in the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers region
- State-of-the-art visitor centers, museums and attractions that bring alive the epic adventure
- Beautiful state parks and recreation areas for the perfect getaway
- Big city shows and riverside festivals
- Colorful historic reenactments
- Arts and crafts and bluegrass music
- Miles and miles of hiking and biking trails along scenic rivers
- Amusement parks and water parks for the whole family
Catch the Spirit of the Lewis and Clark Expedition for a Great Family Vacation!
Scroll down the page for a great list of attractions along the Ohio River region of the Lewis and Clark Trail.
Pennsylvania
1) Pittsburgh, PA
After the Revolutionary War, Pittsburgh was known as the “Gateway to the American West.” It was here that the keel boat for the Lewis and Clark Expedition was launched on Aug. 31, 1803. Visitors can get a sweeping view of the city when they ride the Duquesne Incline to the top of Mt. Washington, where they look down on the Golden Triangle… the confluence of the Ohio, Monongahela, and Allegheny Rivers. Also located at the top of Mt. Washington is an interpretive sign about the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
The Gateway Clipper Fleet provides sightseeing cruises on the three rivers for closer views of the city. Kayak and paddleboat tours are also available. The 24-mile Three Rivers Heritage Trail System serves hike and bike visitors. Pittsburgh’s heritage attractions include Point State Park located at the confluence of the three rivers at the tip of Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle. The park is a National Historical Landmark and commemorates the history of Fort Duquesne and Fort Pitt that played a role in the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. The reconstructed Monongahela Bastion houses the Fort Pitt Museum. The Senator John Heinz History Center tells the story of American history with a Western Pennsylvania connection in a six-story museum.
Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Museum of Natural History features one of the world’s largest collections of dinosaur fossils. The Frick Pittsburgh is a cluster of museums and historic buildings which stand as a prime example of the Gilded Age in America. Kennywood Amusement Park is fun for the whole family.
For more information, go to: VisitPITTSBURGH.com.
2) Raccoon Creek State Park
Located west of Pittsburgh on US 30. The park features the 100-acre Racoon Lake and a mix of modern and rustic facilities with group camps built during the 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps era.
For more information, go to: dcnr.pa.gov.
3) Fort Necessity National Battlefield
Located southeast of Uniontown on US 40, the historic fort served as the prelude to the French and Indian War before the Revolution. George Washington built the fort’s road in 1754 and was used by General Braddock and called the Braddock Road. The park is open for day use and includes a Visitor Interpretive Center at Fort Necessity and a museum at the Mount Washington Tavern.
For more information, go to: nps.gov/fone.
4) Ohiopyle State Park, PA
This large park on PA 381 serves as a gateway to the rugged natural beauty of the Laurel Highlands. The visitor center is an activity hub where visitors can enjoy picnics, backpacking, river trips and two natural waterslides.
For more information, go to: dcnr.pa.gov.
Please visit our Pennsylvania Partners for more information:
West Virginia
5) Wheeling, WV
Located on I-70 at the middle of West Virginia’s northern panhandle. Visitors can follow a walking trail to West Virginia Independence Hall, the state’s birthplace. The Capitol Theatre is home to the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. It also presents a variety of concerts.
Waterfront Hall on the Ohio River is a hub for events, culture, and nightlife. Oglebay features museums and a zoo and attracts visitors throughout the year. The Centre Market Historic District, the Wheeling Artisan Centre and the Kruger Street Toy and Train Museum add to the area’s unique visitor destinations. West of the city is Wheeling Island, the largest populated island on the Ohio River, featuring Victorian architecture, a historic district and a casino and greyhound racetrack.
For more information, go to: VisitWheelingWV.com.
6) Grave Creek Mound, WV
This ancient historic site near Moundsville was built by the Adena people 2,200 years ago. The large mound is adjacent to the Archaeological Complex at 801 Jefferson Avenue. Meriwether Lewis stopped here and studied \the mound in detail. The Delf Norona Museum provides interpretive exhibits.
