Nearly 3,000 miles long and running through 10 states along the Mississippi River, the Great River Road offers a gateway to the river valley's great history, the blending of cultures and a host of recreational options to all who journey it.

The river in each Great River Road state tells a unique story and offers up an experience all its own; from charming river towns to lush forest, from bluffs to the Delta, big city to sprawling rural vistas, the rich diversity of this American treasure is yours to explore.

Click a state on the Map below to learn more
about its local Great River Road communities
and attractions.

A BIT OF HISTORY...
Dating back to 1938, when Franklin D. Roosevelt was president, the concept of a transcontinental Great River Parkway along the Mississippi River was developed by the governors of the 10 river states. Wishing to conserve precious resources - among them land, time and dollars - it was decided that rather than building a new continuous road, the existing network of rural roads and then-fledgling highways that meandered and crisscrossed the river would become the Great River Road. The green Pilot's Wheel road sign that marked the route of the new byway decades ago still heralds the byway today.

Hop in your car, on a motorcycle, in a bus or on a bike and follow the path of America's historic north-south transcontinental byway to a Mississippi River experience sure to last a lifetime.