Two years and two months ago,*[1] My Own True Love and I finished an epic road trip down the Great River Road. It took us ten years and it was absolutely wonderful.*[2] We’ve been considering what our next big multi-part road trip should be ever since.*[3]

For a while we thought about driving Route 66, which turns 100 this year. But we’ve finally decided on following the Lewis and Clark “trail.”

Like the Great River Road, which wasn’t actually a road, the Lewis and Clark trail isn’t exactly a trail. The expedition travelled by water whenever possible, so the modern “trail” often runs as close to the applicable river as it is possible to get. The two guidebooks we have warn us that even where they traveled by land, it is difficult, if not impossible to follow the trail as they took it in 1804.

The starting place is obvious. According to Meriwether Lewis, “The mouth of the River Dubois is to be considered as the point of departure.” Our first stop on the road will be the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site in Hartford, Illinois, on the site of Camp Dubois. How far we get after that on the first leg of the trip is unknown.

Part of the fun of a road trip is discovering the unexpected, but we would also love to hear any suggestions you might have. What are your must-see sites along the trail—famous and obscure alike? Which widely heralded sites are duds, or closed for renovation? What little town has a great restaurant, bakery, farmer’s market or place to two-step to a honky-tonk band? Traveling history nerds want to know.

In return, you’ll get lots of stories from the road.[4]

[1] Not that I’m counting

[2] You can read my summary of the trip here and detailed stories of our adventures here.

[3] For those of you who wonder why it has taken us two years and a bit, all I can say is a LOT has happened since then.

[4] If you don’t follow me on Bluesky, Facebook, or Instagram, now would be the time. I like to post things seen along the way that are too small for a blog post and too fun not to share.