Native American National and State Scenic Byway
Native American National and State Scenic Byway is a National Scenic Byway in South Dakota. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Native American National and State Scenic Byway with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
This South Dakota byway traces roughly 350 miles of the Missouri River from near the Nebraska line north through the heart of the state. Officially the Native American National and State Scenic Byway, it follows Highways 50, 1804, and 1806 along the river's east and west banks, crossing the Yankton, Lower Brule, and Crow Creek reservations before climbing to Fort Thompson's Big Bend Dam, where the Missouri loops nearly back on itself. Lewis and Clark's expedition camped along this stretch of river 14 separate times in 1804 and 1806, and interpretive markers and tribal visitor centers along the way tell that history alongside present-day Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota culture. Wide river overlooks, prairie grassland, and small reservation towns define the drive rather than a single showpiece landmark. It carries both a state scenic byway designation and National Scenic Byway status from the Federal Highway Administration, reflecting its recognized historic and cultural significance rather than just its river scenery.
- Missouri River
- Lewis and Clark campsites
- Yankton Reservation
- Crow Creek Reservation
- Fort Thompson
- Big Bend Dam
- ~350 miles
Plan a drive on Native American National and State Scenic Byway →
What is a National Scenic Byway?
National Scenic Byways are roads recognized at the federal level for at least one outstanding quality — scenic, natural, historic, cultural, archaeological or recreational — that gives travelers a reason to seek them out rather than just pass through.
Where to Stay along Native American National and State Scenic Byway
No campgrounds are listed close to Native American National and State Scenic Byway yet, but there are rooms near the route.
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