Upper Mississippi River Cruises
Bluffs, locks, eagles and river towns between St. Louis and the Twin Cities.
Get Upper Mississippi QuotesUpper Mississippi River Cruises, North of St. Louis
Upper Mississippi river cruises follow the river from St. Louis north to the Twin Cities, a stretch most travelers have only crossed on a bridge. From the deck it is a different country: limestone bluffs hundreds of feet high, backwater sloughs full of herons and pelicans, barge tows nosing into lock chambers, and small towns whose main streets still run down to the levee.
This site is about that northern river only. It explains the St. Louis to St. Paul route port by port, what to do in St. Louis before you board, how the locks work, when the bluffs turn color, and which ships are scheduled for 2027. For the classic southern route from New Orleans, see our Lower Mississippi guide; for an overview of the whole river, our original Mississippi River Cruises site is the place to start.
Plan Your Upper River Trip
St. Louis to St. Paul
Hannibal, Burlington, the Quad Cities, Dubuque, La Crosse and Red Wing, in order.
See the route →
Starting in St. Louis
The Arch, the riverfront, Alton and where to stay the night before.
St. Louis departures →
What Makes the Upper River Different
South of St. Louis the Mississippi is wide, brown and fast, with levees hiding much of the land. North of the city the river changes character. Dams built in the 1930s turned it into a series of long pools, so the water is calmer and broader, scattered with wooded islands. The valley narrows between bluffs, especially above the Quad Cities, and the towns sit right at the water’s edge.
The result is a gentler, greener cruise. Days are short hops between ports, and much of the pleasure is simply sitting on deck watching the shoreline: a freight train running along the bank, a bald eagle on a dead snag, a tow of fifteen barges waiting its turn at a lock. If you want big-city nights and Southern food, the lower river suits you better. If you want quiet scenery and small-town Americana, the Upper Mississippi is hard to beat.
Mississippi Riverboat Cruises on the Upper River
Two companies run overnight Mississippi riverboat cruises on this stretch. American Cruise Lines sails both modern riverboats and a classic-style paddlewheeler between St. Louis and St. Paul in summer and fall. Viking sends the Viking Mississippi, a 386-guest ship built for the river, on its Heartland of America voyage between St. Louis (boarding at Alton, Illinois) and St. Paul. Our guide to the riverboats compares the styles, and our 2027 page lists who is sailing next year.
Some full-river voyages also cover the upper river on their way between New Orleans and St. Paul. Those run two or three weeks and suit travelers who want the whole Mississippi in one go.
Who Enjoys This Cruise Most
History readers
Mark Twain’s Hannibal, the lumber and button-making towns, Native American mounds and the steamboat era all come alive ashore.
Nature lovers
The river is a major migration flyway. Eagles, pelicans and herons are common sights, and the bluffs are at their best in autumn.
Relaxed travelers
Short distances, calm pools and no time-zone changes make it an easy week, with English everywhere and U.S. dollars.
Midwesterners
Many people sail from close to home. St. Louis and Minneapolis–St. Paul are short flights or drives from much of the country.
Before You Book
- Choose a direction. Northbound trips finish in the Twin Cities; southbound trips end beneath the Arch. Book your flights open-jaw.
- Decide on a month. Early summer is green and long-lit; September and October bring color and cooler days.
- Ask about included hotel nights. Some packages add a pre-cruise stay in St. Louis or St. Paul.
- Check walking needs. Some landings are up a levee or a slope; Accessible River Cruises explains what to ask.
- Read up on safety and river levels at River Cruising Is Safe.
Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise book both lines and can quote several departures side by side. Join the Mister Cruise river-deals newsletter to hear about river offers first, and browse every river line in the Official River Cruise Directory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are upper Mississippi river cruises?
Overnight riverboat cruises on the northern half of the river, normally between St. Louis and St. Paul. They pass through a chain of locks and dams and stop at river towns in Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Most run about a week.
When do Upper Mississippi cruises run?
The season is shorter than on the lower river: sailings run from early summer into autumn, with American Cruise Lines scheduling the route roughly June through October and Viking concentrating its Heartland of America departures in late summer and early fall.
Is the Upper Mississippi better than the Lower?
Neither is better; they are different trips. The Upper river is bluffs, locks, eagles and Midwestern river towns. The Lower river is New Orleans, plantation history, Civil War sites and the blues. See our Lower Mississippi guide for the southern half.
Do I need a passport?
No. Every port is in the United States and the ships are U.S.-flagged, so a government photo ID for your flights is all you need.
How do I get a quote?
Tell our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise which direction, month and type of riverboat you prefer. They compare the sailings and send free quotes with no obligation.
This site is part of the Smart Traveler network, led by Mister Cruise. He has sold travel since 1972 and worked full-time in the industry since 1977. He has sold or originated more than $500 million in cruises and has trained more than 500 travel agents.
When you ask for a quote, our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise handle it personally — not a call center — and book everything for you. Meet Mister Cruise →
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