Basic Information

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail is approximately 3,700 miles long, extending from Wood River, Illinois, to the mouth of the Columbia River, near present day Astoria, Oregon, following the historic outbound and inbound routes of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The trail connects 11 states (Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon) and many Tribal lands. The trail was established by Congress in 1978 as part of the national trails system (NTS) as one of four original national historic trails. Today, visitors can follow the approximate route of the Corps of Discovery (Lewis and Clark Expedition Members) by exploring the trail using a variety of transportation methods and interpretive means.

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Visitor Centers

The National Park Service administers the Trail and operates a Visitor Center at Trail headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. However, there a many opportunities for visitors traveling the Trail to learn more about this expedition and to experience the diverse landscape and peoples of the Trail through Visitor Centers and Cultural Centers owned and operated by others. These may be other federal agencies, state, county or local governments, or Tribal governments. Private and non-profit organizations also operate some of these centers.

Below is a list by state of what we know exists on the Trail, but it is not meant to be comprehensive. Another source of information about traveling the Trail is from a Trail partner www.lewisandclarkcountry.org.

Visitor Centers Along the Trail
Illinois
Missouri
Kansas
Iowa
Nebraska
South Dakota
North Dakota
Montana
Idaho
Washington
Oregon

Visitor Centers in Eastern Legacy States
West Virginia
Virginia
Kentucky
Indiana
Tennessee