In-depth guide · CampingSpirit
From Lake Itasca, where the Mississippi begins as an ankle-deep stream, to Davenport: around 1,000 kilometres of river road between pine-fringed lakes, limestone bluffs and locks.
The spirit of the route
At Lake Itasca you can cross the Mississippi on stepping stones, so narrow is it here. From there the river grows slowly through lake country and pine forest, passes Brainerd and the Twin Cities, and from Red Wing the river becomes a broad valley in which limestone walls stand above the water like castle ramparts. The Great River Road follows it with a green paddle-wheel on white signs, switches between the banks and leads through towns with brick facades, an eagle centre and lock keepers. In the morning hours, mist lies over the backwaters, bald eagles sit in poplars, and barges push their way through the locks. In the evening a fire burns at a campground by the river, mosquitoes and cicadas sing, and in the distance a tugboat sounds its horn. In autumn the bluffs turn red and yellow; in summer it is humid, and thunderstorms come quickly.
Stage-by-stage plan
1Stage 1: Itasca State Park to Brainerd (approx. 225 km)
- The drive
- From Itasca State Park, take MN-200 and MN-371 via Bemidji and on south through the lake district; from Brainerd the road follows the river. Two lanes, mostly 55 mph, flat to hilly, with many animals crossing at dusk. Pure driving time is about 3.5 hours. Filling stations and supermarkets are found in Bemidji and Walker.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Mississippi Headwaters in Itasca State Park: the river rises here from Lake Itasca and is barely a metre deep at the source; you can cross it on stepping stones. A Minnesota State Park Vehicle Permit is required for the vehicle. One hour including the walk is enough.
- Bemidji: the statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox on the lake shore are a popular photo subject; Lake Bemidji State Park is nearby.
- Crow Wing State Park near Brainerd: the Crow Wing River flows into the Mississippi here; remains of the historic settlement and paths along the river.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Itasca State Park (Pine Ridge and Bear Paw Campground): sites in the forest, some with electricity, toilets and a dump station; check vehicle lengths and availability in the Minnesota State Parks reservation system. Crow Wing State Park near Brainerd has a basic campground by the river; check the facilities beforehand. Reserve early in summer.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In Chippewa National Forest (Cass Lake, Walker), dispersed camping is generally allowed, with a stay limit and fire rules; check the current regulations with the Forest Service. In the state park, only on the sites.
- Insider tip for campers
- Fill up and buy supplies in Bemidji; between Bemidji and Brainerd there are only small shops. In June and July mosquitoes are numerous, so pack a mosquito net.
2Stage 2: Brainerd to Minneapolis and Saint Paul (approx. 210 km)
- The drive
- From Brainerd, take MN-371 and MN-10 south via Little Falls and St. Cloud; from St. Cloud traffic gets denser. In the Twin Cities, motorhomes are better off using the ring motorways I-694/I-494 than going through the centre. Driving time is about 3 hours, considerably more at rush hour.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Charles A. Lindbergh State Park near Little Falls: a park on the Mississippi with the childhood home of the aviation pioneer; paths along the river.
- Stone Arch Bridge and Mill City Museum in Minneapolis: the railway bridge crosses the Mississippi at the Falls of St. Anthony; the museum is about the milling industry. Check opening times beforehand.
- Minnehaha Falls and Fort Snelling: a waterfall in a city park, plus the historic fort at the mouth of the Minnesota River.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Lebanon Hills Regional Park (Dakota County, Eagan/Apple Valley): a campground south of the Twin Cities with full-hookup, electric and no-hookup sites, showers and a dump station; 2026 season early May to mid-October, bookable online only. Standard sites take units up to about 24 feet (7 m), the three pull-through sites larger ones; the length including the tow vehicle must fit the pitch. Also Charles A. Lindbergh State Park with a basic campground by the river.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): There is no legal free camping in the Twin Cities area; towns check on overnighting in vehicles. It is better to move to campgrounds.
- Insider tip for campers
- Fill up with water and take care of waste disposal before the Twin Cities; dump stations are rare in the city. Mind the height limits in multi-storey car parks and do not drive in.
3Stage 3: Minneapolis and Saint Paul to Lake City (approx. 125 km)
- The drive
- Take US-61 south along the river via Hastings, Red Wing and Frontenac; the road is two to four lanes, mostly 55–65 mph, with views of bluffs and the broad Lake Pepin. Pure driving time is about 2 hours.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Red Wing: Barn Bluff is a local hill with views of the town and river; the climb takes about an hour. The pottery Red Wing Pottery has a long tradition.
