How far is Scottsbluff, NE from Grand Island, NE?

The driving distance from Scottsbluff, NE to Grand Island, NE is about 320.8 miles (516.2 km), with a travel time of about 04h 57m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 283.5 miles (456.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 54m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
320.75 mi
04h 57m
Flight
283.52 mi
456.28 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
283.52 mi
Kilometers
456.28 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
320.75 mi
Kilometers
516.19 km
Drive Time
04h 57m

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 04h 57m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Grand Island
Sun, May 3, 9:39 AM CDT
Return by in Scottsbluff
Sun, May 3, 1:36 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Scottsbluff
2026-05-03T03:42
Arrive Grand Island
Sun, May 3, 8:39 AM MDT
Route Timing
04h 57m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:57 AM to 1:57 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:06 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Scottsbluff
9:00 PM MDT
Early departure recommended

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
Hershey
NE

Village in Nebraska, USA

From Scottsbluff
158.6 mi
02h 28m
To Grand Island
162.2 mi
02h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Sunday

Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, May 3 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph WSW
Destination
71°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 3 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Scottsbluff and Grand Island.

  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

    7.5 mi · 9 min · Highway 26

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Highway L79E

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Highway L79E

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Highway 92

    11 mi · 13 min · Highway 92

  7. 7

    Continue on US Highway 26

    12.5 mi · 15 min · US Highway 26

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Main Street

    1 mi · 2 min · Main Street

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    84 mi · 1 hr 39 min

  10. 10

    Turn right onto North Spruce Street

    2.7 mi · 5 min · North Spruce Street

  11. 11

    Turn left

    93 m · 8 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right onto South Highway 26/61

    1.4 km · 1 min · South Highway 26/61

  13. 13

    Turn left onto I 80 east

    2067 ft · 52 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    186.6 mi · 3 hr 7 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward Grand Island

    2525 ft · 1 min

  16. 16

    Turn left onto South Locust Street

    6.6 mi · 10 min · South Locust Street

  17. 17

    Continue on South Locust Street

    76 m · 4 sec · South Locust Street

  18. 18

    Continue on South Walnut Street

    1796 ft · 40 sec · South Walnut Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto West 3rd Street

    122 m · 18 sec · West 3rd Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 3rd Street

Car Route Details

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

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
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 east
187 mi · 58%
Main Street
85 mi · 26%
US Highway 26
12.5 mi · 4%
Highway 92
11 mi · 3%
Highway 26
7.49 mi · 2%
South Locust Street
6.67 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 80 east

Merge slight left

187 mi · 03h 07m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 57m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+37.3 mi
283.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hershey
02h 28m from Scottsbluff
Leave By
7:06 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Scottsbluff and Mostly Sunny near Grand Island.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Scottsbluff to Grand Island?

The road trip is about 320.8 miles (516.2 km) and usually takes 04h 57m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Hershey is a useful midpoint, sitting about 158.6 miles from Scottsbluff and 162.2 miles from Grand Island.

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

The direct path is about 283.5 miles (456.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.3 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 8:00 AM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:06 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $42.69 one way or $85.38 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 100.6 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Scottsbluff and Mostly Sunny near Grand Island.

Stop Ideas Near Hershey

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Hershey, 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 Hershey.

RAIL

McCook

111 mi away
101 Norris Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Scottsbluff and Grand Island. Straight-line distance: 283.52 mi (456.28 km).

Scottsbluff

#1 Scottsbluff

City in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States

Population14,373
Coordinates41.8666300, -103.6671700
Altitude1186
CountryUnited States
Grand Island

#2 Grand Island

The most populous city in Hall County, Nebraska.

Population51,004
Coordinates40.9250100, -98.3420100
Altitude567
CountryUnited States
Start: Avenue C (-103.667064, 41.86663)
End: West 3rd Street (-98.342013, 40.925014)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 516 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 41m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 01m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 24m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 34m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 00m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.32 gal
42.84 L · about $42.69
Round trip
$85.38
22.64 gal · 85.68 L
Estimated CO2
100.6 kg one way
Round trip: 201.2 kg / 444 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $42.69 $85.38
Mid-grade $4.25 $48.14 $96.29
Premium $4.65 $52.68 $105.37
Diesel $5.30 $60.04 $120.08

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 03, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Scottsbluff, NE and Grand Island, NE. The current time in Scottsbluff is 03:42:40, although it is 04:42:40 in Grand Island.

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.