Top Mississippi River Tours & Vacations 2024/2025...

Mississippi River Tours & Travel Packages 2024/2025

39 Mississippi River trips. Compare tour itineraries from 21 tour companies. 10 reviews.

Small Group Mississippi River Tours

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Top Mississippi River Attractions & Experiences

Top Mississippi River Experiences

  • Cruising down the Mississippi in an old-fashioned paddle wheeler, reliving the days of Mark Twain.
  • Reveling in the musical history and watching live performances in Memphis, Tennessee.
  • Savoring the seafood and architecture of the French Quarter in New Orleans.
  • Riding to the top of the Gateway Arch for a bird’s eye view of St. Louis and the Mississippi River.
  • Visiting former cotton plantations in Mississippi and Louisiana and gaining a new understanding of the true horrors of slavery.
  • Getting a sense of the American heartland as you cruise past farms and small towns of Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
  • Enjoying the modern metropolis of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, the typical embarkation or disembarkation point for upper Mississippi cruises.

Mississippi River Tours & Travel Guide

Mississippi River Attractions & Landmarks Guide

The Mississippi flows more than 2,300 miles through America’s heartland, and passes through ten states from northern Minnesota to Louisiana, before it finally empties into the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi connects cities as varied as New Orleans, Natchez, Vicksburg, Memphis, St. Louis and Minneapolis, and has served as the economic lifeline for all of them.

Mississippi River cruises offer a chance to explore the mighty waterway in a relaxing environment – perhaps even on an authentic paddle-wheeler. The most popular segment is on the southern Mississippi, between New Orleans and Memphis.

While the 2,350-mile-long Mississippi is “just” the third longest river in North America, it ranks as America’s most iconic waterway -- celebrated by author Mark Twain in the mid-19th century, continuing to play a crucial role in American commerce, and effectively dividing the United States into two regions. 

“East of the Mississippi” generally denotes older America, with a long history dating back to Revolutionary War days, while “West of the Mississippi” connotes a younger, more frontier-minded America. 

Of course, these are broad generalizations, but just about every American is familiar with the terms. The Mississippi is one of the touchstones of American geography, and to explore it is to explore the heart of America itself. Once you take a voyage on the “Big Muddy,” you’ll never think of the Mississippi region as just “flyover country” again. 

From New Orleans to Memphis – the Lower Mississippi

French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana.

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 as well. (The lower Mississippi technically starts somewhat farther north than Memphis, in 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 some ribs at The Rendezvous or drinks atop the Madison Hotel, complete with panoramic views.

From St. Louis to Minneapolis – the Upper Mississippi

Beautiful view of St. Louis City in Missouri.

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.

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.

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 is an obligatory stop for any upper Mississippi River cruise. This is where fans of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn can enjoy a literary pilgrimage to the town where Twain found most of the inspiration for his best known fictional characters.

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. In LaCrosse, Wisconsin, farther north yet, you can sample the local breweries, which replaced the lumber industry as one of the city’s primary economic engines. 

Upper Mississippi cruises then end in the Minneapolis area, perhaps at the historic town of Red Wing, south of St. 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 plenty of museums, restaurants, and other amenities.

The Best Time to Cruise the Mississippi

Boat on the Mississippi River in New Orleans.

One of the first considerations you need to make when planning your Mississippi River cruise is that the Mississippi River is not open year round for cruising. So before you get too far into planning, be sure to check!

As with all travel destinations there are some peak times and some low times for taking a Mississippi River Cruise, each with pros and cons.  

The Lower Mississippi has the longest season - open all year except for January and February - while the Upper Mississippi has a short season, between June and October

If you choose to cruise the Upper Mississippi during the summer, there is a positive note regarding the tourist crowds. As you move further north along the Mississippi, you will be entering into the eastern edge of the American Midwest.

This region is not usually included on tour itineraries of the United States, and even very few Americans vacation here. So even during the busiest times you probably won’t experience much in the way of tourist crowds, and by extension will actually get quite an authentic feel for small town America.

If you choose to travel in the summertime, know that tt will also be incredibly hot! If you are not used to hot and humid weather, be prepared for some uncomfortable days. You can help combat the weather by dressing appropriately and drinking a lot of water.

Cruises along the Upper Mississippi portion of the river are only available between June and October, when the water level is low enough to accommodate cruise vessels.