7) Parkersburg, WV
Visitors won’t want to miss Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park that is accessible by sternwheeler riverboat from Parkersburg. Visitors to the island can enjoy a guided tour of the beautifully reconstructed Blennerhassett Mansion, a scenic horsedrawn covered wagon rides and other activities.
The park’s museum tells the story of the area from its early Native American inhabitants onward. Please note: Blennerhassett Island is closed from November to April. The Julia-Ann Square Historic District features the 19th Century homes of pioneer oil barons. Henderson Hall, just north of Parkersburg, is one of America’s finest historic homes with artifacts passed down through five generations. Visitors may stay at the Historic Blennerhassett Hotel and enjoy fine wines at nearby Wine Tree Vineyards.
For more information, go to: GreaterParkersburg.com.
8) Point Pleasant, WV
The area includes Tu-Endie-Wei State Park, at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers, memorializing battles with the Shawnee Indians before the Revolutionary War. Nearby is Fort Randolph featuring a reconstructed Revolutionary War log stockade and blockhouse.
9) Huntington, WV
In Huntington, West Virginia, you can celebrate Appalachian Heritage at Heritage Farm and Museum. Tour Blenko Glass, one of the few remaining hand-blown glass factories. Ride a wooden coaster at 120-year-old Camden Park.
Catch live music at The Loud, Mountain Health Network Arena, or on the street during the summer. Have a great meal at one of our many local restaurants. Shop at unique shops, the still thriving Huntington Mall, or the revitalized 14th Street West. Stroll along Harris Riverfront Park. Visit the award-winning Rose Garden at Ritter Park. Take the “We Are Marshall” tour which incorporates scenes from the film that relates the tragic story of the Marshall University football team, killed in a plane crash in 1970. Our city has truly risen from the ashes to become a vibrant and inviting city.
Come see us! For more information, go to: VisitHuntingtonWV.org.
Please visit our West Virginia partners
Ohio
10) Steubenville, OH
Located west of Pittsburgh on US 22 and on the Ohio River Scenic Byway, Ohio 7. Historic Fort Steuben has been rebuilt as it was in 1786-87 when it served to protect the surveyors of the Northwest Territory. The fort was named for George Washington’s famous drillmaster, Baron Von Steuben. The fort’s exhibits show the everyday lives of soldiers on the early American Frontier.
Additional exhibits include local Native American history and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Young visitors can participate in the National Park Service’s Junior Ranger program at the Fort as well. Adjacent to the fort is the Steubenville Visitor Center and the restored First Federal Land Office in the Northwest Territory. Steubenville is filled with history including the Jefferson County Mansion Museum, 17 historical churches and 24 Steubenville Murals that provides a colorful look at the city’s history. During the Christmas season, the Steubenville Nutcracker Village and Christmas at the Fort offers a memorable experience.
For more information, go to: OldFortSteuben.com or VisitSteubenville.com.
11) Belmont County, OH
Located west of Wheeling on I-70. Martin’s Ferry is Ohio’s oldest European settlement, dating back to at least 1779. Bridgeport is a gateway to Ohio’s National Road. For outdoor enthusiasts, St. Clairsville offers the National Road Bikeway. St. Clairsville is also the home of the Belmont County Heritage Museum featuring exhibits on the history of the cities and villages in the area.
12) Salt Fort State Park, OH
Located north of Cambridge and accessible off I-77, Salt Fork’s 17,299 acres offer boating, hiking, picnicking, fishing, and hunting. Visitors can enjoy a modern lodge, a family campground, and cabins. New to the park is the Salt Fork Eco‑Discovery Center, a hands‑on space that helps visitors of all ages connect with nature and learn about protecting the environment. For more information, go to: OhioStateParks.gov.
13) Dillon State Park, OH
North of Zanesville and off I-70. Visitors can explore the 1,560-acre lake or hike through the lush, hardwood forest. The park is known for boating, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and hunting. Amenities include several picnic areas, 29 modern cabins, and a large campground. Visitors can also explore the park’s Storybook Trail and nature center.
