The Best Riverfront Towns To Visit On The Mississippi River, According To Travelers

Just as South America has the Amazon, Africa houses the Nile, and Southeast Asia is where you can find the mighty Mekong, the Mississippi River is the artery that courses throughout the United States. It plays a key role in many facets of life there, from generating habitats crucial for birds, fish, and agricultural land to its importance as a means of transporting people and goods. While it flows almost the entire length of the country, starting in Minnesota's Lake Itasca and rippling for more than 2,300 miles before expelling into the Gulf of Mexico, it is only the second-longest river in the nation (the Missouri River is slightly longer).

The Mississippi is a waterway of great physical wonder and variety, at some points only 30 feet wide, in other areas spanning miles. Along its meandering route, villages, towns, and cities hug the riverfront, some little more than hamlets with a handful of residents, others fully fledged metropolises, and many are spots worthy of a visit. Scouring travel sites like TripAdvisor, Cruise Critic, and government tourism pages, we've come up with the best locations worth checking out, arranging them geographically from north to south — some familiar destinations, others under the radar.

Fountain City sits among bluffs that rise above the river, offering spectacular water views to visitors. Historically, this area was a hunting area for the Dakota, Sioux, and Chippewa, among other Native American tribes, while some years later, European farmers began to work the land. Originally called Holmes Landing, after the name of an early settler, it changed its moniker to Fountain City in the 1850s in honor of the springs nearby. It's a tiny place with less than 1,000 residents, and agriculture remains a key industry here.

The natural beauty is astounding, from rolling pastures to the forested ridges of hills, and is one of the main lures for travelers. Many come for the chance to kayak on the river from Merrick State Park or hit the back-country for snowmobiling in the winter. An enjoyable aspect is that increasingly elusive small-town feel, very much alive here, from the independent boutiques to the owner-run restaurants.

Galena sits just inland from the river, to the east of the waterway, but it appears on the list thanks to hiking trails that offer great Mississippi views. The town retains a pleasant, welcoming, old-world feel, thanks to Main Street, which dates to the 1800s and is filled with period buildings, independent shops, and restaurants. It's here that visitors can browse sweet treats at an old-fashioned candy shop, order a scoop at an ice-cream parlor, and find many other spots that are a refreshing departure from the cookie-cutter chain stores located all over the U.S.

Just outside Galena, Horseshoe Mound Preserve is a rewarding site to explore. Spread across about 200 acres, it features a network of hiking trails and a new viewpoint called Spiroff Overlook. Added in 2021, this perch is accessed via a path that passes oak trees before coming to an opening and supplies views of Galena, the Mississippi River, and the ridges of Iowa and Wisconsin. More great vistas are available from the bluffs and trails at Mississippi Palisades State Park.

For active visitors who want to combine exercise with some sightseeing, the riverfront LeClaire Park in Davenport has bike paths and walking trails and is a great way to get a handle on this city. Davenport is a lively destination with good performing arts, museums, and activities along the riverfront. The downtown set next to the Mississippi hosts yearly festivals celebrating trees, the blues, and art. Art is available year-round at the Figge Art Museum, housed in a modernist glass building designed by David Chipperfield, the famous British architect. European and American pieces form the backbone of the collection, with a growing trove of artwork from Haiti also on display.

For physical arts, productions at Adler Theatre include stand-up comedy, shows, music, and more, while the space — gold-leaf accents, crystal lighting, rich woods — is a work of art in itself. Mountain bikers will rejoice when they discover the tracks at Sunderbruch Park, with trails of all difficulties pushing through woods, over logs and roots, and down drops.

The colors, patterns, and formations inside geodes are hypnotizing, and they recall forces, reactions, and combinations of minerals that have occurred across distant tracts of time. Lovers of geodes will not want to pass by this town sitting a short distance south of Nauvoo on a bend in the Mississippi. This section of Iowa is a hotbed of geodes, and for those in the know, Keokuk Geodes have carved out a name for themselves, not only for the wealth of minerals found inside them but also for the shapes of the crystals within. 

These geodes can range from a few inches in width to as large as a couple of feet, and hunters will find most within about 30 miles of the city. To get a glimpse of the richness of the geodes in this part of the country, stop by the Keokuk Area Convention & Tourism Office, where an extensive collection is on display. Keokuk also hosts an annual geode festival, the most recent one in September 2023. Keokuk also has other sights, from museums to locks to monuments dedicated to Native American elders.

This eclectic destination, just northeast of St. Louis, Missouri, mixes history and popular culture. Alton can trace its roots to several industries, from mills that ground flour to large kilns where brick was fired, and the river was central to the town's growth and success. Today, industry isn't as widespread here, though boats are frequently seen navigating up and down the river. That said, plenty of other reasons attract visitors to this town. Abraham Lincoln uttered his renowned House Divided speech here in 1858, and his statue can be found in Lincoln-Douglas Square.

Other worthwhile statues to seek out are Robert Wadlow, the tallest man in the world for many years, and Miles Davis, the jazz trumpeter supreme — both of them were born here. Alton also has an Antique Row where old treasures sit, waiting to be discovered. Nearby, downtown is filled with cool bars, hip independent stores, exciting spots like pottery studios and cocktail lounges, and a pretty riverfront walk.

History buffs will find plenty to keep them entertained in this city that was first inhabited at the beginning of the 18th century. Vicksburg was the site of a crucial moment in the Civil War when the Battle of Vicksburg was fought here in 1863. The Confederates surrendered after 47 days of siege, which significantly altered the war's progress in favor of the Union troops. Visitors can tour the site of that battle, now part of the Vicksburg National Military Park (one of the most-visited tourist attractions in the U.S.), while the heart of the city also features war relics visible through the Vicksburg Heritage Walking Trail.

Museums examine stories from the city's past, from Civil War tales at the Old Depot Museum to an in-depth look at one of the world's favorite drinks at the Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum. Lovers of visual gems will enjoy poring over the murals by the river along Levee Street, some of which recount the city's history, wandering around galleries that showcase Southern art, or touring the city's historic homes.

For history buffs, this place is a real undiscovered gem. The town's name comes from an early plantation anchored by the antebellum home of Charles Morgan. Having moved here from New Jersey, Morgan worked as a surveyor and later traded enslaved people, though, in time, his house was destroyed — but the town name stuck. During the Civil War, a vast massing of Union soldiers occurred here, 40,000 of them by some estimates, and many were involved in a battle at Sterling's Plantation. 

The battle marked a victory for the Confederates, but the retreating Union army set the town on fire. Historical markers are dotted around the village, recounting the history and stories that shaped Morganza or supplying details on a typical Creole plantation home. At the same time, significant signs in the region identify sites that played a part in the Civil War. These include the locations of specific battles and skirmishes and the birthplace of a general who served in World War I.

One of the most unique cities in the country, N'Awlins is mysterious, sensual, and never dull. For fans of the river and shopping, Riverwalk Outlets presents the perfect option: an outlet center right on the Mississippi and in the center of town. New Orleans has no shortage of things to do and sites to see. The French Quarter can be crowded and tacky, but it's also home to some gorgeous architecture, and if you time your visit right, it can be quiet and cinematically moody.

The city stages shows, and, in the spring, music festivals start to pop up — the French Quarter Festival celebrates the sights and sounds of Louisiana and is held in April. One of the greatest joys of visiting New Orleans is to wander, see the antebellum mansions, and witness how much the city changes from block to block. And no visit would be complete without sampling a beignet or a po'boy and taking a ride on a street car.