EPIC Mississippi River Bike Tour
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Route Map
About This Tour
When you tip-toe through the humble origin near Lake Itasca, you will never believe this trickle of water will be the “Mighty Mississippi” emptying into the Gulf of Mexico some 2552 miles downstream.
Your cycling journey will take you from the headwaters of the Mississippi along the borders of eleven states. The tour is southbound, but not all down-hill.
Indulge in cuisine varying from Wall-eyed Pike and wild rice, St. Louis-style Ribs to Crawfish Etouffee and powdered Beignets.
Along your route, enjoy the scenery on the 150-mile paved Paul Bunyan Trail, urban trails in Minneapolis, St. Louis, Memphis and the levee trails in Louisiana. Take in the rollers along the farmlands of Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois. Relax or take in the sites of Anheuser Busch, The Arch or a day cruise on a riverboat in St. Louis. If you are a history buff, Memphis, Vicksburg and New Orleans will fill your head with facts on American, Native American and Civil War history. The impeccably maintained plantation houses of Louisiana will provide luxurious accommodations.
The Mississippi Bike tour is conveniently divided into 2 stages for those who cannot commit to the full 33-Day trek. The stages start and stop in major cities, making it easy to join any leg of the tour.
Stage I (September 12- Oct 1, 2026)Headwaters to St. Louis – 16 Riding Days / 18 Nights – $7,400
Stage II (Oct 1 – October 16, 2026)St. Louis to New Orleans – 15 Riding Days / 17 Nights – $7,300
Starting Date
September 12, 2026. Registration is Open.
Accommodations
All lodging is included.
Special Note
We cannot accommodate tricycles or recumbent bicycles on our Epic tours.
2026 Payment Schedule
A non-refundable $500 registration fee is required at sign on.
First 1/3 - due by 180 days prior to departure
Second 1/3 - due by 150 days prior to departure
Last 1/3 - paid in full by 120 days prior to departure
Double occupancy registration fees are due at the same time.
Fees are paid by check. There will be a 3.0% additional fee for credit card use.
Tour is limited to 12 riders, and we need a minimum of 6 required prior to 150 days out to guarantee departure.
2026 Cancellation Policy
Cancellation prior to 151 days from departure: fees paid or 60% of tour price minus the deposit
Cancellation between 121-150 days prior to departure: 50% refund (of full tour price)
Cancellation between 91-120 days prior to departure: 25% refund (of full tour price)
No refunds for any reason 90 days or less prior to departure
Please purchase travel insurance for this reason.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Bemidji – Paul Bunyan Trail – Walker 63.2 miles / 1421 ft elevation Highlights: Headwater, Paul Bunyan Babe Statues
Walker – Brainerd 71.4 Miles / 1695 ft elevation Highlights: Paul Bunyan Trail
Brainerd – St. Cloud 73.6 miles / 1085 ft elevation Highlights: Charles Lindbergh Museum
St. Cloud – Coon Rapids 61.6 miles / 1044 ft elevation Highlights: Beaver Island Trail, Coon Rapid Dam
Coon Rapids – St. Paul 31.6 miles / 914 ft elevation Highlights: Extensive Urban Trail systems
OFF DAY – Airport pick up, St. Paul by 2 pm Start of Stage II (716.1 miles / 23,062 ft elevation) Highlights: Downtown Minneapolis / St. Paul
St. Paul – Red Wing 57.7 miles / 2040 ft elevation Highlights: St. Paul waterfront
Red Wing – Wabasha – La Crosse, WI 98 miles / 2355 ft elevation Highlights: Lake Pepin, Kellogg, River crossing
