Mighty Mo Bucket List
The Missouri River bucket list is filled with inspiration to help you build your perfect getaway. From scenic drives and outdoor adventures to small-town charm along...a trip to the Missouri River is all about slowing down, taking in the views, and discovering the moments that make travel memorable.
1. EXPLORE THE FOUR BIG LAKES
Four beautiful lakes are at the center of activity for recreation, hunting, fishing, and water sports along the Missouri River: Lake Oahe, Lake Sharpe, Lake Francis Case, and Lewis & Clark Lake. The lakes straddle the divide between the climate and topography of forested, humid, eastern states and arid, mountainous, western states, giving each lake a distinct landscape. Being in the middle of the state between population-dense areas, the river is the perfect relaxing getaway. Everyone out on the river is there to have fun and take their leisurely time. If you aren't going out on the water, you can enjoy the view of the river valleye from historic highways 1804 & 1806 on the Lewis & Clark Trail and the Native American Scenic Byway.
2. THE FOUR BIG DAMS
The four lakes are reservoirs created by four hydroelectric dams: Oahe Dam, Big Bend Dam, Fort Randall Dam, and Gavins Point Dam. These dams are engineering marvels and stunning places to visit. The Oahe Dam and Fort Randall Dam visitor centers still host free public tours of their power plants during the summer months.
3. ARTS & CULTURE
Indulge in the local arts scene amidts the beauty of the river landscape. See the intricate and delightfully wild Walleye Up statue, or the impressive Dignity: of Earth & Sky state, the historic Oscar Howe Murals in Mobridge and the Sea of Grass art timeline at Timber lake Museum.
4. SUNFLOWER SEASON
The sunflower blooming season runs July-August, and rural central SoDak is full of the golden flower. Driving through Sully, Hyde, Hughes, and Stanley Counties, will give you stunning views of the bobbing heads of sunshine yellow as far as the eye can see. Highmore Sunflower Festival: The town of Highmore hosts South Dakota's only Sunflower Festival during the height of the blooming season in August. Visitors can tour local farms' sunflower fields, learn about sunflower productions, and take amazing photos of miles of gold. Enjoy this special day of arts and crafts vendors, hayrides, live music, and family fun.
5. STARGAZING
The Missouri River region is sparsely populated even in its biggest towns. Driving 15-20 minutes into the countryside away from any dwellings on a clear moonless night will reveal a sky full of stars and the dusty clouds of the Milky Way Galaxy.
6. WACIPI - POWWOW
The SD Missouri River is home to five Native American Tribes of the Oceti Skowin Nation: Standing Rock, Cheyenne River, Crow Creek, Lower Brule, and Yankton Sioux Tribe. The tribes hold annual wacipis to celebrate culture, family, history, and values. "Wacipi" translates to "powwow".
7. WESTERN RODEOS
There are dozens of rodeos that take place annually across the state, varying from 4-H and high school to Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) events. An exciting rodeo to catch this year is Mobridge's annual Sitting Bull Stampede Rodeo. For a year-round calendar of rodeo events, the town of Fort Pierre hosts a wide variety of competitions incliuding the renowed Casey Tibbs Match of Champions.
8. STATE CAPITOL BUILDING & GROUNDS
At 100 years old, the SD State Capitol Building is a historic landmark and active home of state government, displaying the life and times of South Dakota's history as a state. The Capitol Building is open year-round to visitors. Outside on the grounds are various memorials. If you visit during the holiday season, the festive Christmas at the Capitol will be bustling with live entertainment and full of spectacular Christmas trees in the Capitol rotunda.
9. MARVELOUS MUSEUMS
Local museums, historic buildings and monuments are plentiful in Central SoDak, featuring Wild West history, stories of the Great Plains peoples, local history, artifacts, fossils, and great exhibits. Many of these museums are free and one-of-a-kind, displaying history and artifacts from their own area, and make perfect stops for a roadtrip.
10. HISTORIC ROADTRIPS: Lewis & Clark Trail, Native American Scenic Byway and Oyate Trail
Historic highways SD 1804 & 1806 make up the Lewis & Clark Trail which are named for Lewis & Clark's journey up and down the river in those years. The trail overlaps with much the Native American Scenic Byway, which passes through five tribal lands in Central South Dakota. Both scenic roadtrips showcase the breath-taking beauty of the river valley landscape: rollings hills, high bluffs, sweeping prairies, and the vast waters of the reservoirs. The Oyate Trail is a culural route that explores the southernmost parts of the state between Central SoDak and the Badlands, with cultural and historical opportunies representing the Lakota Sioux Indians and the Great American West.
Already Exploring?
Earn points for fun prizes using the Missouri River Getaway Passport Program, a free, mobile-exclusive guide hosted by Travel South Dakota that helps you find scenic views, historic sites, charming small towns, and outdoor adventures. Sign up today and start earning!
America 250 in the Missouri River
Last Modified:
