u.s. highway 61

This is a great drive from Winona to Minneapolis/St. Paul. All up and down the river you can find beautiful scenery and great small towns to visit with great local flavor and history. In the Winter and Spring you can always find Bald Eagles and the colors in the Fall are amazing. Summer offers beautiful vistas of the river and plenty of activity on the river.

Oh wow. The drive down highway 61 especially between Red WIng and Winona is breath taking. The leaves were starting to change. The bluffs are always beautiful. It's close enough to the Twin Cities for a day trip. Plenty of places to stop and have a bite to eat.

Our son is attendind his senior year of college in Winona and we always take Highway 61 from the the Twin Cities when we go down to visit him. The colors are gorgeous this time of year, but it's always a beautiful drive all year long along the river. We'll miss this drive once he graduates and moves on. Worth the trip!

I was quite impressed while making this scenic drive on the great river road (hwy 61) on the minnesota side from LaCrescent to Hasting. The highway by/Lake CityWinona/Red Wing/Wabasha is scenic and beautiful. Take your time and get off at each time to explore. They are all unique and have some special to offer.

We took the drive from Red Wing as far as Winona and the bluffs on the side of the river were gorgeous! We also stopped to see Lock and Dam No 5 and this us worth stopping to see how the ships and boats enter thru. Plenty of places to pull off and see the river along the way! Beautiful drive.

This is a route I have travled so many times it's easy to forget to really look around and enjoy the stunning scenery. I have traveled from the start of the Mississippi to the end and this is arguably the best stretch. The distances you can see and the bluffs on the Wisconsin side are all marvelous. Although I would still say a better drive would be the North Shore past Duluth.

It is the most beautiful drives in the midwest. Even in the dead of winter it is stunning. Eagles have made a real comeback and that is evident along this drive. While driving between Minneapolis and LaCrosse it isn't unusual to see dozens of eagles.

This was not the route we had originally planned, but once we started to drive along the Mississippi River and saw numerous geese, ducks, and eagles - along with the beautiful views, we did not want to leave it. There were so many beautiful white pelicans - I had no idea they could be seen so far north.

From Red Wing to LaCrosse, this is a pretty trip winding along the river with ample gas and snack access, and always an eagle or two to take your breath away. A better suggestion is to leave the traffic, cross the river to Wisconsin and take hwy 35 along the same river through a string of quaint little river towns with cafes, pubs, bake shops, craft galleries, and even vineyards; from Trempleau north to Hudson; beautiful bluffs, backwaters and willow bottoms, and forested river valley views that are sigh inducing.

I have driven this highway from one end to the other. The vistas of the mighty Mississippi and Lake Superior are a feast for the eyes. This is not a road anyone should ever plan on driving in a short time span --- there would be far too much beauty left unenjoyed.

Beautiful drive along the Mississippi..The great bluffs and colors in the fall are magnificent..Lots of tourists drive it for the beauty

This is a beautiful drive with the bluffs and the river. The fall colors were about 50% but still beautiful. Lots of nice places to pull off south of Lake City. There are quite a few fun places to visit on the way like the Eagle center and Lark Toys.

The upper Mississippi is a whole different animal than the Mississippi one finds in the South. This road, which we traversed from the Minneapolis area to Winona, will give you a whole new perspective on this gem. Take a break in Lake City, and enjoy the views across Lake Pepin (which you will learn is not really a lake at all). Get a snack at Rabbit's bakery while you are there.

The drive on Hwy 61 between La Crescent, Minnesota and Winona, Minnesota is one of the most beautiful in the country. To your left will be majestic bluffs and to your right is the Mississippi River with islands and wildlife to fill your senses.

The road along the Mississippi River is amazing with hundreds of bald eagles and great views. Be sure to stop in Winona for a great cultural experience in this university town.