Aerial view of the Missouri River and surrounding landscape. Photo: NPS Photo

Missouri National Recreational River

National Recreational River · Nebraska, South Dakota

Imagine a 100-mile stretch of North America's longest river, a vestige of the untamed American West.

  • LocationYankton, SD
  • Entrance No fee listed
  • HoursOpen 24 hours, daily
  • Weather now72°F Sunny
  • Alerts No active alerts

Overview

The Missouri National Recreational River is where imagination meets reality. Two free flowing stretches of the Missouri make up the National Park.

Relive the past by exploring the wild, untamed and mighty river that continues to flow as nature intended.

Topics
  • Animals
  • Archeology
  • Astronomy
  • Birds
  • Bridges
  • Buttes
  • Climate Change
  • Dams
36 more topics
  • Deciduous Forests
  • Endangered
  • Engineering
  • Explorers and Expeditions
  • Fire
  • Fish
  • Floods
  • Foothills, Plains and Valleys
  • Forests and Woodlands
  • Forts
  • Geology
  • Grasslands
  • Infantry and Militia
  • Maritime
  • Migrations
  • Military
  • Monuments and Memorials
  • Native American Heritage
  • Night Sky
  • Prairies
  • Rare
  • River and Riparian
  • Roads, Routes and Highways
  • Rock Landscapes and Features
  • Ruins
  • Scenic Views
  • Ships and Shipwrecks
  • Tragic Events
  • Trails
  • Transportation
  • Tribal Conflicts
  • Unique Species
  • Wars and Conflicts
  • Water Trails
  • Watersheds
  • Westward Expansion
Sunken remains of the North Alabama steamboat appears only when water is low.
Sunken remains of the North Alabama steamboat appears only when water is low. — NPS Photo

Camping

3 campgrounds listed on Recreation.gov. Check availability and current conditions before you go.

  • Bow Creek Primitive Camping

    Bow Creek Primitive Camping

    Not reservable on Recreation.gov Campground

    Primitive, Leave No Trace camping is allowed and free. Camp only in designated sites marked with brown camping signs and metal fire rings. Please call us at 605-665-0209…

    (605) 665-0209 Directions

    Details
    Primitive, Leave No Trace camping is allowed and free. Camp only in designated sites marked with brown camping signs and metal fire rings. Please call us at 605-665-0209 and leave your basic itinerary for your safety. Located along Bow Creek and the Missouri River in Cedar County about 2 miles northeast of Wynot, Nebraska. A series of gravel roads wind you to the location by car. Follow the brown Bow Creek Recreational Area directional signs to the gravel parking lot and trailhead.
  • Aerial View of Goat Island

    Goat Island Primitive Camping

    Not reservable on Recreation.gov Campground

    Two designated tent camping only areas. The first (southern) campground area is in the process of being established. The second (northern) is targeted to be established…

    (605) 665-0209 Directions

    Details
    Two designated tent camping only areas. The first (southern) campground area is in the process of being established. The second (northern) is targeted to be established in 2022. Primitive camping is allowed anywhere on the Island, with the exception of the established hunting season after Labor Day to January when camping is restricted to the two designated camping areas. Please email or call (605-665-0209) for a back country use permit issued by the Park's HQ Office.
  • Green Island Map

    Green Island Primitive Camping

    Not reservable on Recreation.gov Campground

    Green Island has five primitive tent campsites with fire rings. Two isolated tent sites on the east side of the island & three adjacent sites on the west side. Fires…

    (605) 665-0209 Directions

    Details
    Green Island has five primitive tent campsites with fire rings. Two isolated tent sites on the east side of the island & three adjacent sites on the west side. Fires allowed only in designated fire rings. Island access is by boat only. Please visit the Camping page for rules and regulations. Primitive, Leave No Trace camping is allowed and free. Camp only in designated sites marked with brown camping signs and metal fire rings. Please call us at 605-665-0209 and leave your basic itinerary for your safety.

Facilities & Services

Find visitor centers and other services available in the park. Check current hours and availability before you go.

Visitor Centers

  • Missouri National Recreational River Headquarters and Visitor Contact Station

    Missouri National Recreational River Headquarters

    Visitor Center

    The Missouri National Recreational River has a visitor contact station located inside their headquarters building in Yankton, South Dakota. Information about the park…

    Details
    The Missouri National Recreational River has a visitor contact station located inside their headquarters building in Yankton, South Dakota. Information about the park including junior ranger booklets, passport stamps, park maps, and an 18-minute video are available 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The building is closed on all federal holidays including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's days. For more information, please call 605-665-0209.

Plan Your Visit

Hours

Open 24 hours, daily · Park Hours

Hours details
  • Park HoursOpen 24 hours, daily

    The entire park includes the 39-Mile District and 59-Mile District. Both districts are open 24 hours, seven days a week.

Entrance fees

No entrance fees listed.

Address

508 East 2nd Street
Yankton, SD 57078

Weather & conditions

72°F
Sunny · feels like 67°
  • Today 74° 57°
    Sunny
    17% rain
  • Tomorrow 60° 48°
    Sunny
    18% rain
  • Wednesday 61° 43°
    Overcast
    12% rain

Updated 3 hr ago

What to expect by season

Rapid weather changes are common along the Missouri National Recreational River corridor. Variations from season to season and from year to year are great. Characteristics of the climate are hot summers and cold winters. Sunshine is abundant, particularly in the summer months. Average annual rainfall is 25 inches. Thunderstorms can be dangerous and visitors should be prepared for them, especially from June until late August. Winter snowfall averages 34 inches annually.

Photos

Getting There

508 East 2nd Street
Yankton, SD 57078

The National Park Service headquarters is located at 508 East Second Street in Yankton, South Dakota.

Mailing address: 508 East 2nd Street, Yankton, SD 57078

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