10 Best Scenic Drives in Nebraska
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- #10 – Schramm State Park Tour
- No. 9 - Western Trails, Scenic and Historic Lane.
- #8 – After the criminal
- No. 7 - Scenic Loop Rivers Lane.
- No. 6 - Scenic and historic lane Lincoln Highway.
- No. 5 - Lewis and Clark Scenic Lane
- No. 4 - Heritage Highway.
- No. 3 - Byway Gold Rush
- No. 2 - Bridges to Butts Lane.
- #1 – Sand Hills Journey
Nebraska is the epitome of the American Midwest, with historic landmarks and landscapes that evoke memories of the Old West. Vast grassy prairies dominate the scene, instilling a sense of hope and curiosity about the unknown. There is also a rich Native American history and Eastern European influence, with many German and Danish immigrants calling the state home. With so many wide open spaces to explore, it can be difficult to decide where to start exploring the region in more detail. When in doubt, try one of our favorite Nebraska scenic routes:
#10 – Schramm State Park Tour
Start Location: Gretna, NO
Final location: Louisville, Nebraska
Length: Mile 15
Best driving season: Spring, summer and autumn
View this drive on Google Maps
Although this scenic drive is short, the route provides a base for an enjoyable morning or afternoon drive with time to stop and explore along the way. Stop at Schramm State Park, which is known for great fishing and the Ak-Sar Ben Aquarium. As you leave this day-use area, you have several opportunities to stop for water recreation on the Platte River before this itinerary ends in Louisville.
No. 9 - Western Trails, Scenic and Historic Lane.
Start Location: Scottsbluff, North Carolina
Final location: Ogallala, Nebraska
Length: Mile 124
Best driving season: Spring, summer and autumn
View this drive on Google Maps
As you pass through the fertile lands shaped by the influence of the Platte River, you can feel like you are transported back in time. The city of Front Street has replicas of western buildings such as the busy Crystal Palace saloon. Then visit Booth Hill in Ogallala to see the graves of ranchers and troublemakers from the Old West or Chimney Rock National Historic Site, which once served as a navigational landmark for travelers on horseback.
#8 – After the criminal
Start Location: South Sioux City, North Carolina
Final location: Valentine, NO
Length: Mile 251
Best driving season: Spring, summer and autumn
View this drive on Google Maps
Turn and turn at the top of steep cliffs overlooking the Missouri and Niobrara rivers. Travel through green hills on this road, which runs much like famous criminals and lawmen traveled through the Old West. Get up close to buffalo herds at the Fort Niobraro National Wildlife Refuge or hike to the cascading waters of Fort Falls. At Smith Falls State Park near Valentine, you'll see the state's tallest waterfall, as well as plenty of birdwatching opportunities.
No. 7 - Scenic Loop Rivers Lane.
Start Location: Dunning, Nebraska
Final location: Grand Island, North Carolina
Length: Mile 141
Best driving season: Spring, summer and autumn
View this drive on Google Maps
Enjoy rolling countryside, extensive farmland and river views on this ride along the Lou Rivers in the heart of the state. At 2nd Wind Ranch near Dunning, it's worth stopping by to see an assortment of windmills in all shapes and sizes, some of which are around 100 years old. In Burwell, tour the carving tunnels and caves at Happy Jack's Peak and Chalk Mine for a unique experience and plenty of photo opportunities.
No. 6 - Scenic and historic lane Lincoln Highway.
Start Location: Bushnell, Nebraska
Final location: Blair, Nebraska
Length: Mile 452
Best driving season: Spring, summer and autumn
View this drive on Google Maps
This section of the Lincoln Highway, which runs through Nebraska along the first coast-to-coast highway, is a combination of historic sites and wide open spaces that soothe the mind. Visit Buffalo Bill State Historical Park to see where the cowboy legend settled and see memorabilia that once belonged to Chief Sitting Bull. There are two preserved Pony Express stations in Gothenburg that are worth exploring.
No. 5 - Lewis and Clark Scenic Lane
Start Location: Sioux City, Nebraska
Final location: Omaha, Nebraska
Length: Mile 100
Best driving season: Spring, summer and autumn
View this drive on Google Maps
This road, on Nebraska's eastern border, largely meanders along the Missouri River, passes through dense forests and two Native American reservations. Bird lovers can stop at the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge near Fort. Calhoun to see migrating ducks and geese in autumn. Ponca State Park is a great place for hiking, camping, horseback riding and other outdoor activities.
No. 4 - Heritage Highway.
Start Location: Cambridge, Nebraska
Final location: Auburn, Nebraska
Length: Mile 254
Best driving season: Spring, summer and autumn
View this drive on Google Maps
This ride through wooded hills and vast prairies is as rich in history as it is in plain beauty. Stop at the Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice, which is located on the site of the first person to claim land under the Homestead Act and showcases a typical cabin and schoolhouse of the time. At Red Cloud, named after a former Sioux chief, visit Starke's 1902 Round Barn or try fishing and canoeing across the Republic.
No. 3 - Byway Gold Rush
Start Location: Chadron, North Carolina
Final location: Sydney, N.E.
Length: Mile 148
Best driving season: Spring, summer and autumn
View this drive on Google Maps
With the discovery of gold in the Black Hills of South Dakota in 1874, the route between Sydney, Nebraska and Deadwood, South Dakota became a means of transporting wealth by rail. This lane pretty much follows the same path, making for a lovely ride through rolling countryside and pristine lakes. At Chadron State Park, take the opportunity to get close to nature on one of the many hiking trails or try your luck at trout fishing.
No. 2 - Bridges to Butts Lane.
Start Location: Harrison, Nebraska
Final location: Valentine, NO
Length: Mile 188
Best driving season: Spring, summer and autumn
View this drive on Google Maps
Connecting cities that once revolved around the railroad, much of the trail has an Old West feel, but many of the historically significant stops go further back in time than the cowboy era. See fossils that are over 19 million years old at the Agate Fossil Beds National Monument or the Hudson-Man Bison Bone Bed, the site of an ancient and mysterious mass die-off of bison. located right inside the original 1837 Bordeaux trading post.
#1 – Sand Hills Journey
Start Location: Grand Island, North Carolina
Final location: Alliance, NZ
Length: Mile 272
Best driving season: Spring, summer and autumn
View this drive on Google Maps
This route along Nebraska Highway 2 is often considered one of the most scenic in the country, and travelers quickly realize why. Before heading out, explore the city of Grand Island and all of its unusual cultural sites, or take a walking trail across the prairies. The highway later passes through Nebraska's Sandhills - a 20,000-square-mile stretch of rolling dunes covered in soft grass - with the hand-planted Nebraska National Forest standing like an oasis in the desert right in the middle of it all.
