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

The driving distance from Scottsbluff, NE to Dakota City, NE is about 447.2 miles (719.7 km), with a travel time of about 08h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 373.2 miles (600.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 39m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT.
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
447.2 mi
08h 49m
Flight
373.19 mi
600.59 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Scottsbluff.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
373.19 mi
Kilometers
600.59 km
Flight Time
00h 45m

Driving Distance

Road route
447.2 mi
Kilometers
719.7 km
Drive Time
08h 49m

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 08h 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Dakota City
Sat, Apr 18, 4:23 PM CDT
Return by in Scottsbluff
Sun, Apr 19, 12:13 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Scottsbluff
2026-04-18T06:34
Arrive Dakota City
Sat, Apr 18, 3:23 PM MDT
Route Timing
08h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
3:50 PM to 5:20 PM CDT

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

Leave by
6:20 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Scottsbluff
8:00 PM MDT
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
Brewster
NE

Human settlement in Blaine County, Nebraska, United States of America

From Scottsbluff
223.2 mi
04h 24m
To Dakota City
224 mi
04h 24m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
53°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Snow Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph NW
Destination
51°F
Saturday

Chance Snow Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
20 to 25 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Avenue C

    17 m · 8 sec · Avenue C

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West 20th Street

    1149 ft · 37 sec · West 20th Street

  3. 3

    Continue on East 20th Street

    1.2 mi · 3 min · East 20th Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Highway 26

    15.6 mi · 19 min · Highway 26

  5. 5

    Continue on US Highway 26

    1.8 mi · 2 min · US Highway 26

  6. 6

    Continue on Heartland Expressway

    552 ft · 7 sec · Heartland Expressway

  7. 7

    Continue on L62A

    9.1 mi · 11 min · L62A

  8. 8

    At the end of the road, turn left onto US Highway 385

    16.9 mi · 18 min · US Highway 385

  9. 9

    Continue on South Highway 385

    6.8 mi · 8 min · South Highway 385

  10. 10

    Turn right onto West Kansas Street

    2.9 mi · 5 min · West Kansas Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Perkins Road

    7.3 mi · 8 min · Perkins Road

  12. 12

    Continue on State Highway 2

    6 mi · 7 min · State Highway 2

  13. 13

    Continue on 1st Street

    2868 ft · 38 sec · 1st Street

  14. 14

    Continue on State Highway 2

    82.4 mi · 1 hr 38 min · State Highway 2

  15. 15

    Continue on Southeast 1st Street

    25.2 mi · 29 min · Southeast 1st Street

  16. 16

    Continue on Court Street

    1.1 km · 45 sec · Court Street

  17. 17

    Continue on Highway 2

    16.5 mi · 19 min · Highway 2

  18. 18

    Continue on Jewett Avenue

    10.4 mi · 12 min · Jewett Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left

