Where is Yankton, South Dakota, USA?

Written and fact-checked by | Reviewed by WhereIG Editorial Team | Last updated: August 14, 2026, 18:45 ET

Where is Yankton Located? - Yankton is a city located in the Yankton County of South Dakota, United States. Yankton lies between 44.0520691 Degrees North latitudes and 123.0867536 Degrees West longitudes.

Location Map of Yankton, South Dakota

Where is Yankton, South Dakota

Yankton Map, South Dakota, USA

Where is Yankton?: The Google Map showing the location of Yankton in the U.S. state of South Dakota.

Where is Yankton Located?

Yankton is a city located in the Yankton County of South Dakota, United States. Yankton lies between 44.0520691 Degrees North latitudes and 123.0867536 Degrees West longitudes. According to 2020 U.S.census, the population of Yankton city is 15411 people and the city has a total area of 8.58 sq mi. The city has numerous parks and recreational facilities.

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Yankton, South Dakota Quick Facts

AttributeDetails
CityYankton
CountyYankton County
StateSouth Dakota
State CapitalPierre
US RegionMidwestern United States
Latitude42.8711° N
Longitude97.3973° W
ElevationApproximately 1,220 ft (372 m)
Land Area8.4 sq mi
Water Area0.6 sq mi
Total Area9.0 sq mi
Population (2020 Census)15,411
Population DensityApproximately 1,830 per sq mi
ZIP Codes57078, 57079
Area Code605
Time Zone StandardCentral Standard Time (CST), UTC−6
Time Zone DaylightCentral Daylight Time (CDT), UTC−5
CurrencyUnited States Dollar (USD)
FIPS Code46-73060
Community TypeCity

Transportation and Connectivity in Yankton, South Dakota

TransportationDetails
Airport NameChan Gurney Municipal Airport
IATA CodeYKN
Regional AirportSioux Falls Regional Airport
PortMissouri River transportation access
Major HighwaysUS Route 81, US Route 50, South Dakota Highway 52
Train/Amtrak ServiceAmtrak service available in nearby communities
Local Transit ServiceYankton Transit services
  • US Route 81 — Major north-south highway connecting Yankton with Nebraska and eastern South Dakota communities.
  • US Route 50 — Regional route providing access across southeastern South Dakota.
  • South Dakota Highway 52 — Local highway connecting Yankton with surrounding areas.

Top Places to Visit in Yankton, South Dakota

Landmark NameType
Lewis and Clark Recreation AreaRecreation Area
Gavins Point DamHistoric Dam
Missouri National Recreational RiverNatural Landmark
Dakota Territorial MuseumHistory Museum
Yankton County Historical Society MuseumHistory Museum
Cramer-Kenyon Heritage HomeHistoric Home
Meridian BridgeHistoric Bridge
Riverside ParkCommunity Park
Sacred Heart MonasteryHistoric Landmark
Fox Run Golf CourseGolf Facility

Driving Distances from Yankton, South Dakota to Nearby Cities

CityStateDistance (mi)Approx. Drive Time
VermillionSouth Dakota35 mi40 minutes
Sioux FallsSouth Dakota85 mi1 hour 20 minutes
MitchellSouth Dakota95 mi1 hour 30 minutes
NorfolkNebraska95 mi1 hour 40 minutes
OmahaNebraska180 mi2 hours 45 minutes
PierreSouth Dakota230 mi3 hours 45 minutes
LincolnNebraska190 mi3 hours
Rapid CitySouth Dakota430 mi6 hours 30 minutes
MinneapolisMinnesota260 mi4 hours
Des MoinesIowa270 mi4 hours

Colleges and Universities Near Yankton, South Dakota

Institution NameTypeLevelNotable For
Mount Marty UniversityPrivateUniversityNursing, health sciences, education, and liberal arts programs
University of South DakotaPublicUniversityLaw, business, health sciences, fine arts, and research programs
Southeast Technical CollegePublicTechnical CollegeApplied technology, healthcare, and workforce training
South Dakota State UniversityPublicUniversityAgriculture, engineering, nursing, and research programs
Yankton School DistrictPublicK–12 DistrictLocal public education

Waterbodies Near Yankton, South Dakota

Missouri River, Lewis and Clark Lake, James River, Beaver Creek, and nearby southeastern South Dakota waterways

Golf Courses and Stadiums Near Yankton

Golf Courses: Fox Run Golf Course, Hillcrest Golf and Country Club, and nearby southeastern South Dakota golf facilities. Stadiums: Crane-Youngworth Field at Mount Marty University, Yankton High School athletic facilities, and local community sports fields.

Key Landmarks and Places to Visit in Yankton, South Dakota

Landmark NameType
Lewis and Clark Recreation AreaRecreation Area
Gavins Point DamHistoric Dam
Missouri National Recreational RiverNatural Landmark
Dakota Territorial MuseumHistory Museum
Cramer-Kenyon Heritage HomeHistoric Home
Meridian BridgeHistoric Bridge
Riverside ParkCommunity Park
Sacred Heart MonasteryHistoric Landmark
Yankton RiverfrontRecreation Area
Fort Yankton Historic SiteHistoric Site

Yankton, South Dakota — Key Historical Facts

  • The Yankton area was historically home to the Yankton Sioux (Ihanktonwan) people, a division of the Dakota people.
  • Yankton was established as a trading and government center along the Missouri River during the 19th century.
  • The city served as the first capital of the Dakota Territory from 1861 to 1883.
  • Yankton played an important role in early territorial government, river transportation, and regional commerce.
  • The completion of Gavins Point Dam in the 1950s created Lewis and Clark Lake and expanded recreation opportunities in the area.
  • Today, Yankton is known for its riverfront parks, historic sites, outdoor recreation, healthcare services, and educational institutions.

References

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