Kayaking & Canoeing the Mississippi River

Iowa paddling guide

311 mi
River mapped
125
Boat launches
25
Campgrounds
11
Counties

The Mississippi River is one of Iowa's paddling rivers, tracing roughly 311 mi, winding through Allamakee, Clayton, Clinton and Des Moines and other Counties. This guide maps 125 public boat launches and access points and 25 nearby campgrounds on the Mississippi River, plus the live USGS gauge readings you need to plan a safe day kayaking, canoeing or tubing in Iowa.

A popular way to paddle the Mississippi River is to put in at Keokuk Municipal Ramp and take out at New Albin Access — check the live gauge first and always leave a shuttle vehicle at your take-out.

🗺️ Open the live paddling map

Boat launches & access points on the Mississippi River

125 public access points for putting in and taking out.

  • ▸25th Avenue RampClinton Co.
  • ▸30th Avenue RampClinton Co.
  • ▸5th Avenue RampClinton Co.
  • ▸6th Avenue RampClinton Co.
  • ▸8th Avenue RampClinton Co.
  • ▸9th Avenue RampClinton Co.
  • ▸A.Y. McDonald Park Ramp
  • ▸Bellevue Boat RampJackson Co.
  • ▸Bellevue State ParkJackson Co.
  • ▸Ben Butterworth Boat RampRock Island Co.
  • ▸BettendorfScott Co.
  • ▸Black Hawk Memorial Park
  • ▸Bluff Harbor Marina Ramp
  • ▸Buffalo Shores AccessScott Co.
  • ▸Bussey Lake Boat RampClayton Co.
  • ▸Camanche Marina Ramp
  • ▸Casey Brown AreaDes Moines Co.
  • ▸Chaplin Schmitt Boat RampDubuque Co.
  • ▸Clark's Ferry Recreation AreaMuscatine Co.
  • ▸Clayton Co. Roadside AreaClayton Co.
  • ▸Clayton Municipal RampClayton Co.
  • ▸Cordova Public AccessRock Island Co.
  • ▸Credit Island ParkScott Co.
  • ▸Desoto Bay
  • ▸Duck Creek Public Use AreaJackson Co.
  • ▸E. side of upper Mississippi River Wildlife And Fi
  • ▸Eagles Landing (62nd st court Bettendorf)Scott Co.
  • ▸Empire ParkRock Island Co.
  • ▸Entrance to Desoto Bay
  • ▸Fairport Landing Marina Boat Ramp
  • ▸Fairport Rec Area Lower Boat RampMuscatine Co.
  • ▸Fairport Rec. Area Upper Boat Ramp
  • ▸Fisher's Landing (Camp Hideaway) AccessClayton Co.
  • ▸Fisherman's CornerRock Island Co.
  • ▸Flaming Prairie ParkLouisa Co.
  • ▸French Town LandingClayton Co.
  • ▸Green Gables Marina Ramp
  • ▸Guttenberg City AccessClayton Co.
  • ▸Hawthorne Street Boat RampDubuque Co.
  • ▸Heytmans LandingAllamakee Co.
  • ▸Iowa DNR Ramp
  • ▸Izaak Walton League Ramp
  • ▸Keokuk Municipal RampLee Co.
  • ▸Keokuk River Road Ramp
  • ▸Kilpeck Landing Pub. AreaLouisa Co.
  • ▸Lansing Bridge Entrance - Wisconson
  • ▸LeClaire Base RampScott Co.
  • ▸Lowell's Landing (Pirate's Pitstop) AccessClayton Co.
  • ▸Marquette Boat RampClayton Co.
  • ▸Marquette StScott Co.
  • ▸McDonald Dam
  • ▸McGregor Boat RampClayton Co.
  • ▸Miller Riverview ParkDubuque Co.
  • ▸Mud Lake Marina (Hawkeye) AccessDubuque Co.
  • ▸Mud Lake ParkDubuque Co.
  • ▸Municipal Boat RampMuscatine Co.
  • ▸Municipal Public Ramp NorthDes Moines Co.
  • ▸Municiple Ramp South
  • ▸Muscatine Small Boat Harbor Ramp
  • ▸New Albin AccessAllamakee Co.
  • ▸New Albin Area/Army RdAllamakee Co.
  • ▸New Albin Area/Army RdAllamakee Co.
  • ▸North Sabula AccessJackson Co.
  • ▸Pleasant CreekJackson Co.
  • ▸Port Byron Boat RampRock Island Co.
  • ▸Power Plant AccessAllamakee Co.
  • ▸Princeton Beach Marina Ramp
  • ▸Princeton Public Boat RampScott Co.
  • ▸Public Boat AccessJackson Co.
  • ▸Riverview ParkLee Co.
  • ▸RM 364.0: Montebello State Park Access
  • ▸RM 364.8: Chaney Creek
  • ▸RM 390.2: Dallas City Public Access
  • ▸RM 410.1: Henderson Creek Access
  • ▸RM 415.8: Oquawka Public
  • ▸RM 417.4: Delabar State Park
  • ▸RM 422.8: Putney's Landing Boat Ramp
  • ▸RM 424.1: Riverview Access
  • ▸RM 427.2: South Keithsburg Ramp
  • ▸RM 427.3: North Keithsburg Ramp
  • ▸RM 432.9: New Boston Ramp
  • ▸RM 433.0: Bayview Fishmarket
  • ▸RM 433.0: Sturgeon Bay Park Access/New Boston Waterfront Park Access
  • ▸RM 446.8: Crosses Corner
  • ▸RM 471.5: Ducky's Lagoon
  • ▸RM 479.8: Sunset Park Ramp (Directly onto Mississippi)
  • ▸RM 479.8: Sunset Park Ramp North into Lake Potter
  • ▸RM 479.8: Sunset Park Ramp South into Lake Potter
  • ▸RM 488.3: Ben Butterworth Parkway Boat Launch
  • ▸RM 490.7: East Moline Boat Launch
  • ▸RM 493.0: Illiniwek Forest Preserve Boat Ramp
  • ▸RM 496.4: Shuler's Shady Grove
  • ▸RM 497.7: Port Byron Municipal Ramp
  • ▸RM 500.4: Camp Hauberg Boat Ramp
  • ▸RM 503.1: 5th St Boat Launch
  • ▸RM 503.3: 10th St Boat Launch
  • ▸RM 513.6 Albany Boat Access
  • ▸RM 517.6: Cattail Slough Recreation Area
  • ▸RM 519.6: Fulton Marina
  • ▸RM 522.7: Lock & Dam 13 Public Use Area
  • ▸RM 536.8: Savanna Marina
  • ▸RM 537.5: North Marquette Park Municipal Landing
  • ▸RM 537.5: South Marquette Park Municipal Landing
  • ▸RM 578.0: Millennium Bar & Marina Ramp
  • ▸RM 579.0: Mid-Town Marina Boat Ramp
  • ▸RM 579.5: East Dubuque Public Boat Ramp
  • ▸Sabula Boat LandingJackson Co.
  • ▸Schmitt AccessDubuque Co.
  • ▸Schuler's Shady GroveRock Island Co.
  • ▸Schweibert Park DocksRock Island Co.
  • ▸Shady Creek Public AccessMuscatine Co.
  • ▸Smith's Island Public AreaScott Co.
  • ▸South Sabula AccessJackson Co.
  • ▸Spruce Creek ParkJackson Co.
  • ▸Stevens Slough
  • ▸Sullivan Slough River Access
  • ▸Sunset Park Boat RampRock Island Co.
  • ▸Sycamore St. Boat Ramp
  • ▸Tama Beach Boat AccessDes Moines Co.
  • ▸The Landing Ramp
  • ▸Village Creek AccessAllamakee Co.
  • ▸Walter Beuse Memorial RampScott Co.
  • ▸Waupeton Landing (Michael Lane) AccessDubuque Co.
  • ▸Willies LandingClayton Co.
  • ▸Wykert's Landing Boat Ramp

