Lewis and Clark Trail in South Dakota: A Road Trip Through History

Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve

In Lewis and Clark's time, the Missouri River was shallow and unpredictable. Some days, the men spent hours towing their keelboat over sandbars. At Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, you can see one of the river’s last free-flowing sections — part of the Missouri National Recreational River. More than 7 miles of hiking and biking trails crisscross the preserve, allowing visitors to experience the river’s original character. (Exit 4 off I-29)

Elk Point

Continue north on I-29 until you reach Elk Point. The town derives its name from the famous explorers, whose journals noted much “elk sign” in the area. Following the death of Sgt. Charles Floyd, the captains needed a replacement. A vote was held on August 22, 1804, when Patrick Gass received 19 votes in what is believed to be the first election by U.S. citizens west of the Mississippi. Find the marker in downtown Elk Point that relays the story. (Exit 18 off I-29)

Spirit Mound Historic Prairie

Early in their journey, Lewis and Clark met tribes who told them stories of 18-inch devils armed with arrows that inhabited a prairie hill near Vermillion. On August 25, 1804, Lewis and Clark set off on foot to investigate, hiking four hours in the sweltering heat. At the top of this hill, the infamous devils were nowhere to be found — but the explorers did see a herd of buffalo, nearly 800 strong, grazing in the distance. Today, Spirit Mound Historic Prairie is managed by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks and stands along SD-19, 6 miles north of Vermillion. (I-29 to SD-50 and SD-19)

Lewis and Clark Recreation Area

Follow SD-50/SD-52 through Yankton to reach Lewis and Clark Recreation Area, a waterfront haven on Lewis and Clark Lake, one of four massive Missouri River reservoirs in South Dakota. Here, visitors can sail, boat, fish and swim along sandy beaches. For an overnight stay, choose from cabins, motel rooms or campsites with stunning lake views.

Just across the Nebraska border and perched on a bluff near Gavins Point Dam, the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center provides an in-depth look at the expedition, Indigenous tribes Lewis and Clark encountered, and the Missouri River’s impact on the region. With pastel-colored cliffs lining the shore, it’s also a prime spot for photos. (SD-50/SD-52 from Yankton; the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center is located in Crofton, Nebraska.)

Native American Scenic Byway

South Dakota's cultural roots unfold as you travel this breathtaking route through the Great Sioux Nation. The Native American Scenic Byway follows the Missouri River through the lands of the Yankton, Crow Creek, Lower Brule, Cheyenne River and Standing Rock Sioux tribes. 

The Corps of Discovery reported seeing abundant wildlife in this area, and your chances of spotting prairie dogs, pronghorn and deer are very good. Several Indigenous tribes also maintain bison and elk herds. Besides the animals, you'll be captivated by the wild, rugged country — much of which remains undeveloped. The route begins at Standing Bear Bridge on SD-37 near the town of Running Water on the Nebraska border.

Fort Randall Dam

More than 50 years after Lewis and Clark forged a path up the Missouri River, Fort Randall was built along the shores near present-day Pickstown. Today, walk the old fort grounds and view the remains of a chapel the soldiers built. Head to the Fort Randall Dam Visitor Center to inquire about tours of the dam and power plant. The stretch of river below the dam is great for canoeing but remains undeveloped, so plan ahead. (Take SD-50/SD-46 west from Pickstown to US-281. From there, work your way northwest on SD-50 to Interstate 90.)

Chamberlain Area

Take in breathtaking views of Lake Francis Case, another sprawling Missouri River reservoir, from the Lewis and Clark Welcome Center off I-90 in Chamberlain. Step onto the center’s keelboat-shaped balcony — a tribute to the expedition’s primary mode of transportation — to admire the river and its gentle bluffs. Inside the center, exhibits depict items the explorers brought on their journey and showcase wildlife they encountered along the way. Outside stands Dignity: Of Earth & Sky, a 50-foot-tall stainless steel statue honoring the cultures of the Lakota and Dakota people. (Located between exits 263 and 265 on I-90.)

While in South Dakota, Lewis and Clark had their first meetings with the Yankton and Teton Sioux. Before the expedition even began, President Jefferson had instructed Meriwether Lewis to make a favorable impression on the tribes of the Sioux Nation because of their immense power. Learn about Sioux history and heritage at the Aktá Lakota Museum & Cultural Center on the campus of St. Joseph's Indian School in Chamberlain. (Exit 263 off I-90. From there, follow the Native American Scenic Byway north along SD-50 and SD-34.)

Big Bend of the Missouri

On Sept. 20, 1804, the explorers reached the Big Bend of the Missouri River, where the river makes a huge loop, almost creating a full circle. In his journal entry for the day, Clark reported that the distance of the Narrows — the area between the two ends of the loop — was only 2,000 yards (6,000 feet) on foot. By water, the same trip was 30 miles. See this natural landmark at Narrows Recreation Area, 3 miles north of Lower Brule off SD-10. Nearby, West Bend Recreation Area offers more opportunities to fish, boat, camp and view the river. (SD-34, 9 miles south of Pierre)

The Bad River: Pierre/Fort Pierre

The expedition first met with the Teton Sioux at the mouth of the Bad River near present-day Pierre. The two groups smoked a pipe and Lewis delivered a speech. After a tour of the keelboat, Clark returned the Teton chiefs to shore. As the pirogue (a large canoe) was readying to leave, three young Teton grabbed hold of it and wouldn't let go. It was a pivotal moment as both sides drew arms. Thanks to Chief Black Buffalo’s quick intervention, a clash was avoided. The explorers moved to a nearby island, which they named “Bad Humored Island.” Today, an interpretive sign on LaFramboise Island in Pierre describes the day's event. From there, you can watch the Bad River pour into the Missouri and imagine that historic meeting of Sept. 25, 1804. A historical marker at Fischers Lilly Park in Fort Pierre commemorates the site of the confrontation.

While in the Pierre/Fort Pierre area, visit the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center to view exhibits about the religious, social and cultural practices of the Yankton and Teton Sioux, the Arikara and other Plains Indian tribes. You can even see an Arikara bullboat, just like the one Clark described in his journal on Oct. 9, 1804. The center is built into the side of a Missouri River bluff just north of the South Dakota State Capitol. Note: The South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center is currently closed for a remodel and is scheduled to reopen in 2026. 

West Whitlock Recreation Area

Take SD-1804 or US 83 north toward West Whitlock Recreation Area in Gettysburg to see a replica of an Arikara lodge. Lewis and Clark spent several days with the Arikara during October 1804.

Monument to Sacagawea

Continue north along US 83 and US 12 to Mobridge and the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, where you can visit monuments to Sitting Bull and Sakakawea (Sacagawea). Two theories surround the death of Sakakawea, the only woman to accompany the Corps of Discovery. While some say she lived to an old age in Wyoming, many historians believe she died at Fort Manuel in present-day South Dakota. Sakakawea’s untimely death of a putrid fever came just six years after the expedition ended. A simple monument to this heroic woman overlooks the Missouri River at Mobridge. A replica of Fort Manuel stands near the original fort’s location on the river near Kenel. (From there, take SD-1804 north.)

Legend of the Stone Idols

Lewis and Clark reached north-central South Dakota in the fall of 1804. They were told about two stones resembling human figures and a third resembling a dog near present-day Pollock. In Arikara lore, the idols are a pair of star-crossed lovers forbidden to marry along with a faithful dog who were all turned to stone. The site and a historic marker are located approximately 1 mile south and 2 miles west of Pollock, near West Pollock Recreation Area.