The Mississippi Valley Traveler Podcast · Dean Klinkenberg

Tips for Traveling the Great River Road, Part 2

·1 hr 4 min·9 clips

Dean Klinkenberg picks up the Great River Road journey where the last part ended, starting below Lake Pepin. The route keeps heading south at an unhurried pace. He points to the John Deere Pavilion in downtown Moline as a spot where visitors can climb onto a giant combine, sit in the seat of different farm implements, and get a feel for what it would be like to drive one of those big machines. From there, he keeps following the road town by town and calls out places that are easy to miss if the drive gets too fast. The Witkowski Wildlife Area comes up as a broad area with hiking trails and a mix of prairies, forests, and upland hills, making it a solid place to stretch your legs on a long hike. He then turns to Potosi, a smaller community that still gives you a reason to detour. The Potosi Brewery gets a mention for good beer, good food, and a historic building. Nearby, Potosi Point offers a place at the end of the dike to sit and watch the river, with shallow wetlands that draw birds and the occasional muskrat or beaver. As the road keeps going, Bellevue enters the picture as a relaxed river town worth a stop. He points listeners toward River Ridge Brewing Company because it sits right next to the river and has outdoor seating with river views. South of Bellevue, Green Island Wildlife Management Area becomes another tucked-away wetland destination, especially good for birders and especially during migration season. He also notes that if you have a canoe or kayak, it is a great place to explore. The episode keeps that same rhythm as it heads farther downriver. Each stop gets just enough context to make it useful. The tone stays measured and specific. He does not oversell any of these places. Instead, he lets the geography and the local details carry the weight. The closing stretch brings the route down to Cairo, Illinois, the point where the upper Mississippi ends at the Ohio River. He also nods to weather and season as part of trip planning, with July and August likely not ideal times for a road trip through the South. The whole episode works like a companion for someone who wants to follow the river with a map and a few good reasons to pull off the road.

As heard by us

A grounded Great River Road guide that favors local detail and useful stops over hype.

The episode keeps the Great River Road moving south, using river towns, wildlife areas, breweries, and overlook stops to build a route guide that feels practical and grounded.

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Why you'd press play

You want a Great River Road companion for the stretch from Lake Pepin to Cairo, with real stops along the way.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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