Missouri National Recreational River
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Missouri National Recreational River at a glance
- Best time
- April–May, September–October
- Trip length
- Half day–2 days
- Don't miss
- Main Missouri National Recreational River highlights — see Things to Do for current listings
- Nearby city
- Yankton, SD
Explore this park
About Missouri National Recreational River
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.
Weather Information
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.
Operating Hours
Park Hours
The entire park includes the 39-Mile District and 59-Mile District. Both districts are open 24 hours, seven days a week.
- MondayAll Day
- TuesdayAll Day
- WednesdayAll Day
- ThursdayAll Day
- FridayAll Day
- SaturdayAll Day
- SundayAll Day
Common questions
Planning Missouri National Recreational River
The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics.
Reservation rules vary by season and activity for Missouri National Recreational River. Check the Permits tab on this page and Recreation.gov before you travel — campground, tour, or backcountry permits may apply even without park-wide timed entry.
See Permits tab →
