Mississippi River in 7-10 days
Mississippi River Cruise itineraries follow two main routes - the Upper Mississippi route and the Lower Mississippi route. Some Mississippi River cruises cover the entire river.
When you travel an Upper Mississippi itinerary, you’ll see some lesser known parts of the United States and discover the true heart of small town America. This route has the shorter season. Cruises along the Upper Mississippi typically operate between June and October.
When you travel the Lower Mississippi itinerary, you'll be hitting some more major cities, known the world over. Prepare to eat your heart out in New Orleans, and tap your toes to some classic blues in Memphis.
Below are some sample itineraries to get you thinking about the perfect Mississippi River tour for you.
Classic Upper Mississippi River Cruise
Day 1: St. Paul, Minnesota - Most Upper Mississippi River cruises begin or end in Minnesota. Before embarking, you can enjoy a day visiting historic mansions, go hiking, and visit several art galleries.
Day 2: Red Wing, Minneapolis - This surprisingly picturesque city features several parks that are great for wildlife viewing! Birders should especially take note and bring the binoculars. Craftsmanship and artwork take center stage in Red Wing, so be sure to leave time for antiquing and shopping if that’s your thing.
Day 3: La Crosse, Wisconsin - Many history tours are offered through this midwestern town, which thrived during the heyday of river travel along the Mississippi River. Today, historical tourism is one of the main ways La Crosse has adapted to the changing needs of the residents living in the one-time boomtown of the 1920s.
Day 4: Duboque, Iowa - Known for tree lined streets and beautifully restored Victorian mansions, Duboque may not be a well known name, but it is a classic stop on any Mississippi River cruise. As one of the oldest settlements along the banks of the Mississippi, history tours through Duboque provide fabulous context to the importance the Mississippi has played through the years. Don’t miss a visit to the National Mississippi River Museum.
Day 5: Davenport, Iowa - Remain in Iowa for another port of call at Davenport. This “Most Livable City” is a beautiful example of quintessential small town America. If you happen to be traveling during the Mississippi River Blues Festival, be sure to see if you can sneak a listen! Also in Davenport is a popular Native American history museum, well worth a visit.
Day 6-7: Overnight River Cruising to the first port of call in Missouri.
Day 8: Hannibal, Missouri - The place on many Mississippi River cruisers bucket list, Hannibal Missouri was the home of Samuel Clemens, otherwise known as Mark Twain. The prolific writer has become somewhat synonymous with the American literary voice, and the voice of the South.
His words and humor have been appreciated around the world, and he is held in particular reverence along the Mississippi. In Hannibal you can visit his boyhood home and learn more about his life and works.
Day 9: St. Louis, Missouri - End your cruise in St. Louis as the beautiful Gateway Arch greets you over the river.
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Classic Lower Mississippi River Cruise
Lower Mississippi River cruises are available for a longer season - almost year round - and are the more popular route for travelers. New Orleans is a major port of call and starting point for many lower Mississippi River Cruises.
Day 1: New Orleans, Louisiana - Start your Mississippi River Cruise off with a bang when you begin in vibrant New Orleans. Known for excellent food and drink, New Orleans culture is all about having a good time! Definitely visit Bourbon St, the French Quarter, and Jackson Square.
Day 2: Oak Alley, Louisiana - As you begin your journey north on the Mississippi, you’ll make a stop to see Oak Alley Plantation. Situated just off the bank of the Mississippi, a beautiful quarter mile tree-lined walk brings you toward the historic plantation. Most cruises offer excursions with a guided tour of the house and grounds. This is a great introduction to the history of the American south which will be a major theme during your Mississippi River cruise.
Day 3: Baton Rouge - Remain in Louisiana for one more day as you explore Baton Rouge, the state’s capital. Known for antebellum landmarks and, as everywhere in the south, incredible eating opportunities!
Day 4: St. Francisville, Louisiana - Classic small town America awaits you in this southern gem. Pre-Civil War history tours will highlight St. Francisville’s position as a major port town along the Mississippi. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit more restored southern plantation houses such as Myrtles Plantation and Rosedown Plantation.