For more information, go to: OhioStateParks.gov.
14) Zanesville-Muskingum County
Located west of Cambridge on I-70. The John and Annie Glenn Museum in New Concord remembers the first American astronaut to orbit the earth. Zanesville is an art lover’s paradise.
Zanesville is an art lover’s paradise with 16 art studios and museums including the Alan Cottrill Sculpture Studio and Gallery, the Zanesville Museum of Art, BunkoJess Gallery and Cole’s Aircraft Aviation Art Studio and Gallery. Visit the area every first Friday of the month to meet and greet local artists and their works. The National Road and Zane Grey Museum tells the history of the building of the National Road, and the famed “Father of the American Western.” Tom’s Ice Cream Bowl is a local favorite serving homemade ice cream for over 70 years. A must-see drive begins on the famous Y Bridge first built in 1819. Vintage pottery and other unique treasures can be discovered at many antique shops and pottery stores. A Taste of Ohio Wine, Bourbon & Beer is a cozy, chill and relaxed downtown restaurant and bar. A must tour is The Wilds, one of the world’s largest conservation centers that features open air safari tours, horseback riding, ziplining, a butterfly habitat, and birding station.
For more information, go to: VisitZanesville.com.
15) Muskingum Riverway State Park
Following the Muskingum River north from Marietta to Lake Erie, this National Registry of Historic Places, waterway features the nation’s last remaining system of hand-operated locks still functioning for recreational boats. A great experience for paddlers, boaters, and history enthusiasts to explore Ohio’s canal-era heritage.
For more information, go to: OhioStateParks.gov.
16) Marietta, OH
Located just off I-77 at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers, this historic river town was established in 1788 and is the oldest city in Ohio, as well as the first American settlement north and west of the Ohio River.
The area’s earliest known residents, the Hopewell and Adena cultures, left behind three ceremonial mounds in the downtown area, including the notable Conus Mound at the center of Mound Cemetery—final resting place of more Revolutionary War officers and generals than anywhere else in the country. Highlights include the Start Westward Monument at Muskingum Park, The Castle Museum in a restored 1855 Gothic Revival home, and Campus Martius Museum. Additional attractions include the Children’s Toy and Doll Museum and the Peoples Mortuary Museum. Enjoy Valley Gem Sternwheeler riverboat rides, the Marietta Trolley Tour, Hidden Marietta tours, and seasonal horse-drawn carriage rides through downtown. The Ohio River Museum is expected to reopen in 2027. Just below Marietta, visitors can enjoy live music along the Ohio River at the Ohio Valley Opry in Belpre—the second settlement in the Northwest Territory—and explore local history, including Washington County’s role in the Underground Railroad.
For more information, go to: MariettaOhio.org
17) Burr Oak State Park, OH
Located northeast of Athens on OH 13. The 2,593-acre park offers seven hiking trails that intersect with the statewide Buckeye Trail. Visitors can stay at the modern lodge, cabins, or a family-friendly campground.
For more information, go to: OhioStateParks.gov.
18) Forked Run State Park
Located southeast of Athens on OH 7. This 791-acre park was once a major coal mining area during the Civil War. Today the park offers fishing, hunting, hiking, and boating. The park’s main campground overlooks the scenic Forked Run Lake valley.
For more information, go to: OhioStateParks.gov.
19) Portsmouth-Scioto County
Located at the southern tip of Ohio and US 23. Much like Lewis and Clark on their journey, there is something to explore and discover around every corner of Scioto County.
Portsmouth-Scioto County is an Ohio county with a proud past and a limitless future, where history blends harmoniously with innovation. Discover the history of Portsmouth and Scioto County by walking among the Portsmouth Floodwall Murals or touring the “Arts of the Ancients” exhibit at the Southern Ohio Museum. Experience the beauty of Scioto County via a drive through Shawnee State Forest, Ohio’s largest State Forest. Explore the great outdoors through multitudes of outdoor recreational opportunities at our many nature preserves and parks. Indulge yourself with delicious food and drink at the many local restaurants and diners including those on our famed Pastry Path. Here in Portsmouth-Scioto County, there is a world of wonder to discover and explore. Explore the Adventure. Explore the Excitement. Explore Scioto.
