How far is Gretna, NE from Scottsbluff, NE?

The driving distance from Gretna, NE to Scottsbluff, NE is about 435.5 miles (700.9 km), with a travel time of about 06h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 387.5 miles (623.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 56m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
435.54 mi
06h 28m
Flight
387.46 mi
623.56 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Gretna.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
387.46 mi
Kilometers
623.56 km
Flight Time
00h 46m

Driving Distance

Road route
435.54 mi
Kilometers
700.93 km
Drive Time
06h 28m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 06h 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Scottsbluff
Sat, May 30, 7:59 AM MDT
Return by in Gretna
Sat, May 30, 3:28 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Gretna
2026-05-30T02:31
Arrive Scottsbluff
Sat, May 30, 8:59 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
11:28 AM to 12:58 PM MDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:04 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Gretna
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Cozad
NE

City in Nebraska

From Gretna
215.9 mi
03h 14m
To Scottsbluff
219.6 mi
03h 14m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Saturday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 13 mph SE
Destination
79°F
Saturday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Gretna and Scottsbluff.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Gretna and Scottsbluff.

  1. 1

    Start on Pontiac Drive

    135 m · 25 sec · Pontiac Drive

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West Angus Road

    39 m · 10 sec · West Angus Road

  3. 3

    Turn right onto South Highway 6

    3.1 mi · 5 min · South Highway 6

  4. 4

    Continue on South Highway 31

    968 ft · 20 sec · South Highway 31

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 west

    2719 ft · 1 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    305.5 mi · 5 hr 10 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward US 26, NE 61: Ogallala, Grant

    1578 ft · 40 sec

  8. 8

    Turn right onto South Highway 26/61

    1.1 km · 1 min · South Highway 26/61

  9. 9

    Continue on East A Street

    2278 ft · 50 sec · East A Street

  10. 10

    At the end of the road, turn left onto East 8th Street

    101 m · 10 sec · East 8th Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto North Spruce Street

    2.2 mi · 4 min · North Spruce Street

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Highway 61

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Highway 61

  13. 13

    Continue on Highway 26

    82.5 mi · 1 hr 37 min · Highway 26

  14. 14

    Turn left

    1 mi · 2 min

  15. 15

    Turn right

    23.6 mi · 28 min

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Highway L79E

    2.1 mi · 2 min · Highway L79E

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Highway 26

    7.5 mi · 9 min · Highway 26

  18. 18

    Turn left onto East 20th Street

    1.2 mi · 3 min · East 20th Street

  19. 19

    Continue on West 20th Street

    1191 ft · 40 sec · West 20th Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Avenue C

    17 m · 2 sec · Avenue C

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Avenue C

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Gretna and Scottsbluff.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
21 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 west
306 mi · 70%
Highway 26
90 mi · 21%
South Highway 6
3.07 mi · 1%
North Spruce Street
2.25 mi · 1%
Highway L79E
2.14 mi
Highway 61
1.5 mi
Longest Stretch

I 80 west

Merge slight left

306 mi · 05h 10m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 28m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+48 mi
387.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cozad
03h 14m from Gretna
Leave By
11:04 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Gretna and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Scottsbluff.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Gretna to Scottsbluff?

The road trip is about 435.5 miles (700.9 km) and usually takes 06h 28m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Cozad is a useful midpoint, sitting about 215.9 miles from Gretna and 219.6 miles from Scottsbluff.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 387.5 miles (623.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 48 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $57.96 one way or $115.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 136.6 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Gretna and Scottsbluff, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Gretna and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Scottsbluff.

Stop Ideas Near Cozad

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Cozad, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Cozad.

RAIL

Holdrege

70 mi away
100 West Ave.
RAIL

McCook

91 mi away
101 Norris Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Gretna and Scottsbluff. Straight-line distance: 387.46 mi (623.56 km).

Gretna

#1 Gretna

City in Sarpy County, Nebraska, United States

Population5,024
Coordinates41.1408300, -96.2397400
Altitude387
CountryUnited States
Scottsbluff

#2 Scottsbluff

City in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States

Population14,373
Coordinates41.8666300, -103.6671700
Altitude1186
CountryUnited States
Start: Pontiac Drive (-96.23983, 41.140833)
End: Avenue C (-103.667064, 41.86663)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 701 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)14h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 53m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 13m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 26m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
15.37 gal
58.18 L · about $57.96
Round trip
$115.92
30.74 gal · 116.36 L
Estimated CO2
136.6 kg one way
Round trip: 273.2 kg / 602 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $57.96 $115.92
Mid-grade $4.25 $65.37 $130.74
Premium $4.65 $71.53 $143.06
Diesel $5.30 $81.52 $163.04

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Nebraska · May 30, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Gretna, NE and Scottsbluff, NE. The current time in Gretna is 02:31:49, although it is 01:31:49 in Scottsbluff.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.