How far is Papillion, NE from Scottsbluff, NE?

The driving distance from Papillion, NE to Scottsbluff, NE is about 445.5 miles (717 km), with a travel time of about 06h 39m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 397.4 miles (639.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 18m 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
445.55 mi
06h 39m
Flight
397.43 mi
639.6 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Papillion.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
397.43 mi
Kilometers
639.6 km
Flight Time
00h 47m

Driving Distance

Road route
445.55 mi
Kilometers
717.05 km
Drive Time
06h 39m

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 39m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Scottsbluff
Thu, Apr 23, 5:55 AM MDT
Return by in Papillion
Thu, Apr 23, 1:34 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Papillion
2026-04-23T00:16
Arrive Scottsbluff
Thu, Apr 23, 6:55 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 39m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
11:39 AM to 1:09 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
10:42 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Papillion
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 Papillion
220.9 mi
03h 19m
To Scottsbluff
224.6 mi
03h 19m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
16 to 20 mph SSW
Destination
85°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Lincoln Street

    60 m · 16 sec · East Lincoln Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South Washington Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · South Washington Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Highway 370

    6.3 mi · 9 min · Highway 370

  4. 4

    Turn left onto I 80 West: Lincoln

    2360 ft · 29 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    311.7 mi · 5 hr 16 min

  6. 6

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

    1578 ft · 40 sec

  7. 7

    Turn right onto South Highway 26/61

    1.1 km · 1 min · South Highway 26/61

  8. 8

    Continue on East A Street

    2278 ft · 50 sec · East A Street

  9. 9

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

    101 m · 10 sec · East 8th Street

  10. 10

    Turn right onto North Spruce Street

    2.2 mi · 4 min · North Spruce Street

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Highway 26 West

    24.2 mi · 28 min · Highway 26 West

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    59.8 mi · 1 hr 11 min

  13. 13

    Turn left

    1 mi · 2 min

  14. 14

    Turn right

    23.6 mi · 28 min

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Highway L79E

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Highway L79E

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Highway 26

    7.5 mi · 9 min · Highway 26

  17. 17

    Turn left onto East 20th Street

    1.2 mi · 3 min · East 20th Street

  18. 18

    Continue on West 20th Street

    1191 ft · 40 sec · West 20th Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Avenue C

    17 m · 2 sec · Avenue C

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Avenue C

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Papillion 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
20 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 West
312 mi · 70%
Highway 26 West
84 mi · 19%
Highway 26
7.5 mi · 2%
Highway 370
6.28 mi · 1%
North Spruce Street
2.25 mi · 1%
Highway L79E
2.14 mi
Longest Stretch

I 80 West

Merge slight left

312 mi · 05h 16m

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 39m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+48.1 mi
397.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cozad
03h 19m from Papillion
Leave By
10:42 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Papillion and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Scottsbluff.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 445.5 miles (717 km) and usually takes 06h 39m 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 220.9 miles from Papillion and 224.6 miles from Scottsbluff.

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

The direct path is about 397.4 miles (639.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 48.1 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 $59.28 one way or $118.56 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 139.7 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Papillion and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain 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 Papillion and Scottsbluff. Straight-line distance: 397.43 mi (639.6 km).

Papillion

#1 Papillion

City in and county seat of Sarpy County, Nebraska, United States

Population20,293
Coordinates41.1544400, -96.0422400
Altitude308
CountryUnited States
Scottsbluff

#2 Scottsbluff

City in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States

Population14,373
Coordinates41.8666300, -103.6671700
Altitude1186
CountryUnited States
Start: East Lincoln Street (-96.042241, 41.154416)
End: Avenue C (-103.667064, 41.86663)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 717 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)14h 50m
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 21m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 33m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
15.72 gal
59.52 L · about $59.28
Round trip
$118.56
31.44 gal · 119.04 L
Estimated CO2
139.7 kg one way
Round trip: 279.4 kg / 616 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $59.28 $118.56
Mid-grade $4.25 $66.86 $133.71
Premium $4.65 $73.16 $146.32
Diesel $5.30 $83.38 $166.76

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 23, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Papillion, NE and Scottsbluff, NE. The current time in Papillion is 00:16:02, although it is 23:16:02 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.