For more information, go to: ExploreScioto.com.
20) Shawnee State Park, OH
Southwest of Portsmouth on OH 125 within Shawnee State Forest, this 1,090‑acre park was once hunting ground of the Shawnee people. Today, it features a modern lodge, two campgrounds, and year-round vacation cabins.
For more information, go to: OhioStateParks.gov.
21) East Fork State Park, OH
Located 25 miles southeast of Cincinnati on OH 125. Home to the Little Miami River Basin, the area exhibits human activity going back 3,000 years ago. Today the park offers 46 miles of backcountry trails great for hiking and horseback riding. The 2,160-acre lake offers multiple boat ramps, a large swimming beach and beach house—a perfect way to spend a summer day.
For more information, go to: OhioStateParks.gov.
22) Cincinnati, OH
Home of the one-of-a-kind Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, the Cincinnati History Museum, the Duke Energy Children’s Museum, the Museum of Natural History and Science, and the Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX® Theater.
Please visit our Ohio partners:
Kentucky
23) Ashland, KY
West of Huntington, WV. Ashland is on the Country Music National Scenic Byway. The Paramount Art Center attracts top performers throughout the year. To the northwest, State Highway 8 follows the Ohio River and leads to Vanceburg and Maysville. The Pioneer Port City of historic Maysville has 155 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Corps of Discovery member John Colter was from Maysville
24) Newport, KY
Home to premier area attractions such as Newport Aquarium, Newport on the Levee, New Riff Distilling, Megacorp Pavilion, BB Riverboats and more. Nearby, Covington, also known as “The Cov” is a bridge-walk away from downtown Cincinnati, filled with dining, nightlife, and a rich German and bourbon history –as well as home of the largest historical districts in Kentucky.
Big Bone Lick State Historic Site» Meriwether Lewis and William Clark both visited Big Bone Lick for Thomas Jefferson to collect specimens for him. Lewis visited October 1803 on his way down the Ohio to meet Clark in Louisville. Clark conducted a major dig in September 1807. Scientists consider Clark’s dig, with its results, to be the beginning of paleontology as an accepted scientific discipline. Today it is an official site on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.
25) General Butler State Resort Park
South of Carrollton and north of I-71 where the Ohio and Kentucky Rivers converge. The Butler-Turpin Home built in 1859 provides a glimpse of life during the Civil War. The Park features a 53-room lodge, 24 cottages, camping, hiking, mountain biking, and golfing.
26) Frankfort, KY
Kentucky’s state capitol city located on I-64. Explore the state’s history at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History. Admission to the museum also includes a guided tour of the Old State Capitol and a self-guided tour of the Kentucky Military History Museum.
The nearby Capital City Museum (free) showcases the history and culture of Kentucky’s Capital City. Liberty Hall Historic Site, the home of the state’s first Senator, offers tours of its buildings and formal gardens.
Visitors on the Rebecca Ruth Candy Factory Tour can see, sample, and purchase the famous bourbon ball candy—sample provided! The Salato Wildlife Education Center offers native wildlife and interactive displays. Cove Springs Park includes 250-acres of streams, waterfalls, forested ravines, and 6-miles of trails. Visitors to Canoe Kentucky can rent canoes, kayaks, SUP boards, and rafts. Josephine Sculpture Park is the state’s only outdoor sculpture park with miles of trails and outdoor art.
Daniel Boone’s burial site at the Frankfort Cemetery offers a panoramic view of the Kentucky River. Greenhill Cemetery includes the only monument commemorating Kentucky’s Civil War African American troops. Frankfort has five unique distilleries, three breweries and a winery all offering samples, food, and tours.
