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RV Vagabond · 01-16-2016, 04:18 PM

One trip on my bucket list as a retired full-timer is to drive the full length of the Mississippi River from Lake Itasca, MN to Venice, LA, but driving only about 2 hours a day, which I estimate would take about a month. Staying some days in RV parks, some days boondocking. Has anyone done that? Or would you do it?

Cooperhawk · 01-16-2016, 04:22 PM

I have driven some of it and want to do more. We live in Minnesoooota and of course have driven most of it in our state. Have also driven most of it between here and St Louis, but south of there, not yet. What I have seen is very scenic.

Cooperhawk · 01-16-2016, 04:24 PM

Start in NOLA about now and SLOWLY work your way North. By the time you get here it might be Spring.

skigramp · 01-16-2016, 04:27 PM

Check out Winnebago Industries Tours (WIT) ... they have done this tour several times ... I am sure that if you do some snooping you can find the sites they visit, places they stay, and more.

2016 Flyer for your info

I have not done this tour ... from where I live and the trips we take we have crossed the Mississippi at many of the sites that they visit ... from the start in Lake Itasca to New Orleans ...

1ciderdog · 01-16-2016, 05:20 PM

Not on my list but it does sound like a great idea. Like others I've done parts of it. Please let us know how that trip goes.

RV Vagabond · 01-17-2016, 01:19 AM

I will be posting my travels on a youtube channel line the Nomadic Fanatic does. This one will be a round trip from San Antonio, TX to upper Michigan, over to Minnesota and down to New Orleans. Search "RV Vagabond Jerry" on face book.

George Schweikle · 01-17-2016, 07:06 AM

This sounds like a great trip. I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the Great River Road. This is a route combined from state and local highways that adjoin the river. Many states have their own great river road websites, but here's an overall version: The Great River Road â€“ The Best Drive in America - Experience Missisippi River

We have driven the northern GRR several times, and this is the most scenic. In some cases the GRR route is on both sides of the river. Things get pretty flat traveling from southern Missouri, but there are some hills to climb as you pass through the Iowa Alps (that's the real name). Thinking back, I remember eating on an outdoor deck of a nice restaurant in Red Wing, Minnesota.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RV Vagabond

One trip on my bucket list as a retired full-timer is to drive the full length of the Mississippi River from Lake Itasca, MN to Venice, LA, but driving only about 2 hours a day, which I estimate would take about a month. Staying some days in RV parks, some days boondocking. Has anyone done that? Or would you do it?

Wizard · 01-17-2016, 07:14 AM

When near Memphis, stay at Tom Sawyer RV Park in West Memphis, Great views of the river

MikeD1 · 01-18-2016, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by George Schweikle

This sounds like a great trip. I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the Great River Road. This is a route combined from state and local highways that adjoin the river. Many states have their own great river road websites, but here's an overall version: The Great River Road â€“ The Best Drive in America - Experience Missisippi River

We have driven the northern GRR several times, and this is the most scenic. In some cases the GRR route is on both sides of the river. Things get pretty flat traveling from southern Missouri, but there are some hills to climb as you pass through the Iowa Alps (that's the real name). Thinking back, I remember eating on an outdoor deck of a nice restaurant in Red Wing, Minnesota.

+1 on the GRR. I've lived in the La Crosse,WI area all my life and traveled that road from Northern IL to the Twin Cities area countless times. Very beautiful for sure. Wyalusing State Park just south of Prairie Du Chein is great for camping and hiking with wonderful views of the meeting of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers.

UTTransplant · 01-19-2016, 09:36 PM

We have done part of the Great River Road, and the book referenced is good. There is also some other guidebooks available. I recommend doing a good Google search on resources. The books can really show you some great hidden locations. We lived close to the Mississippi for years, and we still found neat places through the books. The state tourist organizations will also provide information.

Arch Hoagland · 01-20-2016, 01:43 AM

That really sounds like a good idea. I know there are some Civil War sites along there too.

We have talked about doing a cruise on the Mississippi but those are expensive. I think an RV trip would be the way to go.

jackfish · 01-20-2016, 07:31 PM

In the Spring of 2015 we drove the Great River Road from New Orleans to Minneapolis. Wonderful places along the way. Each state has Great River Road maps and touring info.
Great River Road | America's Byways
The Great River Road â€“ The Best Drive in America - Experience Missisippi River
The side trip to the Natchez Trace is worth it too.

darcan · 01-26-2016, 08:38 PM

Thank you for starting this thread and for the great comments. This trip has been a dream of ours for a few years and you have all bumped it up the priority list. Looking forward to more stories.

RV Vagabond · 01-27-2016, 10:37 AM

By the way, the Mississippi River starts at Nicolet Lake just south of the bottom of the west arm of Lake Itasca, but you cannot drive to it. The closest you can drive to is near the middle of Lake Itasca. There is an RV park there called Pine Ridge Campground.