- Frontenac State Park: bluffs with a view of Lake Pepin and paths through the forest; bird migration watching in spring and autumn.
- Lake Pepin: the lake, a widening of the Mississippi, is considered the birthplace of water-skiing; viewpoints on US-61.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Frontenac State Park: a campground above Lake Pepin; check the facilities and vehicle lengths in the reservation system. Hok-Si-La Park in Lake City: a municipal site on the lake with sites with electricity; check reservations with the town.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): There is hardly any dispersed camping here; in Minnesota, camping on State Forest land is only on designated sites. Better to reserve.
- Insider tip for campers
- In autumn many visitors come for the autumn colours; reserve early. Fill up and shop in Red Wing and Lake City.
4Stage 4: Lake City to La Crosse (approx. 115 km)
- The drive
- Continue on US-61 via Wabasha and Winona; along the way the bluffs change from forest to limestone. Two to four lanes, mostly 55–65 mph. A full day with stops. At Winona or La Crosse you can cross a bridge to the Wisconsin side.
- Highlights & must-sees
- National Eagle Center in Wabasha: an exhibition and demonstrations with live bald eagles; check opening times beforehand.
- Garvin Heights Lookout in Winona: a viewpoint some 180 m above the town, with a view of the Mississippi and backwaters.
- Grandad Bluff in La Crosse: a viewpoint with a view over the town, the river and three states.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Great River Bluffs State Park near Winona: a basic site on the plateau above the river; check the facilities before booking. Perrot State Park in Trempealeau (Wisconsin) offers sites by the river with a view of Brady’s Bluff; Goose Island County Park Campground (La Crosse County) lies right on the Mississippi with sites with and without electricity; check vehicle lengths and reservations.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In the Wisconsin section there is land in Black River State Forest (to the east) with dispersed camping under rules; far from the route. Otherwise use campgrounds.
- Insider tip for campers
- The bridges over the Mississippi sometimes have narrow lanes; with tall vehicles, heed the signs. La Crosse has large supermarkets and filling stations.
5Stage 5: La Crosse to McGregor (approx. 120 km)
- The drive
- Take WI-35 (Great River Road) south through Genoa and Ferryville to Prairie du Chien; the road runs along the river, winding, with views of locks and islands. Mostly 55 mph, 25–35 mph in towns. From Prairie du Chien, cross the bridge to Marquette and McGregor in Iowa. Pure driving time is about 2 hours.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Villa Louis in Prairie du Chien: a historic mansion on a Mississippi island, run by the Wisconsin Historical Society; check opening times beforehand.
- Wyalusing State Park: Sentinel Ridge viewpoint at the confluence of the Wisconsin River and the Mississippi.
- Effigy Mounds National Monument near Marquette (Iowa): burial mounds of the Indigenous population on the bluffs, with paths and viewpoints; check opening times and rules with the NPS.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Wyalusing State Park (Wisconsin): a campground at the confluence with electricity at some of the sites; check vehicle lengths in the reservation system. Pikes Peak State Park (McGregor, Iowa): a campground with electric sites above the river; reserve through the Iowa DNR system and check the facilities beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In Iowa and Wisconsin there are hardly any legal free-camping spots along the river; Corps of Engineers land allows camping only on designated sites. Use campgrounds.
- Insider tip for campers
- Prairie du Chien and McGregor have shops and filling stations; smaller towns follow after that. A detour to Lock and Dam 9 is worthwhile to watch ships going through the lock.
6Stage 6: McGregor to Dubuque (approx. 100 km)
- The drive
- Take US-52 along the river via Guttenberg and Balltown; a winding, hilly road with views of the valley, mostly 55 mph. Pure driving time is about 1.5 hours. The route is varied, with detours to viewpoints.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Guttenberg: a town with a German character, brick houses and the river at its centre; Lock and Dam 10.
- Dubuque: National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium at the harbour; check opening times beforehand.
- Fenelon Place Elevator in Dubuque: a funicular between the lower and upper town, in operation seasonally.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Miller Riverview Park Campground in Dubuque (Dubuque County): a site right on the Mississippi with some electric sites; check reservations and vehicle lengths with the operator. Alternative: Pikes Peak State Park the evening before.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In the Dubuque area there is no legal free camping on the river; overnighting in a vehicle in car parks is forbidden.
