Wisconsin Great River Road, Road Trip 2024

The Ultimate Three-Day Road Trip Exploring
The Wisconsin Great River Road

Have you wondered what there is to see and do along the Wisconsin Great River Road? We did and decided the best way to find out was to take a Wisconsin Great River Road, road trip.

The Wisconsin Great River Road is enjoyable any time of year. Not only are there 30 quaint river towns and landmarks along the way, but during the summer, you will also find festivals and special events. Fall, you’ll discover more festivals, colorful landscaping, fields filled with harvested hay, and wildlife preparing for winter.

The Wisconsin Great River Road National Scenic Byway features a 250-mile journey along the Mississippi River. The Great River Road follows the Mississippi River for 3,000 miles from northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.

We set out on a three-day road trip along the Wisconsin portion of the Great River Road attempting to see and do as much as possible. These are some of the things we found that you might enjoy on your road trip along the Mississippi River.

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Plan Your Wisconsin Great River Road, Road Trip

With 250 miles ahead of you filled with charming small towns and historical sites, three days is hardly enough to see everything along the way. With some planning, it is the ideal amount of time to enjoy the highlights.

Our three days were spent as follows:

Wisconsin is filled with many unique places ideal for a road trip. The Wisconsin Great River Road is just one of them. I don’t think any of the places we have visited compare to what Wisconsin’s Great River Road offers.

Make the Wisconsin Great River Road Visitor and Learning Center the first stop of your adventure to learn firsthand about the area, the locals, and current happenings.

Road trips can be a fun adventure. Before setting out on any road trip, research and ensure you are prepared. Use our feature on Preparing for Your Road Trip to make sure you don’t forget a thing.

The Wisconsin Great River Road is considered one of the nation’s prettiest drives. It is the only designated National Scenic Byway in Wisconsin.

Things To See On A Wisconsin Great River Road Trip

If you want to experience the entire 250 miles of the Great River Road, your Wisconsin Great River Road trip should start in Prescott, Wisconsin, where you will find the first road marker.

As you travel the Wisconsin Great River Road, watch for the byway markers along Hwy 10 and 35. They make it easy to stay on course and not get lost as you pass through all 33 small towns.

Thanks to the byway markers, you can put away the GPS and road maps and soak up all the beauty your road trip offers.

Prescott, Wisconsin ~ Great River Road

When heading north to south on the Wisconsin Great River Road, Prescott is the first city you will visit. It is the northern gateway to this National Scenic Byway and is home to your first stop, the Wisconsin Great River Road Visitor and Learning Center in Freedom Park.

1. Wisconsin Great River Road Visitor and Learning Center

At the Visitor and Learning Center, you will be greeted by dozens of fun goats – yes, I said goats! A scenic overlook and is the ideal place to get all of your Wisconsin Great River Road questions answered.

While at the center, look around and see if you can spot any of the bald eagles that call the trees on the river bank home.

Throughout our drive, we were amazed at the presence of bald eagles. At one point, we pulled over by the river, sat, and watched about a dozen eagles soaring over the river and trees.

2. Nesbitt’s Orchard

Prescott is also home to Nesbitt’s Orchard, a family-run business since 1998. This is a fun place where, in the fall, you can enjoy picking your own apples. They offer more than 15 varieties of apples to choose from.

When visiting Nesbitt’s Orchard, be sure to check out their retail store, where you will find a variety of delicious items to take with you on your road trip.

• Pre-picked apples
• Apple Cider
• Caramel Apples
• Honey
• Maple Syrup
• Fresh Apple Pies and other sweet treats!

Diamond Bluff, Wisconsin ~ Great River Road

3. Sea Wing Park

Just 15 minutes from Prescott is the small town of Diamond Bluff, home of Sea Wing Park, a great place to relax and have a picnic on the sandy beach as you enjoy the Mississippi River.

While visiting Sea Wing Park, visit the historical marker commemorating one of the worst tragedies recorded on US waterways.

July 13th, 1890, started out as a highly anticipated festive day for 215-day cruise passengers. The passengers were on their way to a military demonstration in Diamond Bluff aboard the Sea Wing, a 100-ton barge.

The Sea Wing cruised the river while an orchestra played to entertain the passengers, unaware of a summer storm headed straight towards them. While the barge was returning to Diamond Bluff, the summer storm caught up to the barge, and high winds capsized the Sea Wing. 98 of the 215 passengers perished that day.

