Two weeks in the upper Midwest.
  Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois.
  Short Summary.
  Day 1 From home to Louisiana, Missouri. Louisiana, Missouri
  Day 2 Louisiana, Hannibal, and Keokuk Keokuk, Iowa
  Day 3 Keokuk, Nauvoo, Burlington Muscatine, Iowa
  Day 4 Muscatine, Quad Cities, Mississippi Palisades, Galena Dubuque, Iowa
  Day 5 Dubuque, Prairie du Chien Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
  Day 6 Saint Paul and Minneapolis Saint Paul, Minnesota
  Day 7 Saint Paul and Minneapolis Saint Paul, Minnesota
  Day 8 Saint Paul and Duluth Duluth, Minnesota
  Day 9 Duluth and Bayfield Bayfield, Wisconsin
  Day 10 Apostle Islands Bayfield, Wisconsin
  Day 11 Northern Wisconsin Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
  Day 12 Wisconsin Dells Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
  Day 13 Second day at Wisconsin Dells Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
  Day 14 Chicago Chicago, Illinois
  Day 15 Return home. Home

  Full Description
  Day 1 Saturday Louisiana is a lovely small town along the Mississippi River. There should be some nice walks to take around the town.  We could visit the Louisiana Area Historical Museum and look at antique stores. The first day allows a late start.

Stay in Louisiana, Missouri at the River’s Edge Motel 201 Mansion Street,  Louisiana, MO 63353  (573) 754-4522.

  Day 2 Sunday From Louisiana it’s about 40 miles (1 hour) north to Hannibal, Missouri. In Hannibal one must see Mark Twain’s boyhood home and the museum there.  It would also be good to take a tour of Mark Twain’s Cave.  After a morning in Hannibal we drive about 45 minutes (25 miles) to Quincy, Illinois.  There we can visit the Quincy Museum and perhaps the All-Wars Museum.  Quincy is supposed to be a lovely city with interesting homes and history.  We would certainly want to see the Villa Kathrine.  After the attractions in Quincy have closed we drive about an hour (40 miles) up to Keokuk, Iowa.  Keokuk has many interesting things to see during our visit. We’ll spend the night there, We might possibly camp at Hickory Haven Campground or Sugar Valley Campground, or maybe we will stay at the Grand Anne Bed & Breakfast or the Chief Motel. We might possibly camp at Hickory Haven Campground or Sugar Valley Campground, or maybe we will stay at the Grand Anne Bed & Breakfast or the Chief Motel.
  Day 3 Monday After a morning looking around Keokuk we drive 9 miles (15 minutes to Nauvoo, Illinois. There we visit Nauvoo State Park.  After lunch in Nauvoo we drive 15  miles (30 minutes) to Fort Madison, Iowa.  We will certainly want to visit the old fort there.  Probably we will also drive about 20 minute east (12 miles) to the Fort Madison, Farmington & Western Railroad.  After a ride on the railroad and the visit to the fort we can drive north about 21 miles (40 minutes) to Burlington, Iowa.  Around 4 or 5 in the afternoon we might make a 10 mile excursion to Geode State Park, which is supposed to be delightful.  We could have a picnic dinner in Delabar State Park (about 20 miles/35 minutes north of Burlington) on our way north to Muscatine, Iowa. Muscatine is about 40 miles north of Delabar State Park, but it takes over an hour to cover the 40 miles.  We spend the night in Muscatine if we don’t camp in Delabar State Park. Muscatine, Iowa
or Delabar State Park.
  Day 4 Tuesday The morning we look around Muscatine, as we arrive here rather late the previous day if not the morning of this fourth day of the trip.  From Muscatine we need about an hour and 15 minutes to drive the 50 miles north to the Moline, one of the Quad Cities. In the Quad Cities we might visit the Family Museum or the Grant Wood paintings in the Davenport Museum of Art.  We need to leave on our way north by 1:30 p.m. on our 60-miles (90 minute) drive up to Mississippi Palisades State Park, as we may make some scenic stops along the way. From the state park we drive another 25miles north to Galena, Illinois  where we want to see the President Grant State Historic Site in the last hour before it closes for the day.  When we’re finished in Galena we continue a final 18 miles (30 minutes) to Dubuque, Iowa where we spend the night. Dubuque, Iowa or the Dubuque area.
If camping, the Potawatomi State Park and Whitefish Dunes State Park are most appropriate. motels and other accommodations to consider include the Leathem Smith Lodge, the Inn at Cedar Crossing, Holiday Motel, and Lake Lane Cottages.
  Day 5 Wednesday See Dubuque, Iowa in the morning.   Dubuque is a river town where Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois meet. There are some things to do there.
While in Dubuque probably ride the Fenelon Place Elevator and go to see the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium.
  
