Sioux City is on the western edge of the state of Iowa. It is on the Missouri River and many parts of Sioux City are among the unique Loess Hills formations.
Understand
Sioux City sits on the cusp of the westernmost reaches of the industrial Midwest. Most of the rest of the United States between it and Denver is dominated by wide expanse of sparsely populated prairie. Sioux City is proud of its frontier history and you can find markings all over town dedicated to the western exploration done by Lewis and Clark. The Sioux City metropolitan area (Siouxland) covers portions of three US states; it is primarily in Iowa, but extends westward into South Dakota (North Sioux City) and Nebraska (South Sioux City).
Orientation
Sioux City sits on a major bend in the Missouri River and this dominates its geography. The state boundaries are marked by rivers. The Missouri River divides Nebraska on the South side from Iowa and South Dakota on the North Side. The Big Sioux River divides Iowa on the east side from South Dakota on the west side. Interstate 29 (I-29) runs along the Missouri River in Iowa until it enters South Dakota where it then follows the Big Sioux River. I-29 is the major highway used to access Sioux city. In Sioux City, Gordon Drive divides Sioux City into North and South. Lewis Blvd is the main thoroughfare that runs North and South on the East Side of town while Hamilton Boulevard is on the west side of town. In Sioux City street numbers increase as you move north away from the river. In South Sioux City, Nebraska street numbers increase as you move south away from the river. U.S. Hwy 20/75, sometimes referred to as "the bypass" is on Sioux City's easternmost side and curves around the mall area eventually crossing into Nebraska.
Get in
By car
Sioux City is accessible by a number of highways. Interstate 29 connects Sioux City to as far north as the Canadian border, and as far south as Kansas City. Highway 75 extends to the northeast and southwest of Sioux City, to cities such as Le Mars, Iowa, and Tekamah, Nebraska. Highway 20 brings motorists for the east or west to Sioux City, all the way from Indiana and Wyoming, respectively.
By plane
- Sioux Gateway Airport (IATA: SUX), 42.4025°, -96.384444°. Sometimes referred to as "The Big SUX". The locals have embraced their airport designation. Non-stop service daily is on American Eagle to Chicago O'Hare and to Dallas/Fort Worth 2018-02-10
- Martin Field (7K8), 615 Old Hwy 20 W, South Sioux City 68776, 42.450844°, -96.458511°, +1 402-494-3667. Always open. Martin Field is a privately owned, public use airport 3 nautical miles (6 km) southwest of the central business district of South Sioux City, in Dakota County, Nebraska 2018-02-11
By bus
- Greater Sioux City Bus Depot (Greyhound), 501 Nebraska St, 42.496368°, -96.403473°, +1 712 255-7678. 2018-02-10
By boat
Yes, it sounds crazy but you can arrive in Sioux City by boat from any coastal city on the planet. Sioux City sits at the northernmost reach of the navigable Missouri River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River which is the only in the lower 48 to be longer than the Mississippi itself. This means you can take your boat (or perhaps shallow draft luxury yacht) from Sioux City all the way to the Gulf of Mexico by way of the Mississippi River through St. Louis, Memphis, and New Orleans. From the Gulf it is to anywhere you are adventurous enough to go.
- Sioux City Marina, 1100 Larsen Park Rd., 42.490001°, -96.418770°, +1 712-224-2628, hello@siouxcitymarina.com. It is not unusual for people to travel from as far north along the Missouri river as Yankton, South Dakota. However, there is no public transport system by boat so you will have to use your own, (or a borrowed one.) 2018-02-11
Get around
Public transit
- Sioux City Transit System, Martin Luther King Jr. Transportation Center, 505 Nebraska St. (downtown), +1 712 279-6404 (route info). The bus system is a fairly well built out public transit system for a small Midwestern city. It serves Sioux City, South Sioux City, Nebraska, and North Sioux City, South Dakota. Routes schedules and maps can be found here. $1.80/adult (one way), discounts for seniors, youth and pass holders
- Taxi Service-several taxi companies operate in the Siouxland area.