Maiden Rock, Wisconsin ~ Great River Road

Maiden Rock is a small community of 120 but a town rich in history and folklore. When you drive into town, you are greeted by quaint little shops, which make it the ideal place to find those unusual gifts for friends and family.

4. Visit Quaint Shops

• The Green Queen ~ A destination for native plants, outdoor mats, garden decor such as statuettes, and other finds that inspire outdoor living and gardening.
• Smiling Pelican Bake Shop ~ This house-turned bakery, only make so much bakery per day, and when they run out of baked goods, they close. This is a very popular place, and many times late visitors will find a sign on the porch saying “Sold Out.”
• Cultural Cloth sells beautifully crafted home and personal accessories made primarily by women in the developing world.

5. Take In The Views Of Maiden Rock

Maiden Rock takes its name from a single-standing bluff overlooking the river. This single-standing sandstone bluff has been a river traffic landmark for centuries.

Legend has it that the Indian princess and daughter of Chief Red Wing jumped off the single-standing bluff to her death after her father insisted she marry a man of his choosing rather than the man she loved.

Stockholm, Wisconsin ~ Great River Road

With Stockholm’s downtown being only one block long, it would be easy to just drive through.

Stockholm is an artist community, and in July, its art fair draws more than 10,000 visitors to this little community. This quietness makes Stockholm the perfect place for a weekend getaway! The only rumble one might hear at night in Stockholm is the train as it passes by.

6. Stockholm Pie And General Store

While in Stockholm, don’t miss stopping at Stockholm Pie and General Store! Walking through the doors, the heavenly smell of baking pies fills the store. All the pies are made from scratch and in their own kitchen with the highest quality ingredients.

Your mouth will water just thinking about the pies. They are so good that trying to decide which pie(s) to take home might be your most difficult choice of the day.

Pepin, Wisconsin ~ Great River Road

Pepin is a charming town, a small community of about 900 located on Lake Pepin. It is filled with shops and an amazing vineyard, and is the once home to Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of Little House on the Prairie Books.

7. Laura Ingall Wilder Museum

Make the Laura Ingall Wilder Museum your first stop. The museum was named for Pepin’s most famous resident, author Laura Ingalls Wilder. Although most of the items in the museum did not belong to Ingalls, the museum does give you a feel for life during Ingalls life on the Praire.

Seven miles off Hwy 35 (The Great River Road) is a state historical marker and replica of the cabin where Laura spent the first six years of her life. The original cabin was built by Laura’s father, Charles, in the 1860s.

8. Villa Bellezza Vineyard And Winery Tasting

Stop at Villa Bellezza Vineyard and Winery for wine sampling and a bite to eat. The vineyard is more than welcoming. This is a beautiful Vineyard! Villa Bellezza’s name is inspired by the Italian word for beauty—bellezza—and the area’s stunning river bluffs and sparkling Lake Pepin views.

The buildings of Villa Bellezza surround a charming central square and fountain.

Villa Bellezza produces over a dozen wines, including several winners of international wine competitions.

Whatever your taste, there’s a Villa Bellezza wine that you will love!

Nelson, Wisconsin ~ Great River Road

9. Nelson Cheese Factory

Nelson is home to the historic Nelson Cheese Factory. The founders started making cheese more than 100 years ago. While Nelson Cheese no longer makes cheese, this has not stopped it from being the place to go.

Nelson Cheese features a very welcoming restaurant that offers a wonderful selection of sandwiches, soups, and salads. While they no longer make cheese on-site, their store includes cheese from all over Wisconsin and worldwide.

They also have an extensive wine selection and serve ice cream by the cone. The picturesque outdoor seating area is perfect for enjoying a beer or glass of wine.

Alma, Wisconsin ~ Great River Road

Alma is a quaint town nestled between the Mississippi River and limestone bluffs. Swiss woodcutters originally settled it. Alma’s heritage can be seen by the many Swiss flags that are flown on the main street.

Alma is home to numerous artists. Thanks to the resident artists, you will find blocks of eclectic shops and galleries filled with original artwork and unique gifts.

10. Castlerock Museum

Castlerock Museum, an arms and armor museum, is located in Alma. Hundreds of rare and authentic examples of arms and armor are on display along with reproductions of famous paintings that illustrate how arms and armor were used.

