Follow Wisconsin's western edge through towering bluffs, wide river views, historic communities, backwaters and one of the state's great scenic drives.
The Mississippi River forms much of Wisconsin's western boundary, creating a landscape of wooded bluffs, islands, wetlands, river channels and communities that have grown beside the water.
The experience isn't just about reaching one destination. Some of the best moments come from following the river, stopping at overlooks and exploring the towns along the way.
Drive it, get on the water or stop in the communities along the way.
Follow the Mississippi through bluff country and Wisconsin river towns.
Find overlooks and trails with broad views across the Mississippi Valley.
Explore communities where downtown streets meet the river.
Make the river the center of the trip or simply the scenery along the way.
Follow river roads beneath wooded bluffs and through western Wisconsin communities.
Explore the Mississippi's main channel, backwaters and connected waterways.
Experience Wisconsin's western border from the water.
Climb bluff-country trails and look out across the river valley.
Explore trails and quieter routes throughout western Wisconsin.
Stay close to river landscapes and the outdoors.
Watch wooded bluffs transform during Wisconsin's fall season.
Pick a river town and spend a couple of days exploring nearby.
The Great River Road is less about getting somewhere quickly and more about following the Mississippi through western Wisconsin.
Bluffs rise beside the river, communities appear around the next bend and scenic stops give you plenty of reasons to pull over. Leave extra time. You'll probably use it.
Explore Scenic Drives →Don't make the river towns something you only see through the windshield.
A western Wisconsin river community near the meeting of major waterways.
A small river community surrounded by Mississippi River scenery.
A small Wisconsin village that makes an easy stop on a river road trip.
A Mississippi River community tucked between the water and steep bluff country.
River scenery and nearby outdoor recreation make this a natural Mississippi stop.
A larger river city surrounded by bluffs, trails and western Wisconsin scenery.
A longtime Mississippi River community in southwestern Wisconsin.
Continue inland through ridges, valleys, trout streams and southwestern Wisconsin towns.
The river is impressive from the shoreline. It's even better when you climb high enough to see the channels, islands, wetlands and distant ridges spread across the valley.
Western Wisconsin's bluff country gives the Mississippi landscape a scale unlike almost anywhere else in the state.
Find Wisconsin Hiking →
The Mississippi River experience changes when you stop instead of simply driving through. Walk downtown, find lunch, head to the waterfront and see what the river looks like from somewhere new.
A handful of small stops can turn one scenic drive into an entire weekend.
Find a Weekend Getaway →There's no need to rush this one.
Start early and follow the Mississippi before the day's stops begin.
Late MorningGet above the river and take in the valley from bluff country.
Park the car and spend some time walking near the waterfront and downtown.
Finish the day with a Wisconsin meal before settling in for the night.
Use the river as the backdrop for an entire Wisconsin weekend.
Choose one community as a base and explore the river in both directions.
For TwoPair river views, scenic drives and small-town stops with a quiet stay.
On the WaterBuild the trip around time on the Mississippi and its backwaters.
Keep MovingFollow the river and then turn inland to explore more of the Driftless region.
Watch the valley turn green as warmer weather returns to western Wisconsin.
SummerLong days bring boating, fishing, road trips and river-town weekends.
FallWooded hillsides turn the Mississippi corridor into a classic fall drive.
WinterCold weather creates a quieter and dramatically different Mississippi landscape.
The Mississippi is best explored slowly. Build extra time into the trip for overlooks, small towns, parks and places you didn't know you wanted to stop until you saw them.
Yes. The Mississippi River forms much of Wisconsin's western boundary with Minnesota and Iowa.
The Wisconsin Great River Road follows the Mississippi River corridor through western Wisconsin, connecting river communities and scenic areas.
Wisconsin river communities include Prescott, Pepin, Stockholm, Alma, Trempealeau, La Crosse and Prairie du Chien, among others.
Popular activities include scenic driving, boating, fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing, biking, camping and exploring river towns.
Yes. The river corridor combines scenic roads, bluff views, historic communities and outdoor recreation into a natural multi-stop trip.
Summer works well for water recreation, while fall is especially popular for scenic drives through wooded bluff country. Every season creates a different river landscape.
Then slow down, take the river road and see where it leads.