For more information, go to: VisitFrankfort.com.
27) La Grange, KY
On I-71. A Preserve America Community that celebrates its heritage, and is home to the Oldham County Historical Society, a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom site.
28) Goshen, KY
On US 42 northeast of Louisville. Home of Hermitage Farm in Goshen, the famed thoroughbred horse farm that has produced a Kentucky Derby winner, a Breeders’ Cup winner, and a Kentucky Oaks winner.
29) Louisville, KY
Founded in 1778. Locust Grove, a National Historic Landmark, is the restored Georgian mansion built in 1792, and the oldest known surviving Lewis and Clark structure west of the Appalachians. Here, Lewis, Clark and the Clark family celebrated the captains’ safe return in 1806.
The Filson Historical Society preserves letters from Clark and features exhibits and programs on the history of Kentucky and the Ohio River Valley. The inspiring statue of York, the only African American member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, is located at Belvedere-Louisville Waterfront Park. The Frazier History Museum and the Portland Museum also celebrate the history of Louisville and Kentucky. Louisville is home to Churchill Downs and the world-famous Kentucky Derby founded by Clark’s grandson Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark, Jr. The Kentucky Derby Museum showcases all the winners since 1875. Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory features a 120-foot replica of Babe Ruth’s bat. The Muhammad Ali Center presents multimedia experiences of Ali’s boxing career and historic Civil Rights era footage. The Louisville Zoo features more than 1,500 exotic animals and many rides and attractions. The Louisville Mega Cavern, Kentucky Science Center, Farmington Historic Plantation, Speed Art Museum, Roots 101 African American Museum and KMAC Museum are among Louisville’s many outstanding attractions. Louisville is also home of the Urban Bourbon Experience nearly two dozen distillery and tasting experiences and some of the city’s top Bourbon and cocktail bars on the Urban Bourbon Trail.®
For information, go to: GoToLouisville.com
West Point, KY» In 1803 the expedition’s blacksmith-gunsmith John Shields lived in West Point near present 3rd and Elm streets when he was recruited for the journey. The nucleus of the Corps of Discovery stopped here before leaving the Falls of the Ohio.
30) Shepherdsville, KY
South of Louisville on I-65. Kart Kountry features the “longest go-cart track in the world.”
31) Hodgenville, KY
South on KY 61. Visitors can see Abraham Lincoln’s humble beginnings at the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site and the nearby Abraham Lincoln Boyhood Home.
32) Owensboro, KY
Located at I-165 and the Ohio River. The Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum is the only facility in the world dedicated to this American music. The state-of-the-art museum features hands-on exhibits, live performances, and concerts. The collections of the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art are housed in three wings, including a 1909 Carnegie Library and the pre-Civil War era John Hampden Smith House. Live music can be enjoyed all summer in downtown Owensboro or at riverfront stages.
33) John James Audubon State Park
North of Henderson on US 41. Visitors can explore the woodlands where the famed naturalist studied and illustrated bird species from 1810 to 1819. Today the park features a museum with a significant collection of Audubon art, cabins, campground, hiking trails, and boating.
34) Paducah, KY
Founded in 1827 by William Clark, co-captain of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Visitors can explore Paducah’s origins at the William Clark Market House Museum, housed in one of downtown’s landmark buildings. Today, Paducah is known as one of the world’s UNESCO Creative Cities.
The National Quilt Museum is a must-see art museum featuring the work of contemporary quiltmakers and a Lewis & Clark Trail of Discovery tribute on the lawn. Paducah’s “Wall to Wall” Murals, 60+ life-sized panoramic portrayals by muralist Robert Dafford, color the city’s floodwall overlooking the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers. The Lloyd Tilghman House & Civil War Museum profiles western Kentucky’s role in the Civil War. The River Discovery Center celebrates the city’s maritime legacy with interactive exhibits allowing visitors to pilot their own vessel. The Hotel Metropolitan is a testament to African American Heritage in Paducah. Once part of the Green Book, this hotel-turned-museum hosted legends such as Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong. Paducah’s distinctive 19th century architecture combined with a rich diversity of visual, performing, and culinary art offerings inspire visitors year- round.
