There was a time there was just the river. Then people came. People and the river have been connected ever since. And now it's your turn.

Missouri National Recreational River offers natural beauty: the forested buff-colored chalkstone bluffs to gently rolling range bottomland; the brilliant white of migrating pelicans to the rich blues of prairie asters; the soaring majesty of resident bald eagles to fleeting glimpses of the wily red fox. It offers an exciting past for your enjoyment and enrichment, from Plains Indian tribes to Lewis and Clark to steamboat captains such as Grant Marsh. Here, you can experience the dynamic character of the river's ever-changing nature, with its islands, shifting sandbars, sloughs, and treacherous, deadly snags.

Both the upper 39-mile reach and the lower 59-mile reach along the Nebraska-South Dakota border combine to form one of few sections of this once vast ecosystem along the "Big Muddy" that remains in a relatively natural state.

 Directions 

Plane - Sioux City Gateway Airport is a regional airport served by American West, United, TWA Express, TWA, and Northwest Link. However, there is no public transportation from there to the park and to its various public accesses.

Chad Gurney Airport is located on the north side of Yankton, SD. Again, there is no public transportation to the park, though car rental is available (605/665-3473).

Car - South Dakota Route 50 and Nebraska Route 12 parallel the park for much of its length. Most of the public accesses to the river are off these two highways. Call 402/667-2550 for a list of the more popular river accesses. NPS Rangers are stationed in the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center, which is located on Nebraska Route 121 about four miles west of Yankton, South Dakota.

Public Transportation - No public transportation is available within the park corridor. Limited taxi service is available in Yankton (605/665-4551 or 605/668-9808).