Nebraska Official State Travel Guide - The Official 2025 Not-At-All What You Thought State Travel Guide
SCENIC BYWAYS
2024-11-05 11:19:32
CHART YOUR ADVENTURE
Follow these scenic byways to all kinds of Nebraska adventures, including roadside attractions and hidden gems worth veering off for. Our state is full of unique opportunities. Come and find them!
WESTERN TRAILS
144 MILES | 2 HOURS
The Route: U.S. 26 and State 92 from the Wyoming border to Ogallala
Pioneers would have come across the same towering formations and pine-shaded bluffs on this route as drivers encounter today. Get out of your “wagon” and explore. Storied sites, picturesque trails and sparkling lakes await your discovery.
4 WAYS TO DO THE WEST
1. Book a relaxing stay at Hotel 21 & Co. in Gering. This elegant property features spacious guest rooms with scenic views of Scotts Bluff National Monument. Be sure to order a nightcap from the onsite 21 Bottles Premium Spirits Room. Then, sit back, relax and sip your beverage in the sophisticated Two-One Saloon.
2. In Gering, The Mixing Bowl serves breakfast and lunch favorites, from eggs Benedict and breakfast burritos to burgers and BLTs. Be sure to bring your appetite!
3. Hike or mountain bike Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area and Nature Center in Gering. The views — of rocky bluffs, evergreen-studded canyons and the North Platte River Valley — are epic at this site, too.
4. At Ash Hollow State Historical Park in Lewellen, look for an old schoolhouse and wagon ruts, evidence of the Oregon Trail era.
NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY
SANDHILLS JOURNEY
272 MILES | 4 HOURS 30 MIN.
The Route: State 2 from Grand Island to Alliance
World-class natural wonders await along this rural route. Sand dunes and the Nebraska National Forest rise from the plains. In spring, migrating sandhill cranes fill the sky. By night, the stars put on an incredible show.
4 SANDHILLS MUST-SEES
1. Create woodblock decorations, join a painting party or see what artists are exhibiting at the Carnegie Arts Center in Alliance. The center repurposes the town’s original library, which opened in 1912.
2. Go on a river adventure with Glidden Canoe Rental. From exhilarating kayaking or canoeing outings down the Dismal River to leisurely floating along the Middle Loup River, Glidden Canoe Rental has everything you need for a Sandhills river trip.
3. Victoria Springs State Recreation Area marks the location of mineral springs near the community of Anselmo. Fish, paddleboat and picnic. Then, camp or rent a cabin to extend your exploration.
4. Located in a modern farmhouse-style red barn in Broken Bow, the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway Visitor Center invites road-trippers. Learn from exhibits inside and out, or chat with the friendly staff for area info.
LEWIS & CLARK
82 MILES | 1 HOUR 30 MIN.
The Route: U.S. 75 North between South Sioux City and Fort Calhoun
Follow in the footsteps of the famous explorers. Through bountiful cropland and beautifully wooded bluffs framing the Missouri River, you’ll discover Native American culture and bustling Omaha, home to Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.
4 DISCOVERIES IN EASTERN NEBRASKA
1. The last full weekend in July, visit Winnebago Nation for the tribe’s annual Homecoming Powwow and Celebration. Year-round, visit the pasture of the tribe’s buffalo herd, also located in Winnebago.
2. Visit the Washington County Museum in Fort Calhoun to discover the history of the county and surrounding region — from prehistoric artifacts to Native American languages to a display on Lewis and Clark.
3. While you’re in Fort Calhoun, wander the vast floodplains of the Missouri River at Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge. These wetlands shelter migrating birds in spring and fall.
4. A quarter of the U.S. Army was once stationed at Fort Atkinson State Historical Park in Fort Calhoun. Visit to experience life in an 1820s military fort and see periodic living history demonstrations May through October.
NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY
LINCOLN HIGHWAY
400 MILES | 6 HOURS 30 MIN.
The Route: U.S. 30 across the state
What’s your rush? Get off the interstate and experience the history of pioneers, cowboys and Pony Express riders — plus cultural and natural treasures — as you cross the entire state of Nebraska.
4 DIVERSE DISCOVERIES
1. Just south of North Platte, Lake Maloney State Recreation Area is your destination for a weekend lake adventure. Boating, fishing, swimming, wakeboarding and more watersports await you at this 1,000-acre lake. Make a splash, then dry off for a picnic or a round of disc golf.
2. Learn about the Pony Express Trail and the brave riders who made deliveries along this route stretching from Missouri to California at the Pony Express Station in Gothenburg. Inside this free attraction, you’ll find exhibits and artifacts detailing the historic trail.
3. Pay homage to native Nebraskan Andrew Jackson Higgins and our nation’s veterans at the Andrew Jackson Higgins National Memorial in Columbus. See a full-size replica of the Higgins-designed Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP), or “Higgins Boat,” which helped American and Allied forces take the beaches of Normandy on D-Day in WWII.
4. Tour the Mormon Trail Center at Historic Winter Quarters in Omaha. This historic site was originally built by Mormon pioneers in 1847 as a temporary settlement on the trail west to Salt Lake Valley.
LOUP RIVERS
150 MILES | 2 HOURS 30 MIN.
The Route: State 11 and State 91 between Dunning and Wood River
From far-stretching farmlands, red barns and silos to the nature-scapes of the Sandhills and Calamus River, this byway is a treat for photographers and those willing to just sit back, relax and take it all in.