For more information, go to: Paducah.travel.
35) Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site
Located on US 60 overlooking the Mississippi River. This unique historical site near Wickliffe features a prehistoric Native American village and a museum with exhibits about the mounds, the Mississippian culture, and artifacts.
Please visit our Kentucky partners
Indiana
36) Versailles State Park, IN
On US 50 west of Lawrenceburg. Visitors can enjoy miles of hiking, mountain biking, and horseback trails, or rent a rowboat, kayak, or canoe and go fishing on the lake. South of the park on IN 56 along the Ohio River is the Village of Rising Sun with the Pendleton Art Center that is home for 25 artists’ studios.
37) Clifty Falls State Park, IN
West of Madison on IN 7 and IN 56. This beautiful park is a hiker’s paradise and features waterfalls that change moods with the season and a variety of fun outdoor activities year-round.
38) Charlestown State Park, IN
South of Charlestown on IN 62. Visitors can hike and camp in the rugged hills and deep canyons leading to the Ohio River valley. At Charlestown visitors can take an interpretive trail within the former Rose Island amusement park site.
39) Clarksville, IN
Located on I-65. After meeting in Louisville, Lewis and Clark had the boats piloted through the Falls of the Ohio to Clarksville where they established their base camp near Clark’s Point. The achievements of the Expedition are celebrated at the stunning Falls of the Ohio State Park Interpretive Center overlooking the Falls. The center features 3,000 square feet of immersive exhibits that bring alive Lewis and Clark Trail history and lifelike displays of wildlife. The center also features a dramatic film on the expedition, and a river viewing room (FallsoftheOhio.org). Just down the river is the George Rogers Clark Home Site where Clark lived when Lewis and the Corps arrived in 1803.
40) Hardy Lake, IN
Off I-65. This outdoor getaway for the family includes a marina, boat launches, fishing, beach, amphitheater, six hiking trails, archery range and both electric and primitive campgrounds.
41) Corydon, IN
South of I-64 on IN 62. The Trail continues west to Historic Corydon. Expedition member John Shields lived in the area after the Corps returned. Visitors get a feel for Indiana’s early years in the historic town which served as Indiana’s first state capital from 1816 to 1825. Today visitors can see many historic buildings built in the 1800’s, including the Corydon Capitol State Historic Site, the first state capitol building and governor’s headquarters. Don’t miss the fifth-generation glassblowers and art at Zimmerman Art Glass. The Harrison County Discovery Center is an interactive history museum for all ages.
42) Santa Claus, IN
West of Hoosier National Forest and Tell City on IN 62. This festive town is home to the world’s first theme park, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, known for friendly staff, cleanliness, and family fun. The town of Santa Claus celebrates the holidays at the Santa Claus Museum & Village, Santa’s Candy Castle, the Santa Claus Christmas Store and more. Visit the world’s only post office with the Santa Claus name. The town offers a variety of lodgings including cabins and vacation rentals.
For more information, go to: SantaClausInd.org
43) Lincoln City, IN
East on IN 162. Abraham Lincoln spent 14 formative years in Indiana, from age 7 to 21. The Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial features interpretive trails, historic features and a visitor center with sculpted panels by E.H. Daniels depicting significant periods in Lincoln’s life. The nearby 1,747-acre Lincoln State Park, established in 1932, features Lincoln Amphitheatre, Lake Lincoln, lakeside shelters, boat rentals, miles of trails and the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Plaza. Just down the road, explore 13 Lincoln-era replica cabins and a museum at the Lincoln Pioneer Village and Museum in Rockport.
For more information, go to: SantaClausInd.org/Lincoln
44) Evansville, IN
Located on I-69. Families will enjoy “cMoe” the Koch Family Children’s Museum as well as Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden, which features the immersive Amazonia rainforest plus the fun for all ages Engelbrecht Carousel. Burdette Park offers wooded hiking trails, rustic chalets and cabins and an Aquatic Center.