- Action Taxi and Limo, +1 712-252-4778. 2018-02-12
- CAB's Inc., +1 712-276-5440. 2018-02-12
- Mr. GoodCab, +1 712-444-4444. 2018-02-12
- Siouxland Taxi, +1 712-277-0000. 2018-02-12
- South Sioux City Taxi, +1 402-494-8041. 2018-02-12
- Taxi Xpress, +1 712-577-1111. 2018-02-12
On foot
- Sioux City Skywalk, Downtown. M-Sa 6:30AM-10:30PM and Su 9:30AM-5:30PM. The Downtown Skywalk system is a great, climate controlled way to get around in downtown! The system is roughly 2 miles long and covers 10 blocks in the heart of the city, with 27 access points that get you to and from the street Free 2018-02-11
- Trails- Sioux City, Iowa and the major suburbs of South Sioux City, Nebraska, and North Sioux City, South Dakota, all maintain a network of walking trails that connect to each other through Sioux City. Trails are walking and bicycle friendly and include a connection over the Siouxland Veterans Memorial Bridge which connects downtown South Sioux City, Nebraska, to downtown Sioux City, Iowa.
Ride sharing
Lyft and Uber operate in the Siouxland Region.
Car rental
Many car rental companies operate at Sioux City Airport and throughout town.
- Avis, +1 712-255-8181. 2018-02-12
- Hertz, +1 712-255-4986. 2018-02-12
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car, +1 712-255-6629. 2018-02-12
- National, +1 712-255-6629. 2018-02-12
- Alamo, +1 712-555-6629. 2018-02-12
See
- Sioux City Art Center, 225 Nebraska Street, Sioux City, Iowa 51101-1712, 42.492580°, -96.404020°, +1 712-279-6272. M closed, Tu-W 10AM-4PM, Th 10AM-9PM, F Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 1PM-4PM. Features many rotating exhibits from around the world. Hands on experience available for children in their Kids Art Zone. Free 2018-02-12
- Sioux City Public Museum, 607 4th St, +1 712-279-6174. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1PM-5PM. Museum about the history of the area, Native Americans and later settlement. Free
- Trinity Heights, 33rd & Floyd Blvd, 42.527901°, -96.378212°, +1 712-239-8670. Daily 10AM-8PM. Giant Jesus and Mary statues made of metal. A life-size wood carving of the Last Supper. Trinity Gardens. Free
- Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, 900 Larsen Park Rd, +1 712-224-5242. A museum complex that includes exhibits on the Lewis & Clark expedition plus the Sergeant Floyd River Museum Featuring a nostalgic riverboat and the Betty Strong Encounter Center. Free
- Flight 232 Memorial. A memorial to the 1989 United Flight 232 plane crash where victims were seen walking out of a cornfield. Free
Do
- Cone Park, 3800 Line Dr., 42.441100°, -96.359220°, +1 712 279-6126. This park's main attraction in winter time is a multi-lane snow tubing hill with an automatic conveyor belt type lift and night time lighting. Other activities include an outdoor ice skating rink, a recreation trail and (in summer) a splash pad. 2018-02-11
- Tyson Events Center, 401 Gordon Dr., 42.491413°, -96.406945°. Multiple sports activities are hosted here. From NAIA college athletics championships to Musketeers hockey, this venue handles all kinds of events. When not hosting events, you can practice rock climbing on their climbing wall. 2018-02-11
Events
- Saturday in the Park, 24th and Grandview, 42.517009°, -96.410092°, +1 712 277-2575. An annual music festival held primarily at the Grandview Park Municipal Bandshell in Sioux City. Started in 1991, the festival falls on the Saturday closest to the 4th of July and attracts around 50,000 people from all over the Midwest for the weekend. 2018-02-11
Live theatre
Sioux City has a robust performing arts scene including multiple theater companies and many venues to catch a live performance.