  Day 6 Thursday    
  Day 7 Friday   Camping on Madeline Island at Big Bay State Park or another of the Apostle Islands. If not camping, then the Inn on Madeline Island or something in Bayfield.
  Day 8 Saturday    
  Day 9 Sunday    
  Day 10 Monday    
  Day 11 Tuesday    
  Day 12 Wednesday

 

 Camping is possible at Mirror Lake or Rocky Arbor State Parks. Holiday Shores Campground is also possible. For a stay in a resort or motel, consider Thunder Valley Inn, Robin Hood Resort, Chula Vista, Pine Aire, or Meadowbrook.
  Day 13 Thursday In the morning while in Galena visit the Ulysses S. Grant home. Possibly also visit the Belvedere Mansion (11:00 or 11:30 morning tours) and the Dowling House. Leave Galena around 1:00 p.m., and then stop at Mississippi Palisades State Park around 1:45. After a couple hours at the state park, continue on at 3:45 p.m.. Stop in Peoria at 6:15 p.m. for dinner. Continue on at 7:45 p.m., arriving in Springfield at 9:15 p.m. Second night in Wisconsin Dells.
        Chicago
        Home
  Costs. (Day, expense, Cost in 2010 U.S. Dollars, Cost in percent of median year-round full-time income) (1 Myrfti = 1/10,000th of a median year round full-time income for an American worker. To find the median year-round full-time income used in the calculations, simply divide the dollar cost of something by the Myrfti cost, and multiply the resulting quotient by 10,000. Another way to think of this: if something costs 100 Myrftis, it costs 1% of the median year-round full-time worker's income, at least in America.)
  Day 1 Cost Item Description
Cost in 2011 US$
Cost in % Myrfti for U.S.
     
  Day 10 One night in a room with two queen beds at The House on the Rock.
$158
39.10
  Day 11 Admission to House on the Rock, which is a major attraction in Spring Green, Wisconsin.

Ages 18-64 cost $28.50
Age 65+ cost $26.50
Ages 4-17 cost $15.50
Ages 18-64 cost 7.05
Age 65+ cost 6.56
Ages 3-17 cost 3.84
  Day 11 Admission to Effigy Mounds National Monument.
Ages under 15 cost $0
Age 16+ cost $3
Ages under 15 cost 0.00
Age 16+ cost 0.74
  Day 11 Playing miniature golf at Prairie Fun Land.
Per person cost $5
1.24
  Day 11 Dinner. An extra-large Garden Veggie pizza in Prairie du Chien.
$18
4.45
  Day 11 One night in a room with two queen beds at AmericInn Lodge & Suites of Prairie du Chien (estimated tax included). No breakfast expenses on Day 12 because breakfast is included in cost of lodging.
$93.40
23.11
  Day 12 Gas (a full tank)
$45.65
11.30
  Day 12 Cash left for cleaning service in hotel room
$2
0.50
  Day 12 Admission to the Dickeyville Grotto
Free, but plan to make a $5 donation.
1.24
  Day 12 Stop for lunch in Dickeyville or Dubuque. Possibly at the L.May Eatery in Dubuque. Cost estimate estimates tax and tip.
$32.34 per person
8.00
  Day 12 Round-trip tickets for the Fenelon Elevator
Ages 5-12 cost $1
Age 13+ cost $2
Ages 5-12 cost 0.25
Age 13+ cost 0.49
  Day 12 Admission to the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

Ages 18-64 cost $15
Age 65+ cost $13
Ages 3-17 cost $10
Ages 18-64 cost 3.71
Age 65+ cost 3.22
Ages 3-17 cost 2.47
  Day 12 Light dinner with sandwiches or grocery store deli foods, or fast food
$10.90 per person
2.70
  Day 12 Night in Galena at a Bed & Breakfast or an Inn. Perhaps Abbey's High Street Bed and Breakfast. Price includes tax estimated. No breakfast expenses on Day 13 because breakfast is included in cost of lodging.
$159 per room
39.35
  Day 12 Admission to Galena History Museum

Ages 19-64 cost $7
Age 65+ cost $6
Ages 10-18 cost $5
Ages 18-64 cost 1.73
Age 65+ cost 1.48
Ages 3-17 cost 1.24
  Day 12 Admission to Belvedere Mansion

Adults cost $12
Children cost $6
Adults cost 2.97
Children cost 1.48
  Day 12 Admission to Dowling House

$7
1.73
  Day 12 Donations at Ulysses S. Grant House

Adults donate $4
Children donate $2
Adults donate 0.99
Children donate 0.49
  Travel during trip. (Method and route of travel)
  Day 1 Travel description Distance Duration of travel
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  Day 11

Driving from House on the Rock to Effigy Mounds is about 80 miles, and will require about 1 hour and 40 minutes of time. If you want to arrive in Effigy Mounds at 4:00, giving you 30 minutes to see the visitor center before it closes, you must leave House on the Rock at 2:20 p.m.

It is 8 miles from the Effigy Mounds to the Fun Park in Prairie du Chien. Allow 15 minutes. A 5:45 p.m. departure for a 6:00 arrival.

It is 3 miles (8 minutes) from the Fun Park to the hotel in downtown Prairie du Chien.

A little over 95 miles of driving. 2 hours driving time total for the day.
  Day 12

Driving from Prairie du Chien to Dickeyville offers two options. One can stick to the major highways on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi and complete the drive in about 1 hour and 15 minutes (54 miles) using US-18 and US-61, or one can take a winding scenic route on the Iowa side of the Mississippi (73 miles), passing through Guttenberg, IA, and required about two hours of driving. If you depart Prairie du Chien at 10:00 a.m., you can be in Dickeyville by noon, and ready to depart there at 2:00

Dubuque is only 12 miles (15 minutes) from Dickeyville. Probably arrive there by 2:30.

The drive from Dubuque to Galena is about 16 miles (25 minutes) on highway US-20.

Approximately 100 miles. 2 hours and 40 minutes or else 1 hour and 55 minutes of driving time, depending upon route to Dickeyville Grotto.
  Day 13 Driving from Galena to Springfield the fastest and shortest route follows the Mississippi River on the Illinois side to I-74, and passes through Galesburg and Peoria on the way to Springfield. Approximately 250 miles. 4 hours and 30 minutes