National Recreational River

Missouri National Recreational River

Midwest

About Missouri

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

From the National Park Service.

Region: Midwest
States: South Dakota and Nebraska
Designation: National Recreational River
Entrance fee: None listed

Trail data for this park is still being added.
Places for this park are still being added.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, weather and getting to Missouri.

Entrance fees

The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for this park.

Hours

Park Hours

Open 24 hours a day, every day.

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

Weather and when to go

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.

Getting there

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

Directions from the National Park Service

Contact the park

Address: 508 East 2nd Street, Yankton, SD 57078
Phone: (605) 665-0209
Email: mnrr_visitorinfo@nps.gov
Official site: nps.gov/mnrr

From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.

Trip planner

A day-by-day plan for Missouri

Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.

Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.

Things to do in Missouri

The park service's own list, with how long each takes.

Hunting in the MNRR

Hunting · about 45 min

Hunting & trapping is permitted in Bow Creek and Goat Island Recreation Areas in accordance with site-specific regulations.
Wildlife Watching in the MNRR

Wildlife Watching · about 45 min

Missouri National Recreational River is a great place to go to observe mammals in their native and wild habitat. Wild animals are an important and vital part of our natural ecosys…
Stargaze at Spirit Mound

Stargazing · about 45 min

stargaze
Fishing in the MNRR

Fishing · about 45 min

Fishing is a main recreational activity in the Missouri National Recreational River.
Backcountry Camping in the MNRR

Camping · about 45 min

Missouri National Recreational River offers primitive, Leave-No-Trace camping available at Bow Creek, Green Island, and Goat Island Recreation Areas.
Paddle the MNRR

Paddling · about 45 min

Paddle the two free-flowing sections of the Missouri, North America's longest river, a vestige of the untamed American West.
Boating in the Missouri NRR

Boating · about 45 min

Whether you are fishing or enjoying the scenery and wildlife, boating is a great way to experience the river.
Biking in the MNRR

Biking · about 45 min

Various partners have different biking paths.
Watch "River of Change"

Park Film · about 20 min

This 18-minute film tells the story of Missouri National Recreational River. Learn about the park's wildlife as well as the history of the river, explorers, and people who lived a…

Campgrounds in Missouri

Run by the park service. Reservable sites book on Recreation.gov; first-come sites do not.

Bow Creek Primitive Camping

5 first-come sites

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 60…
Green Island Primitive Camping

5 first-come sites

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.…
Goat Island Primitive Camping

2 first-come sites

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 es…