Great River Road south: Dubuque to Hannibal
Iowa caves, the Quad Cities, Burlington’s crooked Snake Alley, the Mormon town of Nauvoo and Mark Twain’s Hannibal along the middle Mississippi.
- Distance
- 401 km (249 mi)
- Driving
- 4 h 27 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 9
- States
- IA, IL, MO
- Updated
- July 2, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 401 km (249 mi) with 9 stops, from Dubuque to Hannibal. About 4 h 27 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri
Route description
From Dubuque take US-61 south toward Maquoketa; Maquoketa Caves State Park lies just north-west of that town, about an hour away. Bring a flashlight and old clothes if you want to crawl into the smaller caves. Return to the river at Bellevue or Sabula and follow the Great River Road south past bluff towns and the lock and dam at Clinton to Davenport.
Davenport is one of the Quad Cities, which also include Bettendorf in Iowa and Moline and Rock Island in Illinois. Watch barges pass Lock and Dam 15 from the visitor center on Arsenal Island; bring ID to enter the island. From Davenport, US-61 runs south-west through Muscatine to Burlington, about 130 km, a river town of brick buildings with the switchbacks of Snake Alley.
Cross the Mississippi at Fort Madison and follow IL-96 south along the river to Nauvoo, founded in 1839 by Latter-day Saints. The restored historic district has free tours, crafts and wagon rides from spring to autumn, and the Nauvoo State Park has a campground. IL-96 continues along the river past Hamilton and Quincy, with levees and farmland.
From Quincy, take I-172 south and I-72 west across the Mississippi to Hannibal, about 40 minutes. Mark Twain’s boyhood home and museum sit on the historic main street, and Riverview Park on the bluff north of downtown looks over the river. Summer is busy with river cruises and Tom Sawyer Days in July. Flooding sometimes closes river roads in spring, so check before you go.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Dubuque
IA - 252 km
Maquoketa Caves State Park
NatureMaquoketa, IAMore caves than any other park in Iowa, from walk-through passages to crawl spaces, linked by boardwalks in a wooded limestone ravine. Bring a headlamp; some caves close in winter to protect bats.
- 382 km
Davenport
IA - 4110 km
Burlington
IA - 51 km
Snake Alley
OdditiesBurlington, IAA brick street from 1894 with seven tight switchbacks down a bluff, often called one of the crookedest streets in the world. Drive it downhill only, or walk it; park at the top on Columbia Street.
- 645 km
Nauvoo
IL - 71 km
Historic Nauvoo
HistoryNauvoo, ILRestored brick homes and workshops of the Latter-day Saint town of the 1840s on a bend of the Mississippi, with free tours, wagon rides and craft demonstrations. The rebuilt temple overlooks the flats.
- 8111 km
Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum
HistoryHannibal, MOThe white clapboard house where Samuel Clemens grew up, with a whitewashed fence recalling Tom Sawyer and several museum buildings. One ticket covers them all; parking is on the streets of the old town.
- 90 km
Hannibal
MO
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Dubuque → Davenport · 83 mi · 1 h 29 minOn the way: Maquoketa Caves State Park.Overnight nearby, for example: Andalusia Slough Campground (11 mi); Woodside Campground (13 mi).
- Day 2: Davenport → Nauvoo · 96 mi · 1 h 43 minOn the way: Burlington, Snake Alley.Overnight nearby, for example: Hubinger Landing (11 mi); Hubinger Landing (11 mi).
- Day 3: Nauvoo → Hannibal · 70 mi · 1 h 15 minOn the way: Historic Nauvoo, Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum.Overnight nearby, for example: The Meadow Campground (7 mi); Camp Sacajawea (11 mi).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in June, August and October. Cold, short days in December–February. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Great River Road south: Dubuque to Hannibal?
3-day road trip of about 401 km (249 mi) with 9 stops, from Dubuque to Hannibal. About 4 h 27 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Great River Road south: Dubuque to Hannibal?
We suggest 3 days: about 4 h 27 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Great River Road south: Dubuque to Hannibal start and end?
It starts in Dubuque and ends in Hannibal.
Which states does Great River Road south: Dubuque to Hannibal pass through?
Iowa, Illinois and Missouri.
Where can you camp along Great River Road south: Dubuque to Hannibal?
OpenStreetMap lists 58 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Horseshoe Pond Campground, Andalusia Slough Campground and Woodside Campground.
When is the best time for Great River Road south: Dubuque to Hannibal?
The most pleasant months are usually May and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in June, August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
