Anyone done the River Road in Illinois? Along the Mississippi?

 

What part? The north end has better roads and scenery if you take the Iowa side.

 

Thanks...that is what I am looking for...

 

The Illinois side around Nauvoo and Carthage is pretty and has some interesting historical sites.

 

From Dubuque IA to the Quad Cities either side is good.
At the Quad Cities get on the IL side to Hannibal MO.
At Hannibal cross to MO and run Rt 79 south to Louisiana MO. Really good MC road.
At Louisiana cross back over to the IL side and take Rt 96 to Calhoun County.
When you get into Calhoun County IL you have to make a choice.
You can follow the blacktop (good road) along the Mississippi River thru Hamburg, Batchtown, and Brussels or you can go to Kampsville.
At Kampsville you have another choice.
You can take the Kampsville ferry across the IL River (free) or you can follow the road south to Hardin.
Once you get to Hardin you have 2 choices.
You can cross the IL River (bridge) or you can take the blacktop to Brussels.
If you end up in Brussels your choice is to take the ferry to Grafton. You've run out of road at that point.
Once you are on the east side of the IL River take the river road into Alton.
If you're traveling on a weekend then Rt 100 will be heavy with bikes. You'll see them at Grafton and Elsah. In Alton you'll go past Fast Eddies. On a weekend bikes will be packed in there. Always a crowd.
After leaving Alton I would get on I-255 and take the interstate to get around the metro east area. Some of those towns you definitely don't want to ride thru.
Take I-255 to Rt 3 and follow Rt 3 south to Cairo. When you go thru Chester stop and have your picture taken with Popeye. The guy who developed the Popeye character was from Chester.

 

if you're gonna ride along the river and you're north of the Quad cities, you need to cross over into illinois, hit Poopys and Iron Horse Social Club in Savanna. Further north, around Galena is very scenic.

 

Thanks...I guess I should tell you I am leaving from Springfield. I was thinking of going directly west and starting the river road somewhere around Quincy..

 

When you visit Grafton, IL and IF you have very loud pipes......beware of LEO. They hit that hard. Tickets and confiscation is a norm there. Flatlander and Wadcutter both gave you great advise from my experience. From Spfld. ( thats my area ) take IL Rt 125 to Beardstown then south on Route 100 under US 72 til you come to a T at Route 106, turn right and cross the Illinois River at Florence bridge. You will then turn left back on Route 100 at Detroit. proceed south and you'll see some great countryside. Then you'll be soon on the tour that Wadcutter told you about. Solitaree mentioned Savanna, IL and thats a great great area. The Iron Horse and Poopy's are 2 of the best joint's I've been too. The ride options to get there are good too. I prefer Route 67 in Iowa north from the Quad Citys. Safe riding and Have fun!!!!

 

Check out New Diggins, WI, a few miles east of Dubuque, too. The town consists mostly of an old general store converted to a biker bar, and an old dairy barn converted to the same- right across the road from each other.