Camping near the Mississippi River

  • ⛺Bellevue State ParkJackson Co.
  • ⛺Blackhawk County Park
  • ⛺Blackhawk Park Campground
  • ⛺Camp Hauberg
  • ⛺CampgroundClayton Co.
  • ⛺Campground
  • ⛺Campground
  • ⛺Campground
  • ⛺Campground
  • ⛺Campground
  • ⛺Campground
  • ⛺Fairport Recreation Area Campground
  • ⛺Fairport State Recreation Area Campground
  • ⛺Fisherman's Corner North
  • ⛺Frenchman's Landing Campground
  • ⛺Hubinger Landing
  • ⛺Hubinger Landing
  • ⛺Keithsburg Riverside Campground
  • ⛺Miller Riverview Park & Campground
  • ⛺Mud Lake Park Campground
  • ⛺Off Shore Campground
  • ⛺Pleasant Creek Campground
  • ⛺Riverview RV Park
  • ⛺South Sabula Lake Park
  • ⛺Spruce Creek Park Campground

Live Mississippi River conditions

runnable

Mississippi River: 33,400 cfs, 9.2 ft — runnable.

Yes — right now the Mississippi River is runnable at 33,400 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026, 7:30 AM CT), within its normal paddling range. Iowa rivers rise fast after heavy rain, so always check the live USGS gauge and skip the river when it reads high or is flagged for flooding.

Typically runnable between about 5,000 and 120,000 cfs. Treat readings above 120,000 cfs as dangerous high water and below 5,000 cfs as too low to float. Provisional paddling band — always scout on site.

Source: USGS Mississippi River at Clinton, IA, updated Jul 25, 2026, 7:30 AM CT. Live readings are provisional — always confirm on the map before launching.

River levels change fast. Check the live USGS gauges, weather radar and flood-safety status for the Mississippi River on the interactive Iowa Paddle map. It flags dangerous high water and dams so you can paddle safely.

Mississippi River paddling FAQ

Is the Mississippi River safe to paddle right now?
Yes — right now the Mississippi River is runnable at 33,400 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026, 7:30 AM CT), within its normal paddling range. Iowa rivers rise fast after heavy rain, so always check the live USGS gauge and skip the river when it reads high or is flagged for flooding.
Where can I put in and take out on the Mississippi River?
A popular run is from Keokuk Municipal Ramp to New Albin Access. In all, the Mississippi River has 125 mapped public boat launches — leave a shuttle vehicle at your take-out and confirm access before you go.
How long is the Mississippi River?
About 311 mi of the Mississippi River is mapped for paddling across 11 Iowa counties, with 125 access points to build shorter day trips.
Do I need a permit to kayak or canoe the Mississippi River?
No permit is required to paddle Iowa's rivers. Non-motorized kayaks and canoes don't need registration; just wear a life vest, check the live USGS gauge, and avoid the river during or after heavy rain.

Rivers to paddle near the Mississippi River

Close by if you're planning a kayaking or canoeing trip in this part of Iowa:

Paddle more of Iowa

The Mississippi River is just one of dozens of paddleable rivers in the state. Browse the full guide to kayaking & canoeing every river in Iowa.