The Lower Mississippi is open for several more months than the Upper Mississippi, which is good if you like off-season travel for avoiding crowds. Because the Lower Mississippi visits some of the most popular US cities, for domestic and international tourists alike, you will experience peak tourist crowds during the summertime. These cities include Memphis, New Orleans, and Baton Rouge.

Food along the Mississippi River

Southern food is the primary cuisine you’ll experience along the Mississippi. As you travel the river, you’ll hopefully have a chance to experience some of the finest regional southern dishes the United States has to offer. 

New Orleans

New Orleans is one of the most famous eating towns in the world. Between sightseeing, you’ll be eating and enjoying some fabulous cuisines from traditional southern to creole. Lower Mississippi River Cruises and those that travel the entire river will undoubtedly stop in New Orleans to give you a taste of the city - literally!

Foods you must try in New Orleans:

Crawfish:  This is one of the more unusual items available to try in abundance in New Orleans.  Crawfish resemble a lobster just smaller in size. Compared to lobster, crawfish have a stronger taste and are meater. Regarding taste, it is often compared to a cross between shrimp and lobster.

A delicious plate of crawfish.

Beignets: Who could say no to these delectable fried treats, adapted from French cuisine? Beignets are available almost everywhere, and are best enjoyed in their simplest form - with a light dusting of sugar or cinnamon.

Beignets in New Orleans.

Gumbo: A Louisiana Gumbo is a can’t miss dish in the American south. Gumbo is a soup filled with seafood like shrimp as well as vegetables.

Sothern BBQ: In Tennessee be ready to tuck in for some classic southern barbeque. Now, American’s are especially picky about their barbeque, and just like pasta in Italy, the way it’s made, prepared, cooked, and sauced is extremely regional. 

There are several wonderful places to sample barbeque in the US, but along a Mississippi River Cruise, the top state for this dish is Tennessee. Pork is usually the meat of choice, and the barbeque sauces are usually tomato based.

Southern BBQ.


Music on the Mississippi River Cruises

For music lovers, a cruise along the Mississippi River is a great experience. Travelers will get to witness many types of music from honky tonk to jazz. The culture in these areas can be heard through the air and will immerse travelers as they explore each destination. Below are some of the most iconic types of music you will come across during your time on a Mississippi River cruise.

Honky tonk: This type of music is all about the rhythm section that accompanines the main instruments of a fiddle and steel guitar. Honky tonk is seen as a type of country music and evolved from a rythmic piano playing style.

Bluegrass: Influenced both by jazz and English, Scottish and Irish ballads, Bluegrass features acoustic string instruments. It's a type of music that enjoys the feeling of the offbeat. Much like jazz, the different instruments take turns having a solo with the others accompanying them.

Jazz: This type of music originated in New Orleans. Jazz is all about the swing and blues notes as well as call and response vocals. This type of music has spread all over the world and is one of the most popular forms of musical expression.

Elvis: While not a type of music in it's own right, the music of Elvis is something travelers will find a lot of while on a Mississippi River cruise. Elvis was born in Mississippi before moving to Memphis Tennessee. Due to his origins, Elvis's music is still prominant in these areas.

Mississippi River Cruises vessels

Like most river cruises, vessels that travel the Mississippi are small, with a touch of luxury. The common vessel on this river is referred to as a river boat which often includes luxurious rooms for travelers as well as many lounges and places to eat.


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Mississippi River Reviews

J

J Lamb

Aug 2023

Written on

Great Itinerary and Value

We loved this trip. Our guide was excellent. We really enjoyed all th...

V

Vic

May 2023

Verified Authentic
This review is by a verified traveler who went on a trip with this operator and wrote the review on Travelstride

Everything was 5 star!

Our room rivaled those my wife and I have enjoyed in many an upscale hotel. The food and table settings were both five-star. The lengthy list of available activit...

M

Marvelous Mississippi

Nov 2022

Written on

This was a 7 day round trip from New Orleans and back.

This was a fabulous trip. The American Symphony is a new ship, beautiful. The sta...

A

American Cruiseline Splendor

Jul 2022

Written on

Had the best time on the MIssissippi River Cruise on American Cruiseline Splendor

We just got off the ship American Cruiseline's Spendor. Waiting at the airport now and cannot wait to write a review. We had so much fun. First of all the crew, d...

L

LCCR

Jun 2022

Written on

Thanksgiving Travel

We wanted a nice relaxing cruise for the holiday, someplace where the temps were moderate for that time of year and somewhere in the US. We chose the American Crui...

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