Fall is a great time for road trips! And following the Mississippi River in Iowa is one of the very best road trips you can find! Not only is the river a beautiful sight, the leaves along it are gorgeous throughout the fall months! In addition, Iowa is full of some pretty amazing stops!
To make your Iowa river road trip the most epic most possible, I’ve put together a list of the greatest stops along the way. This list is compiled from working North to South along the river!
Driftless Area Education & Visitors Center – Lansing, IA
Situated across from the river, just south of Lansing, IA, you’ll find the Driftless Area Education Center. This free museum and educational center has displays of wildlife in the area (and from years past) as well as explaining the commerce of the river in the area! It’s very educational for all ages, interactive, and has great views of the river!
Cassville Car Ferry, near Millville, IA
I thought in order to ride on a ferry; you had to be in places with big bodies of water, like Puget Sound or on Lake Michigan. Little did I know you just had to go to Iowa. The Cassville Ferry is a short ride down the Mississippi, connecting the Iowa Great River Road to the Great River Road in WI. I’ve done car ferries before, but this one took me by surprise by its unique design with the engine beside the boat instead of pulling it.
Submitted by DayTripper! Read more about their travel adventures HERE!
Eagle Point Park – Dubuque, IA
Perched above the Mississippi River on the North end of Dubuque, you’ll find Eagle Point Park! For only $1 per car load, you gain access to the entire park for as long as you want! Enjoy the playgrounds, lodges, and the views! It’s one of the best places in Dubuque to watch the comings and goings of Dam 11. Personally, we can spend hours just watching the barges and boats on the river! Read more about it HERE!
Hotel Julien Dubuque
While you’re traveling along the Mississippi River, there is only one place to stay and that is the historic Hotel Julien Dubuque! This hotel has been in Dubuque since 1839 and it’s just as grand as it was then! The rooms have been redone in recent years and no expense was spared! Each detail of the rooms, their amenities, and the rest of the property are top notch! When you’re looking to escape and truly indulge in high end accomodations, head to the Hotel Julien!
Read more about our visit by clicking HERE!
The Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium – Dubuque, IA
Little kids, big kids, and adults alike will enjoy the Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium! Learn about the history of the Mississippi and it’s impact on trade in Iowa as well as commerce! Learn about the wildlife in and near the river as well! Finally, enjoy ships that have sailed on this monster river as well as an aquarium featuring residents of the river and it’s area!
Read more about our trip to the Museum HERE!
Mines of Spain – Dubuque, IA
Just outside of Dubuque is the Mines of Spain Recreational Area, a great place to hike along the Mississippi River. My favourite trail is Horseshoe Bluff, but for the best views of the river, check out the Julien Dubuque Monument. It looks like a little castle that sits high up on top of the bluff! Entrance is to the Mines of Spain is free and there are toilet facilities and plenty of places to park at the different trailheads!
Submitted by Between England & Iowa! Read more about the Mines of Spain HERE!
LeClaire, IA
Located just a short drive up-river from the Quad Cities, LeClaire is an adorable river town with a main street dotted with specialty shops, quaint eateries and gourmet stores. It’s also the home of Antique Archaeology, the vintage shop that spurred the reality show “American Pickers” on the History Channel. You can walk from a winery to a brewery to a distillery all within three blocks.
Submitted by Midwest Family Traveler! Read more about LeClaire HERE!
The Villages of East Davenport
The Village of East Davenport is one of the best stops along the Mississippi River in Iowa. Historic buildings house cute boutiques, restaurants and bars. I love taking the water taxi over from the Illinois side and spending an afternoon in the Village. There’s even a fun playground right at the ferry landing where kids can play while you wait for the boat!
Submitted by Campfires & Concierges.
Leach Park – Bettendorf, IA
One of my favorite spots to stop is Leach Park at the base of the I-74 bridge in Bettendorf. There’s a staircase with random flag markers on it. It’s like artwork – a representative of the Lock & Dam system on the Mississippi River.
Submitted by SAHM Reviews. Read more HERE!
Taste of Ethiopia – Davenport, IA
“Taste of Ethiopia and the Freight House Market in Davenport are both within eye line of the Mississippi River. You can sit on the Taste of Ethiopia patio and watch the boats go by. Pick up some produce at the farmers market, and then get Ethiopian stews for lunch!”
Submitted by Cadry’s Kitchen. Read more about where to eat Vegan in the Quad Cities by clicking HERE!
The Channel Cat Water Taxi- Quad Cities
The Channel Cat is one of the River Boat Taxi’s that travel along the Mississippi. They offer three open air passenger Ferry boats with service from Memorial Day to Labor Day. A couple years ago, my daughter and I got a chance to get in on one of the educational rides. We learned about jazz history along the Mississippi. If you get a chance to take a water taxi, it is a different view of the Quad City area. Since most of the history connected with these great cities is connected to the water, it is a way to recognize the importance of the old Mississippi not only as a nice view, but also a thriving waterway where commerce still flows today!
Submitted by Traveling Adventures of a Farm Girl. Read more about the Channel Cat HERE!
Explore the Mississippi River
Whether you travel North to South (or the opposite), your trip along the Mississippi River is bound to be a good one! This feature of great places to stop along the way just scratches the surface! What places in Iowa along the river are your favorites to visit?
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What a great round-up! This definitely gives me some ideas for exploring along the Mississippi River. Thanks for including me!
Thanks for contributing! The area of the river is pretty fantastic!
This is an awesome recap of this area and one that I will definitely refer back to! Thanks for sharing all of the details!
Thank you! There really is so much to do along the Mississippi that this just scratches the surface!
Great list, just in time to see the changing fall colors!
Right?! My own post has me wanting to plan a fall trip!!!
This list is awesome! My family and I took our boat down the Mississippi a few years ago and made some stops in Iowa along the way. We saw a lot, but it sounds like there’s still so much more to experience!
How fun that would be! There’s lots to see in Iowa. This just scratches the surface.