How far is Nebraska City, NE from Scottsbluff, NE?

The driving distance from Nebraska City, NE to Scottsbluff, NE is about 445.7 miles (717.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 54m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 413.6 miles (665.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 49m 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
445.69 mi
06h 54m
Flight
413.56 mi
665.56 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Nebraska City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
413.56 mi
Kilometers
665.56 km
Flight Time
00h 49m

Driving Distance

Road route
445.69 mi
Kilometers
717.27 km
Drive Time
06h 54m

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 54m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Scottsbluff
Fri, Apr 17, 1:23 PM MDT
Return by in Nebraska City
Fri, Apr 17, 9:18 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Nebraska City
2026-04-17T07:28
Arrive Scottsbluff
Fri, Apr 17, 2:23 PM CDT
Route Timing
06h 54m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
11:55 AM to 1:25 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
10:10 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Nebraska City
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Cozad
NE

City in Nebraska

From Nebraska City
222.8 mi
03h 27m
To Scottsbluff
222.9 mi
03h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Friday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
22 mph SW
Destination
43°F
Friday

Chance Snow Showers

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
20 to 25 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Nebraska City and Scottsbluff.

  1. 1

    Start on Central Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · Central Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Steinhart Park Road

    2314 ft · 49 sec · Steinhart Park Road

  3. 3

    Turn right onto 4th Corso

    1.4 km · 2 min · 4th Corso

  4. 4

    Keep slight left

    1723 ft · 29 sec

  5. 5

    Keep slight left

    3111 ft · 48 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Highway 2

    10.5 mi · 11 min · Highway 2

  7. 7

    Continue on I Road

    2.2 mi · 2 min · I Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Highway 2

    2.9 mi · 3 min · Highway 2

  9. 9

    Continue on H Road

    3.5 mi · 4 min · H Road

  10. 10

    Continue on Highway 2

    2.9 mi · 3 min · Highway 2

  11. 11

    Continue on F Road

    4.7 mi · 5 min · F Road

  12. 12

    Continue on Highway 2

    1.1 km · 56 sec · Highway 2

  13. 13

    Continue on F Road

    3 mi · 3 min · F Road

  14. 14

    Continue on Rokeby Road

    4 mi · 4 min · Rokeby Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Nebraska Highway 2

    1.6 km · 1 min · Nebraska Highway 2

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward To Lincoln via Nebraska Parkway, 120th Street

    1927 ft · 47 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on To Lincoln via Nebraska Parkway

    614 ft · 15 sec

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto Nebraska Parkway

    9 mi · 14 min · Nebraska Parkway

  19. 19

    Continue on South 10th Street

    1791 ft · 38 sec · South 10th Street

  20. 20

    Turn slight left onto To I 80, To US 77: West Van Dorn Street

    1232 ft · 47 sec

  21. 21

    Turn straight onto Van Dorn Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Van Dorn Street

  22. 22

    Take the ramp straight toward US 77 north, To I 80

    1828 ft · 45 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight left onto Homestead Expressway

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Homestead Expressway

  24. 24

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: Grand Island

    1.3 km · 2 min

  25. 25

    Merge slight left

    270.2 mi · 4 hr 34 min

  26. 26

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

    1578 ft · 40 sec

  27. 27

    Turn right onto South Highway 26/61

    1.1 km · 1 min · South Highway 26/61

  28. 28

    Continue on East A Street

    2278 ft · 50 sec · East A Street

  29. 29

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

    101 m · 10 sec · East 8th Street

  30. 30

    Turn right onto North Spruce Street

    2.2 mi · 4 min · North Spruce Street

  31. 31

    Turn left onto Highway 26 West

    24.2 mi · 28 min · Highway 26 West

  32. 32

    Continue straight

    59.8 mi · 1 hr 11 min

  33. 33

    Turn left

    1 mi · 2 min

  34. 34

    Turn right

    23.6 mi · 28 min

  35. 35

    Turn right onto Highway L79E

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Highway L79E

  36. 36

    Turn left onto Highway 26

    7.5 mi · 9 min · Highway 26

  37. 37

    Turn left onto East 20th Street

    1.2 mi · 3 min · East 20th Street

  38. 38

    Continue on West 20th Street

    1191 ft · 40 sec · West 20th Street

  39. 39

    Turn right onto Avenue C

    17 m · 2 sec · Avenue C

  40. 40

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Avenue C

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Nebraska City 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
40 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 West
271 mi · 61%
Highway 26 West
84 mi · 19%
Highway 2
17 mi · 4%
Nebraska Parkway
8.96 mi · 2%
F Road
7.69 mi · 2%
Highway 26
7.5 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 80 West

Merge slight left

270 mi · 04h 34m

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 54m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+32.1 mi
413.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cozad
03h 27m from Nebraska City
Leave By
10:10 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Nebraska City and Chance Snow Showers near Scottsbluff.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Nebraska City to Scottsbluff?

The road trip is about 445.7 miles (717.3 km) and usually takes 06h 54m 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 222.8 miles from Nebraska City and 222.9 miles from Scottsbluff.

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

The direct path is about 413.6 miles (665.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.1 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 $59.32 one way or $118.64 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 139.8 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Nebraska City 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 Nebraska City and Chance Snow Showers 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 Nebraska City and Scottsbluff. Straight-line distance: 413.56 mi (665.56 km).

Nebraska City

#1 Nebraska City

City and county seat of Otoe County, Nebraska, United States

Population7,292
Coordinates40.6766700, -95.8591700
Altitude322
CountryUnited States
Scottsbluff

#2 Scottsbluff

City in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States

Population14,373
Coordinates41.8666300, -103.6671700
Altitude1186
CountryUnited States
Start: Central Avenue (-95.85917, 40.676667)
End: Avenue C (-103.667064, 41.86663)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 717 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)14h 51m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)11h 08m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 54m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 25m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 22m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 33m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
15.73 gal
59.53 L · about $59.32
Round trip
$118.64
31.46 gal · 119.06 L
Estimated CO2
139.8 kg one way
Round trip: 279.6 kg / 616 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $59.32 $118.64
Mid-grade $4.25 $66.90 $133.80
Premium $4.65 $73.21 $146.41
Diesel $5.30 $83.43 $166.86

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 · Apr 17, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Nebraska City, NE and Scottsbluff, NE. The current time in Nebraska City is 07:28:55, although it is 06:28:55 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.