- Orpheum Theater, 528 Pierce St, 42.495552°, -96.404762°, +1 712 244-5000 (box office). See a show at the Orpheum Theater, which has been used through the years for symphony performances, ballet and special attractions, hosting entertainers such as Fred Astaire, Tallulah Bankhead, and Katherine Hepburn. The theatre was re-opened on September 15, 2001 after being closed for a number of years. Since the grand re-opening, the theatre has provided the Siouxland area an opportunity to attend performances by fabulous performers like Bill Cosby, Sheryl Crow, BB King, Bob Dylan, Wynton Marsalis, David Copperfield, Willie Nelson, Jewel, Alison Kraus, Jerry Seinfeld and "Weird Al" Yankovic. Thousands have witnessed spectacular Broadway shows and enjoyed hearing the Sioux City Symphony. 2018-02-11
- LAMB Arts Regional Theatre, 417 Market St., 42.498314°, -96.414413°, +1 712-255-9536, lambtheatre@gmail.com. See Performance Calendar. Features contemporary productions using local professional talent. Varies by performance. Regular $19, Senior (62+) $15, Student $12 2018-02-13
- Evelyn Larson Theatre (Shot in the Dark Productions), 413 Nebraska St., 42.494774°, -96.403679°, +1 712-587-1969, Shotinthedarkboard@gmail.com. Varies by performance. A small theater best described as "intimate" seats around 50 people. Specializes in finding new talent and puts on the occasional avante-garde production. Varies by performance. Adult $18, Students and Seniors (+65) 15.00
- Sioux City Community Theatre, 1401 Riverside Blvd, 42.504452°, -96.472496°, +1 712-233-2788, boxoffice@scctheatre.org. Varies by performance. $18 per seat 2018-02-13
Buy
- Southern Hills Mall. The biggest shopping mall. Indoors.
- Lakeport Commons. An outdoor shopping district.
- Downtown Sioux City, 42.493929°, -96.399379°, kalynn@downtownsiouxcity.com. Coalition of multiple downtown businesses. 2018-02-10
- Sioux City Gifts (G. R. Lindblade), 1922 Pierce St., 42.510723°, -96.404633°, +1 712-255-4346. Awesome gift shop specializing in Sioux City specific items and goods made by local artisans. Though the store front is small you will be surprised at the neat, and sometimes self deprecating items in store. 2018-02-10
- Palmer's Olde Tyme Candy Shoppe, 405 Wesley Pkwy, 42.496727°, -96.411263°, +1 712-258-7790. Old Fashioned candy shoppe and gourmet food store. 2018-02-10
Eat
- La Juanitas, 1316 Pierce St, 42.504761°, -96.404709°, +1 712-279-0772. Flavorful Mexican food, open late for the bar crowd. 2018-02-11
- El Fredo Pizza, 523 West 19th Street, 42.510674°, -96.420654°, +1 712-258-0691. A Sioux City original, with a sweet and spicy pizza sauce. 2018-02-11
- Crave, 1100 Larson Park Rd, 42.489517°, -96.420692°, +1 712-224-2387. Fine dining, patio and bar with excellent views of the Missouri River. 2018-02-10
Drink
- The Diving Elk, 1101 4th St, 42.494427°, -96.396179°, +1 712-276-9625. German beer hall with American flair and great craft beer selection. Try the Elkwurst. At The Diving Elk, you'll find a friendly atmosphere where you can relax and enjoy a revolving craft beer list, classic cocktails, and quality local food. 2018-02-10
- Miles Inn, 2622 Leech Ave., 42.487526°, -96.374786°, +1 712-276-9625. Stop in for Charlie Boy and a Schooner. 2018-02-10
Sleep
- Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 111 3rd St (Under the gigantic light up guitar as seen from I-29 and Wesley Parkway), 42.493805°, -96.409897°, +1 712-226-7600, reservations@hardrockcasinosiouxcity.com. 24 hrs. This hotel is connected to the Hard Rock Casino and offers many options for food from a buffet to a steak house. It is also home to a concert venue. Check out all kinds of Rock and Roll memorabilia inside.
- South Sioux City Marriott Riverfront, 385 east 4th st., South Sioux City, NE 68776, 42.485794°, -96.409149°, +1 402-494-4000. 24 Hrs. Higher end hotel right on the river front in South Sioux City. Features a good steakhouse inside and nice view of downtown. 2018-02-13
- Days Inn Sioux City, 3000 Singing Hills Blvd (Exit from I-29 to US 20 and go east; it will be on your right.), 42.434895°, -96.368797°, +1 712 258-8000. 2018-02-12
- Stone State Park, 5001 Talbot Rd, 42.5489°, -96.4667°, +1 712 255-4698. Along the Loess hills bordering South Dakota, this state park offers campsites and cabins. 2018-02-10
Stay healthy
- MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center, 801 5th St, 42.5001°, -96.6416°. Hospital with emergency services 2020-04-19
- MercyOne Singing Hills Urgent Care, 3520 Singing Hills Blvd, 42.43645°, -96.36155°. M–F 9AM–8:30PM; Sat 9AM–5PM; Sun 12–5PM. No appointment needed for same-day treatment of most medical conditions, including colds, coughs, fevers, and digestive disturbances 2020-04-19