45) Harmonie State Park, IN
On IN 69. The Park features swimming, picnic areas, hiking and mountain biking, Wabash River vistas and a beautiful campground and cabins for lodging. Nearby New Harmony Historic District includes historic buildings from the 19th century that relate the story of two unique pioneer communities established in the early 1800s.
46) Vincennes, IN
At the crossroads of US 50 and 41. Vincennes is Indiana’s oldest city and the site of the American Revolution’s decisive victory in the Old Northwest Territory. Today, the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park celebrates that victory with the largest granite memorial monument west of Washington DC. The scenic park on the banks of the Wabash River honors George Rogers Clark and his men for their victory at Fort Sackville. Clark was also an older brother to William Clark, co-captain of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Please visit our Indiana partners
Illinois
47) Equality, IL
On Route 13. The OhioRiver Scenic Byway Visitor Center is the place to begin your Lewis and Clark Trail adventure in Illinois. For more information,
go to: ORSB-Illinois.com.
Following the Byway, visitors can drive SE from Harrisburg on highway 145 and Rt. 34 or 13 to nearby Shawneetown to Rt. 1 to Karber’s Ridge Road into Shawnee National Forest for the Garden of the Gods Wilderness Area and the Rim Rock and Pounds Hollow Recreation Areas. Garden of the Gods offers breathtaking scenic vistas that stretch to the horizon. The nearby upper Rim Rock National Recreational Trail takes visitors around and on top of rock escarpments. The lower trail leads visitors to massive bottomland hardwood trees and Ox-Lot Cave.
48) Cave-in-Rock State Park
The fabled Cave-in-Rock on State Park Road #1 to the Ohio River has been a hide-out for outlaws and river pirates since Lewis and Clark’s day. Today the park features a lodge and restaurant, camping, hiking, and boating on the Ohio River.
49) Rosiclare and Golconda
The Byway continues southwest on Route 146 to nearby Tower Rock Recreation Area and Elizabethtown, and then on to the Rose Hotel Historic Site and the Civil War era iron smelting furnace near Rosiclare on Route 34. Rosiclare features the inspiring Fluorspar Miners Memorial. Golconda, South on Route 146, includes the Golconda Marina on the Ohio River. Nearby is 1837 Buel House and Dixon Springs State Park.
50) Fort Massac State Park, IL
Fort Massac State Park» Located in Metropolis, west of I-24. The historic fort has been rebuilt as it appeared in 1803 when Lewis and Clark recruited some of their Corps. Today’s visitors will enjoy the visitor center, museum, artifacts collection, biking on the George Rogers Clark Discovery Trail, and attending the Fort Massac Encampment in October. Metropolis features the Super Museum celebrating Superman with a 16-foot-tall superhero. America’s Hollywood Museum adds to the fun with life-sized figures and rare celebrity collectibles, costumes, and posters.
51) Cairo, IL
U.S. Hwy 51. Lewis and Clark spent six days here at the Ohio River’s confluence with the Mississippi. Fort Defiance Park was once the site of a key Union outpost during the Civil War. The Cairo Customs House Museum, the Magnolia Manor and Riverlore Mansion are also popular with visitors.
52) Grand Tower, IL
Route 3. This major Mississippi River landmark looks much like it did when Lewis and Clark visited in 1803. The Devil’s Backbone Park overlooking the river is pocked with caves where river pirates hid out until they were rousted in 1803 by troops from Fort Kaskaskia.
53) Fort Kaskaskia Historic Site
Located south of Ellis Grove on Shawneetown Road. The fort played an important role in the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
54) East St. Louis, IL
Located on I-64. Attractions include Cahokia and the Cahokia Courthouse State Historic Site with a Lewis and Clark exhibit. The Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site is nearby in Collinsville.
