📷 Photo by Wolfgang Weiser on UnsplashUp the Missouri River through South Dakota
From Sioux Falls to the Missouri at Chamberlain, then north past the state capital and Oahe Dam to the Sitting Bull Monument above the river.
- Distance
- approx. 547 km (340 mi)
- Driving
- 6 h 04 min
- Suggested days
- 4
- Stops
- 8
- States
- SD
- Best time to go
- May–June and September
- Tolls and vignettes
- None expected
- Updated
- May 9, 2026
At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 547 km (340 mi) with 8 stops, from Sioux Falls to Sitting Bull Monument. About 6 h 04 min of driving in total. Best time to go: May–June and September. No toll roads expected for a car.
More road trips in South Dakota · More road trips from Sioux Falls
Photos along the route
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Route description
Leave Sioux Falls on I-90 west and stop in Mitchell at the Corn Palace, redecorated each year with murals of corn and grain. The interstate then crosses farm country to the Missouri River, where Dignity, a tall steel statue of a Native woman with a star quilt, stands at a rest area above the valley.
Chamberlain sits beside Lake Francis Case, one of several reservoirs that turned the Missouri into a chain of lakes. State highways, ending with SD-34, follow the river north-west through the hills of the Lower Brule and Crow Creek reservations to Pierre, the state capital.
In Pierre, see the capitol and then drive a few miles north to Oahe Dam, whose huge reservoir reaches far into North Dakota. US-83 and US-12 continue north across open ranch country to Mobridge, named for the railroad bridge over the river.
West of Mobridge, a bluff overlooking the Missouri holds the Sitting Bull Monument and a memorial to Sacagawea. Services are sparse between towns; summer and early fall are best, as winters are harsh and windy.
Which stops are on Up the Missouri River through South Dakota?
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Sioux Falls
SD - 2127 km
Corn Palace
OdditiesMitchell, SDAn arena covered in murals made of thousands of ears of colored corn. The design changes every year.
- 3127 km
Dignity
ViewsChamberlain, SDA 50-foot stainless-steel statue of a Native woman holding a star quilt, standing at an I-90 rest area above the Missouri River. Best in late light.
- 46 km
Chamberlain
SD - 5123 km
Pierre
SD - 612 km
Oahe Dam
ViewsPierre, SDA huge rolled-earth dam holding back Lake Oahe, one of the largest reservoirs in the country. The visitor center and overlook show the scale.
- 7145 km
Mobridge
SD - 87 km
Sitting Bull Monument
HistoryMobridge, SDA granite bust of the Lakota leader on a bluff above the Missouri, west of Mobridge. The Sacagawea monument is nearby.
How do you drive Up the Missouri River through South Dakota in 4 days?
4 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Sioux Falls → Corn Palace · 79 mi · 1 h 25 minOvernight nearby, for example: Lake Mitchell Campground (1 mi); Rondees Campground (1 mi).
- Day 2: Corn Palace → Chamberlain · 83 mi · 1 h 29 minOn the way: Dignity.Overnight nearby, for example: American Creek Campground (< 1 km); Happy Campers Campground (3 mi).
- Day 3: Chamberlain → Oahe Dam · 84 mi · 1 h 30 minOn the way: Pierre.Overnight nearby, for example: Campground 1 (1 mi); Campground 2 (1 mi).
- Day 4: Oahe Dam → Sitting Bull Monument · 94 mi · 1 h 41 minOn the way: Mobridge.Overnight nearby, for example: Country Cabins RV Park (4 mi); Grand River Casino Campground (4 mi).
When is the best time for Up the Missouri River through South Dakota?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. Cold, short days in December–March. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
More routes for the best months
Practical guides for this route
Photo by Malivez on UnsplashDriving in the US: The Rules European Visitors Most Often Get Wrong at the Wheel
Photo by Aleksandr Dalakian on UnsplashFuel, Tolls and Distances: Practical US Driving Math for Motorhome and Camper Travelers
Photo by Tracy Zhang on UnsplashUS national parks: entry fees, passes and reservations in plain terms
Themes
Plan this route for your vehicle
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FAQs
How long is Up the Missouri River through South Dakota?
4-day road trip of about 547 km (340 mi) with 8 stops, from Sioux Falls to Sitting Bull Monument. About 6 h 04 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Up the Missouri River through South Dakota?
We suggest 4 days: about 6 h 04 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Up the Missouri River through South Dakota start and end?
It starts in Sioux Falls and ends in Sitting Bull Monument.
Which states does Up the Missouri River through South Dakota pass through?
South Dakota.
Where can you camp along Up the Missouri River through South Dakota?
OpenStreetMap lists 29 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: American Creek Campground, Sioux Falls KOA Journey and Happy Campers Campground.
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