4 TREASURES IN CENTRAL NEBRASKA
1. The Calamus River flows gently to Calamus Reservoir State Recreation Area near Burwell. Stop into Calamus Outfitters nearby for tube and tank rentals to float the river Nebraska-style.
2. See the most complete historical fort in Nebraska: Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park near Elyria. Hartsuff became a fortress for the friendly Pawnee tribe and pioneers.
3. The Happy Jack Peak and Chalk Mine in Scotia is the only publicly accessible chalk room and pillar mine in North America. Explore more than 6,000 square feet of honey-combed caves inside.
4. Sample everything from freshly baked loaves of bread to cookies, kolaches, cinnamon rolls and scotcheroos to pizza at The Danish Bakery in Dannebrog.
HERITAGE HIGHWAY
238 MILES | 4 HOURS
The Route: U.S. 136 between Edison and Brownville
Traversing 10 counties, the Heritage Highway Scenic Byway transports road-trippers to communities where Nebraska history is preserved and worth exploring. Whether you start or end in historic Brownville, take time to explore the Missouri, America’s longest river.
4 HISTORIC SITES TO SEE
1. Take a guided tour of the Willa Cather Childhood Home in Red Cloud. See photographs, furniture and other family artifacts at this National Historic Landmark where the famed author grew up.
2. For a tranquil nature escape, try Alexandria State Recreation Area near Fairbury. With two lakes and 55 acres to explore, this recreation area is perfect for fishing, hiking and picnicking. Campers will find 45 electric hookup sites and eight primitive campsites.
3. Stop at the Homestead National Historical Park in Beatrice to learn about the importance of the Homestead Act of 1862 in the expansion of the U.S.
4. Visit Whiskey Run Creek Vineyard & Winery in Brownville to sample a variety of delicious wines in a historic setting that was once the site of one of the state’s first breweries.
BRIDGES TO BUTTES
197 MILES | 3 HOURS
The Route: U.S. 20 between the Wyoming border and Valentine
From the high bridges of Valentine to the high plains near the Wyoming border, this route takes you through rolling Sandhills in the east, wild prairies in the northern panhandle and scenic buttes, the Pine Ridge and Fort Robinson in the west.
4 GEMS WORTH A STOP
1. Stay overnight in the historic Harrison House Hotel in Harrison, built in 1886 by the Chicago Northwestern Railroad. With vintage details and period charm, this independently owned bed-and-breakfast gives guests a cozy yesteryear vibe.
2. Cozy up with espresso drinks, cocktails and delicious food at Chadron’s Bean Broker Coffee House & Pub.
3. Visit the Tri-State Old Time Cowboys Memorial Museum in Gordon to explore cowboy artifacts dating back to the 1880s.
4. At Cottonwood Lake State Recreation Area in Merriman, explore 180 acres of Sandhills scenery surrounding a 60-acre lake. The park is a perfect place to get away from it all with boating, fishing, birdwatching and more.
385 GOLD RUSH
158 MILES | 2 HOURS
The Route: U.S. 385 between Chadron and Sidney
At its peak in the 1870s, more than $200,000 worth of gold (more than $7M today) traveled this historic route daily. Today, U.S. 385 is considered one of the most scenic and historic roads in the nation, with impressive pine-covered buttes, rolling hills and lush river valleys.
4 GOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES
1. Stop by the Chadron State College campus and visit Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center to learn about the history of the region, High Plains cattle ranching, Sandoz and her writings. Then, explore the Heritage Gardens, which surround the center, to see the area’s botanical history.
2. On the west side of Chadron’s Main Street, immerse yourself in a walkway of vibrant, colorful murals in the Chadron Art Alley. Discover the creativity of this Northwest Nebraska community as you browse the works of local artists and witness community-wide painting days. Try the Art Alley Scavenger Hunt to see these works and more historical murals around town.
3. Relive the history of the Sandhills region at the Knight Museum and Sandhills Center in Alliance, where exhibits delve into the area’s pioneer past, Native American life, railroad heritage and the larger-than-life personalities who settled the area.
4. Two rock formations, Courthouse and Jail Rocks, signaled to pioneers that they were on the right track during a transcontinental journey west. Where the rocks rise more than 240 feet above Pumpkin Creek in Bridgeport, take advantage of epic views and photo ops.
OUTLAW TRAIL
231 MILES | 3 HOURS 45 MIN.
The Route: State 12 between South Sioux City and Valentine
Add stops at Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area, Smith Falls State Park and Valentine National Wildlife Refuge — some of Nebraska’s top outdoor playgrounds — for a wilder Outlaw experience.
4 WILD OPPORTUNITIES
1. Hit the Niobrara National Scenic River for water recreation surrounded by dramatic bluffs, diverse wildlife and gorgeous waterfalls. At Brewers Canoers & Tubers in Valentine, rent canoes, kayaks and tubes so you can explore at your own pace.
2. Home to the highest waterfall in the state, Smith Falls State Park is a must if you’re traveling near Valentine. The park offers access to the Niobrara National Scenic River, so it’s the perfect destination for fishing, canoeing, kayaking and tubing.
3. Grab a beer and burger from Elsie Eiler at Monowi Tavern. Tourists from all over the world travel to Monowi each year to visit Eiler, the mayor and lone citizen of the nation’s smallest town, and hear her story.
4. At Ohiya Casino & Resort in Niobrara, owned and operated by the Santee Sioux Nation, play a variety of machine games, check out the evening’s entertainment and enjoy restaurant specials.
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SCENIC BYWAYS
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