55) Hartford, IL
The location of the “Point of Departure” for the Lewis and Clark Expedition’s epic journey to the Pacific Ocean on May 14, 1804. Hartford is marked by the inspiring 150’ high Lewis and Clark Confluence Tower where visitors get a spectacular view of the Missouri and Mississippi River Confluence.
The nearby Lewis and Clark State Historic Site includes the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center featuring a full-scale replica of the Lewis and Clark Expedition’s keelboat, exhibits portraying the legacy of the Expedition and a reconstructed Camp River Dubois. Go to: CampDubois.com.
Please visit our Illinois partner
Missouri
56) Charleston, MO
Located on I-57. The Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Visitor Center is located at Henry S. Whipple Park at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi River. The Center features a walk lined with plaques and the map of the expedition carved into granite rock.
57) Cape Girardeau, MO
On I-55. When the Corps of Discovery passed through in 1803, Cape Girardeau was already a thriving settlement. Meriwether Lewis met frontier trader Louis Lorimier at The Red House, a replica of which now serves as a downtown visitor center. The historic district comes alive along the riverfront, anchored by the stunning 1,100-foot Mississippi River Tales Mural — a backdrop for antique shops, galleries, and restaurants that draw visitors year-round. Just outside town, Trail of Tears State Park marks the Corps’ campsite of November 24, 1803. The park offers a visitor center, lake boating, camping, and hike/bike trails. Additional highlights include the historic Bollinger Mill State Historic Site, Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center, the Crisp Museum on Southeast Missouri State’s campus and Historic Fort D — one of four Civil War fortifications that defended the city from Confederate attack. Cape Girardeau is a richly layered destination where frontier history meets Mississippi River culture.
For more information, go to: VisitCape.com.
58) Whittenberg, MO
This historic community east of Uniontown is near Tower Rock, the landmark on the Mississippi River that Lewis and Clark explored and measured in 1803.
59) St. Genevieve, MO
Off I-55 and US 61, was founded as a French colonial settlement and today has over 100 historic homes and structures housing galleries, wineries, and microbreweries.
60) St. Louis, MO
At the crossroads of I-70, I-44, and I-55, Gateway Arch National Park marks the starting point of America’s westward exploration and the legacy of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. The iconic Gateway Arch offers sweeping views of the Mississippi River, while the museum beneath it brings the expedition to life through exhibits, artifacts, and storytelling. A statue along the riverfront also commemorates Lewis and Clark’s departure from St. Louis. Othewr historic sites, including the Missouri History Museum and the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site, feature an extensive collection of expedition artifacts such as journals and documents tied to the Louisiana Purchase. Visitors can also tour Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum, where William Clark is laid to rest, and explore Fort Belle Fontaine, the first U.S. military fort west of the Mighty Mississippi, which is connected to the expedition’s return. Together, these sites highlight St. Louis’ central role in launching and shaping the Lewis and Clark journey west.
For more information, go to: ExploreStLouis.com
61) St. Charles, MO
On I-70, Hwy-370, and Hwy-94. Downtown St. Charles is a nationally registered historic district where for over 250 years its residents have been hosting travelers headed up the Missouri River, including Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery on May 1, 1804. A full-size replica of the Lewis and Clark’s keel boat and other colorful exhibits can be seen at the Lewis and Clark Boat House and Museum at Frontier Park on the Missouri River. A larger-than-life statue of Lewis and Clark and a statue of Daniel Boone are nearby. Downtown St. Charles includes the First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site, and other historic buildings that today are home to unique boutiques, restaurants, bike shops, and art galleries that are fun explore. The St. Charles Trolley runs Fridays and weekends with stops downtown, and to Ameristar Casino and Spa, Frenchtown, Mark Twain Village/Bass Pro, the Foundry Art Centre and more.
For more information, go to: DiscoverStCharles.com
Please visit our Missouri partners
Lewis & Clark Trail Experience
Interested in the Lewis & Clark Trail?
Visit LewisandClark.travel and LewisandClark.org to learn more.
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