    45 mi · 52 min

  20. 20

    Turn right onto 3rd Street

    1320 ft · 22 sec · 3rd Street

  21. 21

    Continue on Highway 183

    1.2 km · 58 sec · Highway 183

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Highway 91

    13.4 mi · 16 min · Highway 91

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Highway 11

    2644 ft · 53 sec · Highway 11

  24. 24

    Continue on South 1st Avenue

    1888 ft · 38 sec · South 1st Avenue

  25. 25

    Continue on North 1st Avenue

    782 ft · 16 sec · North 1st Avenue

  26. 26

    Continue on Highway 11

    1.5 km · 1 min · Highway 11

  27. 27

    Turn straight onto Highway 91

    16.1 mi · 19 min · Highway 91

  28. 28

    Continue on Highway 70/91

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Highway 70/91

  29. 29

    Continue on Highway 70 - 91

    11.1 mi · 13 min · Highway 70 - 91

  30. 30

    Turn left onto Highway 281

    6.8 mi · 8 min · Highway 281

  31. 31

    Continue on East Street

    1382 ft · 18 sec · East Street

  32. 32

    Continue on Highway 281

    7 mi · 8 min · Highway 281

  33. 33

    Turn right onto Highway 70

    23.9 mi · 28 min · Highway 70

  34. 34

    Turn left onto 2nd Street

    1349 ft · 27 sec · 2nd Street

  35. 35

    Continue on Highway 14

    10.6 mi · 12 min · Highway 14

  36. 36

    Continue on S Street

    1750 ft · 35 sec · S Street

  37. 37

    Continue on Highway 14

    14.7 mi · 17 min · Highway 14

  38. 38

    Turn right onto Highway 20

    11.6 mi · 13 min · Highway 20

  39. 39

    Continue on West Park Avenue

    1.3 mi · 3 min · West Park Avenue

  40. 40

    Continue on Highway 20

    8.8 mi · 10 min · Highway 20

  41. 41

    Continue on Front Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · Front Street

  42. 42

    Continue on Highway 20

    20.3 mi · 24 min · Highway 20

  43. 43

    Continue on 1st Street

    2087 ft · 35 sec · 1st Street

  44. 44

    Continue on Highway 20

    5.6 mi · 7 min · Highway 20

  45. 45

    Continue on Willow Street

    1615 ft · 34 sec · Willow Street

  46. 46

    Continue on Highway 20

    30.1 mi · 35 min · Highway 20

  47. 47

    Continue on West Elk Street

    2600 ft · 1 min · West Elk Street

  48. 48

    Continue on Highway 20

    6.1 mi · 7 min · Highway 20

  49. 49

    Take the exit slight right toward US 77 South, US 75 South: Fair Grounds

    2615 ft · 45 sec

  50. 50

    Turn straight onto Highway 77

    2 mi · 2 min · Highway 77

  51. 51

    Turn left onto Broadway Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · Broadway Street

  52. 52

    Turn left onto North 16th Street

    17 m · 4 sec · North 16th Street

  53. 53

    Turn right onto Broadway Street

    28 m · 7 sec · Broadway Street

  54. 54

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Broadway Street

Car Route Details

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

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
54 steps
18 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
State Highway 2
88.4 mi · 20%
Highway 20
82.5 mi · 18%
Highway 91
29.4 mi · 7%
Highway 14
25.3 mi · 6%
Southeast 1st Street
25.2 mi · 6%
Highway 70
23.9 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

State Highway 2

Continue on State Highway 2

82.4 mi · 01h 38m

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
08h 49m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
17h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+74 mi
373.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Brewster
04h 24m from Scottsbluff
Leave By
6:20 PM MDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Snow Showers leaving Scottsbluff and Chance Snow Showers near Dakota City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 447.2 miles (719.7 km) and usually takes 08h 49m 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?

Brewster is a useful midpoint, sitting about 223.2 miles from Scottsbluff and 224 miles from Dakota City.

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

The direct path is about 373.2 miles (600.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 74 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 MDT. 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 $59.51 one way or $119.01 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 140.2 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Snow Showers around Scottsbluff and Chance Snow Showers near Dakota City.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Scottsbluff and Dakota City. Straight-line distance: 373.19 mi (600.59 km).

Scottsbluff

#1 Scottsbluff

City in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States

Population14,373
Coordinates41.8666300, -103.6671700
Altitude1186
CountryUnited States
Dakota City

#2 Dakota City

Dakota City is a city located in Dakota County, Nebraska, United States.

Population1,859
Coordinates42.4155500, -96.4183600
Altitude336
CountryUnited States
Start: Scottsbluff (-103.66717, 41.86663)
End: Dakota City (-96.41836, 42.41555)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 720 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)14h 54m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)11h 10m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 27m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 34m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
15.78 gal
59.74 L · about $59.51
Round trip
$119.01
31.56 gal · 119.48 L
Estimated CO2
140.2 kg one way
Round trip: 280.5 kg / 618 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $59.51 $119.01
Mid-grade $4.25 $67.11 $134.22
Premium $4.65 $73.44 $146.88
Diesel $5.30 $83.70 $167.39

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 18, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Scottsbluff, NE and Dakota City, NE. The current time in Scottsbluff is 06:34:08, although it is 07:34:08 in Dakota City.

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.