Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Route
Despite the name, the Great River Road is not a single highway, but a series of linked
federal, state and county roads that follow the Mississippi River as it flows through 10
different states. The one constant wherever you are is the green paddle-wheel sign that
marks the way. Major urban areas that provide easy access to the road include New Or-
leans, Memphis, St Louis and Minneapolis.
When to Go
May to October is best, for snow-free weather in the northern states.
Resources
Mississippi River Travel
(
www.experiencemississippiriver.com
)
Great resource for his-
tory, outdoor recreation and live music in all 10 River Road states.
National Scenic Byways
(
www.fhwa.dot.gov/byways/byways/2279
) Turn-by-turn direc-
tions.
Time & Mileage
»
Time: Six days to drive the road from north to south; 10 days enables a more comfort-
able, realistic pace.
»
Mileage: About 2000 miles.
»
Start/End: Itasca State Park, MN/New Orleans, LA.
Lincoln Highway
Begun in 1913 and paved to completion by 1925, America's first transcontinental road-
way rambles from New York City to San Francisco. Its 1000-mile eastern portion traces
a distinctive path through the nation's heartland, leaving giant coffee-pot statues, fried-
chicken diners, jellybean murals and other Americana in its wake.
Why Go
The Lincoln Highway is authentic road tripping, sans much of the hype and commercial-
ization of other famous byways. While the route navigates some of the East's prominent
cities - NYC and Philadelphia among them - it also steers well off the tourist path in
genuine back-road style. You'll tick off seven states along the way: New York, New Jer-
sey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.