Day 5: Natchez, Mississippi - Your first stop outside of Louisiana is enchanting Natchez Mississippi. Southern hospitality is the name of the game here, and the city is a bit of a hidden secret for classic southern plantations. One of the oldest settlements made by Europeans in the United States, Natchez holds a wealth of history and fascinating stories of early America.
Day 6: Vicksburg, Mississippi - Vicksburg is an extremely popular destination for Civil War buffs. The city hosts reenactments, and was a site of a major battle during the American Civil War. If Civil War sights aren’t your thing, honestly, you’re a bit out of luck. Most excursions and tours around Vicksburg are Civil War centric - and the history really provides an excellent context to the region of the Mississippi you’ve traveled on your cruise.
Day 8: On the water - Spend the day sailing toward your final port of call in Memphis, Tennessee.
Day 9: Memphis, Tennessee - A famous destination around the world for it’s incredible music legacy, Memphis is all about Elvis. Excursions to Graceland will be a major highlight in Memphis! If you love checking out new musicians, definitely head to historic Beale Street for seeing aspiring musicians in bars and other venues. It is also in Memphis where you can visit the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King was assassinated.
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From New Orleans to Memphis — the Lower Mississippi
The lower Mississippi offers a wealth of regional music, cuisine, history, and architecture. It's a fascinating region that is coming to terms with its past and looking to the future. You'll encounter impressive sights and activities in Memphis, Tennessee; Natchez, Mississippi; Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana; and some small towns along the way.
The lower Mississippi technically starts from Cairo, Illinois.
In pre-civil war days, when cotton was king, two-thirds of all American millionaires lived between New Orleans and Natchez. That all ended abruptly with the war and the abolition of slavery — the scourge that had enabled the wealthy plantations to thrive.
French-accented New Orleans, with its iconic French Quarter and party-central Bourbon Street, is the place to down donut-like beignets for breakfast, eat fried oysters in a modest seafood shack, dine royally on the finest cuisine in one of the city's world-famous restaurants, or, of course, have a drink or two, perhaps at a local jazz club such as Preservation Hall.
Memphis is another musical mecca. You can tour Graceland, where Elvis Presley lived; Sun Studio, where Elvis made his name; the Stax Museum, which tells the history of one of the great rhythm and blues studios; and of course, Beale Street, with its parade of blues clubs.
Begin your perfect evening with ribs at The Rendezvous or drinks atop the Madison Hotel, complete with panoramic views.
From St. Louis to Minneapolis — the Upper Mississippi
Cruising the upper Mississippi is a very different experience — the land of cotton gives way to the land of corn, and blues and jazz make way for the traditions of descendants of German immigrants in Iowa and Wisconsin.
St. Louis: Embarkations for upper Mississippi cruises usually begin in St. Louis, Missouri, one of the river's major cities and home to one of the country's best zoos.
The swooping 530-foot-tall Gateway Arch, which sits on the west bank of the Mississippi and has become the symbol of St Louis, offers incredible views of the Mississippi and the entire area. You can ride to the top via tram or elevator, as some one million visitors do annually. Museums dedicated to westward expansion are at the foot of the steel arch.
- Hannibal: Mark Twain — the pen name for author Samuel Clemens and the most famous chronicler of the Mississippi River — hailed from Hannibal, Missouri, which lies north of St. Louis along the river.
- Hannibal, Mark Twain's Boyhood Home, is an obligatory stop for any upper Mississippi River cruise. It's where Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn fans can enjoy a literary pilgrimage to the town where Twain found most of the inspiration for his best-known fictional characters.
- Clinton and Dubuque: Farther north, Clinton and Dubuque, Iowa, are paragons of Midwestern America. Clinton, a former lumber town, is now an agricultural capital, while Dubuque, one of the earliest settlements west of the Mississippi, is known for its historic homes.
- LaCrosse: In LaCrosse, Wisconsin, farther north, you can still sample the local breweries, which replaced the lumber industry as one of the city's primary economic engines.
Upper Mississippi River tours end in the Minneapolis area, perhaps at the historic town of Red Wing, south of Saint Paul. Formerly a center for commercial shipping along the river, Red Wing is now known for its artisans and historic homes. Minneapolis-St. Paul is one of America's most livable metropolitan areas, with many museums, restaurants, and other amenities.
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