La Crosse – Prairie du Chien 61.8 miles / 1682 ft elevation Highlights: History of PDC, Interpretive displays, Views from bluffs
Prairie du Chien – Dubuque, IA 61.3 miles / 3891 ft elevation Highlights: Rural county roads, Potosi – catfish capital of Wisconsin, Dickeyville, River crossing Hotel: Holiday Inn (450 Main St, Dubuque, IA)
Dubuque, IA – Fulton, IL 71.6 miles / 3062 ft elevation Highlights: National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, rural riding, small towns
Fulton, IL – Davenport, IA 41.5 miles / 631 ft elevation Highlights: Bellevue State Park
Davenport, IA – Burlington, IA 79.6 miles / 1692 ft elevation
Burlington, IA – Keokuk, IA 48.1 miles / 1621 ft elevation Highlights: Riverfront trails, Rural roads, Ft Madison, Hopewellian Mounds
Keokuk, IA – Hannibal, MO 60.6 miles / 1500 ft elevation Highlights: Rolling Hills, Rural routes, MRT
Hannibal, MO – Pere Marquette, IL 86.6 miles / 3603 ft elevation Highlights: Mark Twain Hometown, Louisiana MO and cross MR into IL
Pere Marquette, IL – St Louis, MO 49.3 miles / 985 ft elevation Highlights: Chain of Rocks Bridge, cross MR back into MO, riverfront trails in St Louis
OFF DAY in St Louis; 2pm Airport pickup Start of Stage III (399.5 miles / 14,941 ft elevation) Highlights: Gateway Arch, Budweiser Tour
St Louis, MO – St. Genevieve, MO 68.1 miles / 3573 ft elevation Highlights: Arch, Mural, Wall, Rt 66, Pevy, St. Genevieve history and interpretive displays
St. Genevieve, MO – Cape Girardeau, MO 76.1 miles / 3920 ft elevation Highlights: Historic downtown Cape Girardeau, Dexter BBQ
Cape Girardeau, MO – Union, TN 90.9 miles / 2884 ft elevation Highlights: Floodwall murals, Fruitland, rural routes, Louis and Clark expedition, Ferry to Kentucky
Union, TN – Covington, TN 100 miles / 2239 ft elevation Highlights: Reelfoot lake, MRT, Landscapes changes
Ripley, TN – Memphis, TN 64.4 miles / 2325 ft elevation Highlights: Serious rural routing on the MRT
Start of Stage IV (637.5 miles / 10,227 ft elevation) Highlights: Riverfront attractions, Mud Island, Beall Street, local cuisine
Memphis, TN – Helena, AR 90.8 miles / 2241 ft elevation Highlights: Arkansas, Horseshoe Lake, Levee Wall Murals, Blues Heritage Trail
Helena, AR – Greenville, MS 100 miles / 913 ft elevation Highlights: Moon Lake, Temple Mound, Rural Routing
Greenville, MS – Vicksburg, MS 111.4 miles / 1106 ft elevation Highlights: Rural – Flat riding
Rest Day in Vicksburg Highlights: Guided tour at Vicksburg Battlefield National Park, Murals, Historic Downtown
Vicksburg, MS – Natchez, MS 83.5 miles / 4238 ft elevation Highlights: Natchez Trace Parkway, Emerald Mound
Natchez, MS – New Roads, LA 84.5 miles / 474 ft elevation Highlights: Riverfront views from the bluffs, flat easy riding into Louisiana
New Roads, LA – Baton Rouge, LA 45.7 miles / 568 ft elevation Highlights: Downtown Baton Rouge, Levee trails
Baton Rouge, LA – Darrow, LA 49.9 miles / 249 ft elevation Highlights: Levee trails, LSU campus, Plaquemine ferry and locks, elegant plantation hotel settings
Darrow, LA – New Orleans, LA 71.7 miles / 438 ft elevation Highlights: Levee trails, views of metro New Orleans, Audubon Park, Lafayette Cemetery, Garden District; bonus miles the following morning with an in-town tour Total 2054.5 miles / 54,389 ft elevation
What's Included
Not Included
- Airfare
- Meals on off days
- Souvenirs
- 12% gratuity for guides, mechanics, volunteers and tour staff is not included, but greatly appreciated
Spots are limited — reserve yours with a deposit.
Ready to ride EPIC Mississippi River Bike Tour?
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