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

The driving distance from Scottsbluff, NE to Nebraska City, NE is about 449.7 miles (723.8 km), with a travel time of about 08h 09m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 413.6 miles (665.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 16h 18m 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
449.75 mi
08h 09m
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 Scottsbluff.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
449.75 mi
Kilometers
723.8 km
Drive Time
08h 09m

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 09m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Nebraska City
Fri, Apr 17, 5:11 PM CDT
Return by in Scottsbluff
Sat, Apr 18, 12:21 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Scottsbluff
2026-04-17T08:02
Arrive Nebraska City
Fri, Apr 17, 4:11 PM MDT
Route Timing
08h 09m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
3:09 PM to 4:39 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
7:42 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

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 Scottsbluff
224.4 mi
04h 04m
To Nebraska City
225.3 mi
04h 04m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
43°F
Friday

Chance Snow Showers

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
20 to 25 mph NNW
Destination
77°F
Friday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
22 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Scottsbluff and Nebraska 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

    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

    269.8 mi · 4 hr 33 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward US 77 South, To NE 2: Beatrice, Nebraska City

    2614 ft · 44 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on Homestead Expressway

    4.7 mi · 6 min · Homestead Expressway

  17. 17

    Continue on US Highway 77

    4.1 mi · 5 min · US Highway 77

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on Nebraska Highway 2

    9.4 mi · 10 min · Nebraska Highway 2

  19. 19

    Continue on Rokeby Road

    4 mi · 4 min · Rokeby Road

  20. 20

    Continue on F Road

    3 mi · 3 min · F Road

  21. 21

    Continue on Highway 2

    1.1 km · 57 sec · Highway 2

  22. 22

    Continue on F Road

    4.6 mi · 5 min · F Road

  23. 23

    Continue on Highway 2

    3 mi · 3 min · Highway 2

  24. 24

    Continue on H Road

    3.5 mi · 4 min · H Road

  25. 25

    Continue on Highway 2

    2.9 mi · 3 min · Highway 2

  26. 26

    Continue on I Road

    2.2 mi · 2 min · I Road

  27. 27

    Continue on Highway 2

    10.4 mi · 11 min · Highway 2

  28. 28

    Take the exit slight right

    1.4 km · 1 min

  29. 29

    Keep slight left

    1433 ft · 24 sec

  30. 30

    Continue on 4th Corso

    1883 ft · 34 sec · 4th Corso

  31. 31

    Continue on 4th Corso

    1950 ft · 51 sec · 4th Corso

  32. 32

    Turn left onto Steinhart Park Road

    2314 ft · 49 sec · Steinhart Park Road

  33. 33

    Turn right onto Central Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · Central Avenue

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Central Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Scottsbluff and Nebraska 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
34 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 east
270 mi · 60%
Main Street
85 mi · 19%
Highway 2
18.1 mi · 4%
US Highway 26
12.5 mi · 3%
Highway 92
11 mi · 2%
Nebraska Highway 2
9.41 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 80 east

Merge slight left

270 mi · 04h 33m

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 09m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
16h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+36.1 mi
413.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cozad
04h 04m from Scottsbluff
Leave By
7:42 PM MDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 449.7 miles (723.8 km) and usually takes 08h 09m 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 224.4 miles from Scottsbluff and 225.3 miles from Nebraska City.

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 36.1 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 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 $59.85 one way or $119.69 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 141 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Snow Showers around Scottsbluff and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Nebraska City.

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 Scottsbluff and Nebraska City. Straight-line distance: 413.56 mi (665.56 km).

Scottsbluff

#1 Scottsbluff

City in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States

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

#2 Nebraska City

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

Population7,292
Coordinates40.6766700, -95.8591700
Altitude322
CountryUnited States
Start: Scottsbluff (-103.66717, 41.86663)
End: Nebraska City (-95.85917, 40.67667)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 724 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)14h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)11h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 59m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 36m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
15.87 gal
60.08 L · about $59.85
Round trip
$119.69
31.74 gal · 120.16 L
Estimated CO2
141 kg one way
Round trip: 282.1 kg / 622 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $59.85 $119.69
Mid-grade $4.25 $67.50 $134.99
Premium $4.65 $73.86 $147.72
Diesel $5.30 $84.17 $168.35

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 Scottsbluff, NE and Nebraska City, NE. The current time in Scottsbluff is 08:02:31, although it is 09:02:31 in Nebraska 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.