Anyone have a google route that they created to ride this road that helped avoid any urban areas?

Thinking of riding it from MN to north of St. Louis before heading east to avoid the city.

Head west at St Louis. Avoid ILL-inois at all cost.

Feasting On Asphalt 2: The River Run... Alton Brown started at the Gulf and head up.

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?gl=us&ptab=2&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=100472593047286766295.0004550ee4a5ea7db24e3

Enjoy your ride! 

Feasting On Asphalt 2: The River Run... Alton Brown started at the Gulf and head up.

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?gl=us&ptab=2&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=100472593047286766295.0004550ee4a5ea7db24e3

Enjoy your ride! 

Cool map, but wrong end of the road. 

Twowheel, check this out to see if it helps. Nothing beats personal experiences, though.   http://motorcycleroads.com/

This isn't a route, but it gives info for every state.  http://byways.org/explore/byways/2279
I rode it from Middle Illinois to Fulton, IL.  I've been in a a cage from Fulton up into Wisconsin.  I'd avoid the IL side anywhere South of the Quad Cities.  Some sections are not well marked and don't follow the river nearly as close as you'd think.  On the Iowa side heading South from Clintom to South of Hannibal , MO was a nice stretch.  I especially would detour at Dubuque, IA to find the Field of Dreams.  Bellevue has a nnice restaurant called the Offshore that overlooks the river.  Clinton (my hometown) has a few nice places to eat, but Rastrelli's is my favorite, and first paying job I ever had.  Davenport has nice riverfront shopping too.  Hannibal was cool because you can see all the sites that inspired Tom Sawyer & Huck Finn novels by Mark Twain.

http://goo.gl/maps/G1J18

Here's a Route I did. Notice the first two stops. Dyersville is a Quick Stop to say you were there and you came. You wont know why you did but you'll go and pay money just to watch baseball. Get a pin or something.

You'll see from Field of Dreams I routed back east a bit. This is a worthwhile jaunt because it puts you on some nice sweepers.

I did this last year. Pin G is a good stop to get a pic of the MN state line. theres a turn off there and a big sign. I kinda like the west end of the River. Less traffic to deal with and some small towns that are kinda cool. New Albin has a Gas station that brough me back to the 60's..

Check out the blog by "everyday riding"

He made the trip down and back about 3 years ago.

http://www.everydayriding.org/



http://www.everydayriding.org/2010/09/great-river-ride-reflections.html
^ link, right to his article of his 4700 mile trip

Definitely some cool information.  Thanks everyone.  I will go through all the links to help with my planning.

I would suggest that you start your ride on WI 35 in Prescott, MN where the St. Croix river runs into the Mississippi and keep heading south. I live In Hastings, MN which is right across the river from Prescott and ride this road quite often. Its very scenic and has its share of twisties.

Take the River Road all the way to Alton, Il and stop here http://fasteddiesbonair.com/.  Lots of bikes and a great place for cheap food.

Let me know when you think you will get there and I will see if I can meet ya there!

Aaron

Or, stop in Savannah, IL at Poopie's Harley Davidson/Restaurant.  Prices are cheaper than sh!t   At least that's what it said on the shirts.  Galena is also a neat town to tour through if going the Illinois side of the river.