- Insider tip for campers
- Fill up and shop in Dubuque; after that the journey continues on smaller roads. Mind the height limits in multi-storey car parks.
7Stage 7: Dubuque to Davenport (approx. 130 km)
- The drive
- Take US-52 and US-67 via Bellevue and Clinton to Davenport; flat, rural terrain with corn and soybean fields, mostly 55–65 mph. Pure driving time is about 2 hours. The land opens out, the river grows broader, and locks and bridges characterise the route.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Bellevue State Park: a view of Lock and Dam 12 and the river; paths through floodplain forest.
- Clinton: a riverside promenade and Lock and Dam 13; the Sawmill Museum tells of the timber industry; check opening times beforehand.
- Davenport: Figge Art Museum on the river and Riverfront Park; drawbridges and barges invite watching.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Bellevue State Park (Dyas Unit): a campground with electric and full-hookup sites, showers and a dump station; by reservation only (ReserveAmerica), and check vehicle lengths there. In Clinton and Davenport there are also sites on public land and private sites; clarify availability beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): There is hardly any dispersed camping on the route; use campgrounds or reserve in good time.
- Insider tip for campers
- Take care of waste disposal at the end of the stage; rental motorhome returns are often with an empty tank. For the return north, use the same route or I-80/I-35.
Camping practice & local rules
Wild camping & overnight parking
- Dispersed camping is generally allowed in the national forests (Chippewa), but in state parks and on Corps of Engineers land only on designated sites. Check the current rules with the Forest Service and the authority concerned.
- Overnighting in a vehicle in car parks, at viewpoints and on roads is mostly forbidden in towns and at river spots; fines and checks are possible.
- Supermarkets and casinos often allow overnighting only by arrangement; heed the signs.
- Wildlife: black bears in northern Minnesota, white-tailed deer everywhere, bald eagles on the river. Store food in the vehicle at night.
- Insects: mosquitoes and black flies in early summer; ticks in forest and meadows. Bring repellent and tick tweezers.
- Apps and sites: Campendium, iOverlander, The Dyrt, Recreation.gov (federal land), and the reservation systems of the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa.
Waste disposal & supplies
- Dump stations are found in many state parks and county parks; there is an overview at sanidumps.com. Check fees and opening times beforehand.
- Tap water is drinkable in all three states; do not drink river water.
- Shopping: supermarkets in Bemidji, Brainerd, the Twin Cities, Red Wing, Winona, La Crosse, Prairie du Chien, Dubuque and Davenport.
- Propane at filling stations and DIY stores in larger towns; European bottles need adapters.
- Fuel: filling stations in all larger towns; only a few between Itasca and Brainerd.
- Electricity: sites with hook-ups mostly offer 30 and 50 A at 120 V; rental motorhomes have suitable US cables.
Vehicle size & traffic rules
- Speed limits in mph: highways mostly 55–65, interstate 65–70, built-up areas 25–35. On country roads the posted limits apply; lower limits may apply for rigs.
- Toll: no toll on the Great River Road. The bridges over the Mississippi are generally toll-free.
- State park fees: Minnesota requires a Vehicle Permit, Wisconsin and Iowa have their own entry fees; check prices beforehand. At Effigy Mounds National Monument, NPS rules apply; for visitors without US residence, check current amounts on nps.gov.
- Dimensions: many sites have length limits; check before booking. Bridges and underpasses have height limits, with the legal maximum height mostly 13 ft 6 in to 14 ft.
- Reservations: state parks through the respective state systems, federal land through Recreation.gov; book early in autumn.
- Weather and season: best time May to October; spring flooding, summer thunderstorms, autumn colours in October. Tornadoes are possible in the Midwest: heed warnings.
- Traffic law: turning right on red is allowed after a full stop unless a sign forbids it. Seat belts are compulsory for all occupants. Emergency number 911.
CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist
- Insect net, repellent and tick tweezers: mosquitoes and ticks are widespread between May and September.
- Binoculars for bald eagles, migrating birds and barges at the locks.
- Rain jacket and a warm layer: thunderstorms and cool nights are possible even in summer.
- Bicycle or folding bikes for cycle paths along the river such as the Great River State Trail.
- Levelling wedges: sites on the bluffs and on river banks are sometimes uneven.
- Offline maps and a weather app with severe-weather alerts for thunderstorms and tornadoes.
As of 2026-09. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go.
