This 3,000-mile Route Is One of the Most Stunning Drives in the U.S.—and It Follows the Largest River in North America

There are a handful of U.S. road trips that can accurately be described as legendary—Route 66, the Pacific Coast Highway, the Blue Ridge Parkway, to name just a few. But if you’re searching for an iconic and beautiful Midwest road trip, look no further than the Great River Road. 

A National Scenic Byway and an All-American Road, the Great River Road, as its name suggests, follows the length of the Mighty Mississippi. The road is nearly 3,000 miles in length and passes through 10 states, from Minnesota to Louisiana. 

“What makes the Great River Road special is that it’s much more than a scenic drive. You’re traveling alongside one of the world’s great rivers, but you’re also experiencing the historic river towns, local businesses, history, and culture that developed because of it,” Cory Jobe, CEO of Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau, tells Travel + Leisure. ..

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Ken Notes: Nice article and timely as I am looking at driving the route in my 1980 Ford van and travel trailer in the next few years...