Great River Road is one of the Best Drives in America

The Great River Road is said to be one of the Best Drives in America, tracing the course of the Mississippi River for 3,000 miles through 10 states, from Minnesota to Louisiana.

Great River Road

How long is the Great River Road?

This waterfront drive road is 3.329km (2,069mile) long. But it’s not a single road: it’s a route connecting named and numbered highways and streets. It follows the course of the Mississippi River for 3,000 miles through 10 states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Is the Great River Road scenic?

The Great River Road (or GRR) is totally paved and takes you through staggeringly diverse scenery. The journey is dotted with everything from scenic rivers, quaint little towns, historic attractions. For long stretches, the road is a wonderful panoply of river, bluffs, and picturesque small towns. For other long stretches, the road is too far from the river for travelers to see the river and the towns are less than picturesque.

How long does it take to drive the Great River Road?

This is a remarkable road trip. Make sure you leave enough time to make plenty of stops along the way. It is said to be the longest and most important scenic byway in America, passing through 10 states and hundreds of river towns. Developed in 1938, most people take four to 10 days to make the journey. There are hundreds of small to medium-sized towns along the Great River Road so the average driving time is pretty slow. In addition, almost every town has something to offer people who park the car, get out to stretch their legs, and walk around the village. More info here.