Follow Wisconsin's western edge through Mississippi River bluffs, scenic overlooks, historic river towns and the kind of road where stopping is half the point.
Wisconsin's Great River Road follows the Mississippi River corridor through western Wisconsin, connecting river towns, bluffs, backwaters, parks and overlooks along one of the state's most distinctive scenic routes.
This isn't a road to rush. Pull over when the view gets good, walk through the small towns and give yourself enough time to take the roads that look interesting.
Drive the road, climb above it and stop in the towns along the way.
The best drive includes plenty of stops.
Slow down and let the landscape determine the pace.
Find trails that climb through bluff and river country.
Explore fishing opportunities throughout the Mississippi corridor.
See the river from an entirely different perspective.
Turn the scenic drive into a longer outdoor trip.
Watch autumn spread across Wisconsin's river bluffs.
Watch the river, backwaters and surrounding landscape for wildlife.
Make small-town restaurants part of the road trip.
The Great River Road works because the drive itself keeps changing. One stretch hugs the river. Another moves through small towns. Then the road bends beneath wooded bluffs before opening onto another Mississippi River view.
Give yourself permission to stop often. That's the whole idea.
Explore More Scenic Drives →These communities give the Great River Road its personality.
Start exploring Wisconsin's western river corridor near the meeting of major waterways.
A small river community with broad water views and an easygoing pace.
A compact Wisconsin river town that rewards getting out of the car.
River views and surrounding bluffs make this a natural scenic stop.
Combine Mississippi scenery with outdoor recreation and bluff country.
Use Wisconsin's largest Mississippi River city as a base for exploring the route.
Spend more time along the river near Wisconsin's southwestern corner.
Turn away from the river and continue through southwestern Wisconsin's bluff country.
Some of the Great River Road's best views happen when you leave the riverbank and gain elevation.
From above, the Mississippi becomes a landscape of channels, islands, wetlands and broad stretches of water framed by the bluffs of western Wisconsin.
Explore the Mississippi River →
The river may bring you here, but the towns are what break the trip into memorable pieces.
Stop for coffee. Walk downtown. Find lunch. Wander toward the waterfront. Then get back on the road when you're ready.
Find a Wisconsin Food Getaway →Don't try to turn the entire drive into a race.
Begin around Prescott, Pepin or another northern river community and settle into the route.
Give yourself time for places like Stockholm, Alma and the communities between them.
Use the river city as an overnight base and spend an evening off the road.
Follow the Mississippi toward Prairie du Chien and Wisconsin's Driftless landscape.
Greener bluffs and changing river conditions bring a different look to the route.
SummerCombine the drive with boating, hiking, camping and waterfront stops.
FallAutumn brings some of the most dramatic scenery along western Wisconsin.
WinterWinter changes the landscape and can make the river corridor feel entirely different.
The Great River Road is better when you don't have to watch the clock. Build in time for overlooks, small towns, meals, trails and whatever catches your attention along the way.
It is a scenic route through Wisconsin's Mississippi River corridor, connecting communities, river scenery, bluffs and attractions along the state's western edge.
Communities along or near the route include Prescott, Pepin, Stockholm, Alma, Trempealeau, La Crosse and Prairie du Chien, among others.
You can explore a section in a day, but a weekend or longer gives you more time for towns, overlooks, parks, meals and side trips.
Fall is especially scenic as wooded bluffs and surrounding landscapes change color along the Mississippi River corridor.
Depending on where you stop, a trip can include hiking, boating, fishing, wildlife watching, camping, local food and exploring river towns.
Yes. The Mississippi River corridor and Wisconsin's Driftless Area overlap geographically in southwestern Wisconsin, making them natural additions to the same trip.
Mississippi River views, bluff country and Wisconsin towns are waiting around the next bend.