11. Watch Barges Pass Through The Locks

Alma is just one town on the Great River Road Trip where you can watch large barges pass through Locks and Dams. This is quite a neat experience to watch.

Trempealeau, Wisconsin ~ Great River Road

Trempealeau has a fun main street that runs right down to the Mississippi River.

12. Stop At The Trempealeau Hotel

One must-stop is the Trempealeau Hotel, which is listed on the National Historic Registry and features an amazing restaurant.

13. Enjoy Perrot State Park

Perrot State Park has 1,400 acres of wetlands and towering bluffs. The park’s most scenic feature is Trempealeau Mountain. It is located entirely on an island surrounded by the Mississippi River.

This is an incredible place for canoeing, biking, and hiking. Perrot State Park is also home to several ancient burial mounds.

14. Stop And watch The Trempealeau Locks And Dam

Trempealeau is home to one of the many locks and dams located on Wisconsin’s Mississippi River. Although there are several locks and dams along the Great River Road, stop and watch every one of them.

There is something magical about watching a huge barge gracefully fit in the lock with very little room to spare.

La Crosse, Wisconsin ~ Great River Road

La Crosse is the largest city on the Wisconsin Great River Road Trip. This driftless area is home to many historic buildings that date back to the 1800s. La Crosse was one of Wisconsin’s most important areas for trade and commerce.

La Crosse is the place to live, stay, or play. It has family fun, year-round festivals, shopping, great food, and various outdoor activities.

15. See The World’s Largest Six-Pack

Anyone passing through La Crosse should definitely stop to see the world’s largest six-pack. Be sure to grab a photo op with the statue of Gambrinus, The King of Beer, located directly across the street from the six-pack.

16. Take A River Cruise On The La Crosse Queen

A river cruise aboard the La Crosse Queen offers a variety of opportunities, from daytime sightseeing to Sunday brunch cruises and evening dinner cruises.

A cruise aboard the La Crosse Queen gives passengers an opportunity to see the Wisconsin Great River Road from a different perspective. Not to mention the excitement of cruising down the Mississippi. Cruise opportunities are limited to the summer and fall seasons. Be sure to check availability when planning.

17. Visit The Hixon House Museum

La Crosse is home to the Historic Hixon House Museum. It was built in 1858 by pioneer Gideon Hixon, who became a wealthy lumber baron in La Crosse. He and his wife Ellen raised their five sons in this home and expanded it to the size it is today.

In 1965, their descendants gifted the house to the La Crosse Historical Society, complete with its original Victorian furnishings.

18. Explore Grandad Bluff

Grandad Bluff is the area’s most noticeable land feature. A drive to the top provides stunning views of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa.

19. Explore Pettibone Park

Pettibone Park in La Crosse is known for its amazing beach. In addition to enjoying Pettibone Beach and dipping your toes in the Mississippi, plenty of activities are available for those looking to enjoy the outdoors.

You can enjoy a game of disc golf, rent a kayak or segway, and take a Pettibone Park Segway Tour.

20. Explore La Crosse’s Downtown

Visiting La Crosse’s downtown can be an unforgettable experience. The downtown is filled with many independently owned restaurants and shops; you never know what treasures you will find.

• The Pearl – Enter this historic building, and you feel like you stepped back in time. The smell of waffle cones hits you the minute you step inside and you know instantly there is no better place to be. No way around it you must stop here.
• Natural Beauty Boutique – a charming boutique that offers a variety of homemade gifts, including goat milk soap, lotions, cosmetics, candles, and jewelry.

21. Stay At The Charmant Hotel

The Charmant Hotel is located just one block from the Mississippi River.

This former candy factory turned into a hotel is filled with historical charm. The perfect attention to detail offers you all the amenities you expect and still gives you a look into the area’s history.

Genoa, Wisconsin ~ Great River Road

22. Enjoy The View

Genoa is where views on the Great River Road Trip get breathtaking. With the Mississippi River directly on one side of the car and limestone bluffs on the other, it’s hard to take in all of its beauty.

Most of the first settlers to the area were of Italian descent, and Genoa, Wisconsin, was named after Genoa, Italy. Prior to Italian settlers, the area was home to Native Americans known as the Winnebago. Here, they found hunting and fishing plentiful.

The first house in Genoa was erected in 1853 by David Hastings, the area’s first white settler. Genoa was also the location of a steamboat landing, which was referred to as Hastings Landing.

