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thoms's avatar
thoms
Explorer
Aug 15, 2022

great river road

hi all
thinking of driving the great river road along the miss. this fall
wondering about campgrounds along the way. will be starting down south but heard the northern part is the most scenic? do not plan on spending any time in the big cities. will be pulling a 26TT.
Any thoughts on this trip would be helpful.
Thanks
  • Just east of downtown St. Louis the Casino Queen has a campground. Pretty nice view of St. Louis across the river.

    Pere Marquette State Park just north of Grafton, IL (near St. Louis) has a campground and a beautiful old lodge.

    There is a COE campground just north of the Quad cities, IL. We haven't stayed there but did drive through.

    Mississippi Palisades State Park is just north of Savanna, IL. Typical state park campground. They have beautiful drive up the cliffs overlooking the river.

    Palace Campground is just north of Galena, IL. Galena is a great town to visit.

    BTW, the sections of the river road that we have driven are well worth the trip.
  • We haven't driven it specifically but we have inadvertently covered most of it along with boating from St. Louis to the Ohio River

    The north section is certainly more scenic.
    - South section tends to be a lot of flat flood plains with the river behind levies with minimal access. New Orleans and the Delta are fun to visit but otherwise, not a ton that peaks our interest if you stick close to the river.
    - North of St. Louis, the river takes on a different character as it now utilizes locks and dams to control it. You get a lot more bluffs and scenery. Up around Lacross is absolutely gorgeous.
  • Plantation homes south of Baton Rouge both sides of the river.
  • There is a decent CG about 4 miles south of Hannibal, MO. on the river road. Haven't stayed there in several years but it was quiet and shady, with FHU.
  • On it right now...second time going slower! Lots of cg's many riverfront. Lower reaches less scenic (IMHO) because high levees prevent river view, but lots of historical areas. Farther north...better views and cgs with waterfront sites. The more two laning you can do the better the adventure.

    From Land between the Lakes, headed South tomorrow.
  • On it right now...second time going slower! Lots of cg's many riverfront. Lower reaches less scenic (IMHO) because high levees prevent river view, but lots of historical areas. Farther north...better views and cgs with waterfront sites. The more two laning you can do the better the adventure. 40' moho and toad, you will have even more choices of sites...enjoy!

    From Land between the Lakes, headed South tomorrow.
  • Thanks all for the info,think i might try the northern part for now.
  • 2x on the Mississippi Palisades and the Blackhawk Campground in DeSoto Wisconsin is a great COE campground.