23. Search For Clam Shells

Stories have it that over the years, over 30 steamboats sank near Genoa, and they still lie in the murky depths of the mighty Mississippi River, buried in silt and sand.

Early industry in Genoa included clamshell button factories. Shells were collected from the Mississippi River bed, boiled, and sold to the factories to be turned into buttons. Clamshells can still be found in the Mississippi River in the area.

De Sota, Wisconsin ~ Great River Road

De Sota is a quaint little town that offers unique places to stay and relax for a weekend or even a vacation. This is a great place to stay and take short day trips to other small towns along the Great River Road.

24. Enjoy The Beauty Of The Mississippi River

De Sota is a wonderful place to enjoy the beauty of the Mississippi River with everything it has to offer.

25. Visit Black Hawk Park

De Soto is home to Black Hawk Park, where heavy fighting took place during the *Black Hawk War of 1832, where many lives were lost. Today, visitors can enjoy the swimming beach, go fishing, and even camp overnight.

*The Black Hawk War was a brief conflict between the United States and the Native Americans led by Black Hawk, a Sauk leader.

Ferryville, Wisconsin ~ Great River Road

Ferryville is a cute town named because of the active ferry service in the 1800s. No ferry exists today in this area, but it is now home to an excellent boat launch and a beautiful view of the Mississippi River. This area is perfect for bird watching. We saw several eagles, canvasback ducks, and swans during our visit.

Ferryville features charming shops and restaurants, many of which have been part of the town for generations. Outdoor activities such as boating, fishing and hiking can be found in Ferryville. If you enjoy camping a neighboring state park has what you are looking for.

Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin ~ Great River Road

Prairie du Chien is the second oldest city in Wisconsin. Today, it is home to an official Wisconsin Welcome Center. Several unique shops and restaurants can be found in Prairie du Chien.

26. Visit Fort Crawford Museum

In the early 1800s there was a heavy presence of Native Americans in the Prairie du Chien area. In 1816 Fort Crawford was built to stand guard and protect white settlers from the Native Americans and to serve as an area for trading between the settlers and Native Americans.

Fort Crawford stood from 1816 until 1856, protecting settlers. Two former presidents, Jefferson Davis and Zachary Taylor, served at Fort Crawford.

Today, the fort is gone, in its place is the Fort Crawford Museum. The museum displays the history of Fort Crawford, the city of Prairie du Chien, and the Great River Road.

Indian Chief Black Hawk played a major role in the early days of the Great River Road. He led the Black Hawk War in 1832. A year after the war, Black Hawk was captured and imprisoned for refusing to give up his land. A window from the cell where Black Hawk was said to have been confined is on display in the museum.

27. Visit Villa Louis Historic Site

Prairie du Chien is home to the stunning Villa Louis. This home is an exquisite example of Victorian construction and was once owned by Hercules Dousman.

Villa Louis sits on land that Hercules purchased from Fort Crawford. Hercules became Wisconsin’s first millionaire by buying and trading furs with settlers and Native Americans.

Villa Louis is now a state-operated historical site and draws many visitors yearly to Prairie du Chien. If you have not had the opportunity to visit Villa Louis, you may want to add it to your bucket list. It is well worth the trip in itself.

28. Enjoy A Wisconsin Supper Club

Wisconsin is known for its supper clubs, and visiting one is necessary for anyone wanting to experience true Wisconsin. Several really good supper clubs can be found while traveling Wisconsin’s Great River Road. One of our favorites, and a local favorite, is Jones’ Black Angus in Prairie Du Chien.

Jones’ Black Angus checks all the boxes for a really good supper club: an exceptional salad bar, great food, a to-die-for brandy old-fashioned, and an atmosphere that makes you feel like you are among friends.

29. Explore Saint Feriole Island

Saint Feriole Island is a fun place to explore. The island is where the first Europeans settled. It wasn’t long before they moved inland to higher ground to escape the flooding caused by the Mississippi River.

Several festivals are held on the island throughout the year.

30. Enjoy An Evening Relaxing At The Waterfront Hotel

This downtown boutique hotel is charming and offers everything you could want in a hotel. The Backyard Bar on the second floor features live entertainment and a fun atmosphere.

Cassville, Wisconsin ~ Great River Road

Cassville is well known for its many historic buildings, including the Denniston House, which was built in the early 1800s. This brick building stands as a reminder of when Cassville was competing to become the capital of the Wisconsin territory.

The sign in front of the building reads ~ When Wisconsin Territory was established by Congress in 1836, more than a dozen communities eagerly sought to become the capital. Daniels Denniston and Company of New York offered a building in Cassville free if Cassville were chosen. When the legislature selected Madison, Denniston’s dream ended in bankruptcy.

Nelson Dewey arrived in Cassville in 1836 and worked for the Denniston firm. Later, Dewey acquired vast properties, including this building, which he opened as Denniston House in 1854. It has been in continuous operation as a hotel ever since.

31. Take The Cassville Ferry

Cassville Car Ferry is the pride of Cassville. It connects two scenic byways, the Wisconsin Great River Road and the Iowa Great River Road.

The ferry has transported passengers and cargo across the mighty Mississippi since 1833. It is the oldest ferry service in the state of Wisconsin and today transports passengers, cars, and other cargo too. How much fun would it be to get out on the Mississippi River?

32. Stop At Nelson Dewey State Park

Nelson Dewey State Park is located in Cassville and is perfect for a panoramic river view. The park includes Indian mounds and a prairie area that has been left wild and untamed, much like it would have been in the early years. Camping is also available in the park. There are also an amazing number of eagles in this area.

Potosi, Wisconsin ~ Great River Road

Potosi is home to the state’s longest main street without any stop signs or stoplights. Like many of the communities along the river, it is one of the oldest in the state and is home to one of the earliest lead mines.

Visitors can still experience a real lead mine in Potosi.

At one time, Potosi’s population was greater than Milwaukee’s, but the population has declined since the Civil War due to the lack of demand for lead.

33. Take A Tour Of The Potosi Brewery & Museum

Potosi Brewery dates back to the 1800s. In those days, most communities had their own brewery. Community breweries were necessary because beer was highly perishable without today’s modern pasteurization.

Potosi Brewery was one of the largest and most successful in the area because it was willing to ship its products. Today, the Potosi Brewery houses the brewery, a pub, the Potosi Brewery Museum, and a restaurant.

34. Dickeyville Grotto

One last stop on your adventure is to check out the Dickeyville Grotto and snap a few selfies as a momentum of your Wisconsin Great River Road adventure.

The Dickeyville Grotto and Shrines are folk art creations made in the 1900s by a local priest. This unexpected pleasure, nestled in the southern corner of Wisconsin, features dozens of decorated concrete and stone structures created with objects that were collected from all over the world.

Although this was our last stop before crossing into Iowa, there is much more to enjoy on this River Road Trip.

History of the Great River Road

The Great River Road was established in 1938 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to promote tourism and highlight the importance of commercial waterways. It is considered America’s oldest and most distinguished byway.

The communities along the Mississippi River owe much of their tourism to the Great River Road. It brings in travelers and vacationers year-round to see the spectacular sights surrounding the Mississippi River and to attend some of the many festivals that take place in these river communities.

Many of the communities along the Mississippi are among the oldest in the state. Several of the Wisconsin communities along the river were established as early as the 1600s. Prairie du Chien along the Wisconsin Great River Road is Wisconsins second oldest incorporated city, with Green Bay being the oldest.

Things To Know Before You Go

Things to make your trip more enjoyable and make sure you are knowledgeable and won’t miss a thing along the way were:

• Stop in Prescott at the Great River Road Visitor Center and pick up maps and information about the towns you will be visiting.
• Use the Great River Road audio tours along the way. It’s fun to listen to the stories about each town as you travel from one to the next.
• Take time to stop at the Historical Markers along the way. They offer a wealth of information.
• The Wisconsin Great River Road is one of the many amazing things we have discovered Wisconsin is known for.

Wrap-Up – Wisconsin Great River Road

From Prescott to Potosi, the Wisconsin Great River Road offers numerous activities that make this road trip enjoyable for everyone.

After your first Wisconsin Great River Road Trip, we know you’ll want to come back and see it during the different seasons. If you have additional time, why not keep your adventure going? The Great River Road continues on through all the way to Louisiana. Keep an eye out for the Great River Road Markers.

The road trip is a great way to make memories and see Wisconsin’s history and the Mississippi River’s influence on the town along its route.

Pack your bags, roll your windows down, and get ready to experience what makes Wisconsin great.