How far is Scottsbluff, NE from O'Neill, NE?

The driving distance from Scottsbluff, NE to O'Neill, NE is about 327.7 miles (527.4 km), with a travel time of about 06h 29m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 260.3 miles (418.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 58m 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
327.7 mi
06h 29m
Flight
260.26 mi
418.85 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
260.26 mi
Kilometers
418.85 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
327.7 mi
Kilometers
527.38 km
Drive Time
06h 29m

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 29m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in O'Neill
Thu, Apr 23, 6:24 AM CDT
Return by in Scottsbluff
Thu, Apr 23, 11:53 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Scottsbluff
2026-04-22T22:55
Arrive O'Neill
Thu, Apr 23, 5:24 AM MDT
Route Timing
06h 29m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:29 PM to 2:59 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
11:02 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
Thedford
NE

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

From Scottsbluff
163.5 mi
03h 14m
To O'Neill
164.1 mi
03h 14m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SSW
Destination
86°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 30 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Scottsbluff and O'Neill.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Scottsbluff and O'Neill.

  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

    15.1 mi · 18 min

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Highway 7

    11 mi · 13 min · Highway 7

  21. 21

    Continue on State Highway 7

    32 mi · 37 min · State Highway 7

  22. 22

    Continue on South Main Street

    3170 ft · 1 min · South Main Street

  23. 23

    Turn right onto East 4th Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · East 4th Street

  24. 24

    Continue on US Highway 20

    8.5 mi · 10 min · US Highway 20

  25. 25

    Continue on Highway 20

    36.8 mi · 44 min · Highway 20

  26. 26

    Continue on West 5th Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · West 5th Street

  27. 27

    Continue on North Hyde Street

    2807 ft · 60 sec · North Hyde Street

  28. 28

    Continue on Highway 20

    17.3 mi · 21 min · Highway 20

  29. 29

    Continue on West Douglas Street

    2697 ft · 1 min · West Douglas Street

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Douglas Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Scottsbluff and O'Neill.

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
30 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
State Highway 2
88.4 mi · 27%
Highway 20
54.2 mi · 17%
State Highway 7
32 mi · 10%
Southeast 1st Street
25.2 mi · 8%
US Highway 385
16.9 mi · 5%
Highway 2
16.5 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
06h 29m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+67.4 mi
260.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Thedford
03h 14m from Scottsbluff
Leave By
11:02 PM MDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Scottsbluff and Sunny near O'Neill.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Scottsbluff to O'Neill?

The road trip is about 327.7 miles (527.4 km) and usually takes 06h 29m 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?

Thedford is a useful midpoint, sitting about 163.5 miles from Scottsbluff and 164.1 miles from O'Neill.

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

The direct path is about 260.3 miles (418.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 67.4 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 $43.59 one way or $87.19 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 102.7 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Scottsbluff and O'Neill, 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 Rain Showers around Scottsbluff and Sunny near O'Neill.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Scottsbluff and O'Neill. Straight-line distance: 260.26 mi (418.85 km).

Scottsbluff

#1 Scottsbluff

City in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States

Population14,373
Coordinates41.8666300, -103.6671700
Altitude1186
CountryUnited States
O'Neill

#2 O'Neill

City in Nebraska, United States

Population3,537
Coordinates42.4577800, -98.6475900
Altitude606
CountryUnited States
Start: Scottsbluff (-103.66717, 41.86663)
End: O'Neill (-98.64759, 42.45778)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 527 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 11m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 33m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 27m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 40m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.56 gal
43.77 L · about $43.59
Round trip
$87.19
23.12 gal · 87.54 L
Estimated CO2
102.7 kg one way
Round trip: 205.5 kg / 453 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $43.59 $87.19
Mid-grade $4.25 $49.16 $98.33
Premium $4.65 $53.80 $107.60
Diesel $5.30 $61.31 $122.63

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 Scottsbluff, NE and O'Neill, NE. The current time in Scottsbluff is 22:55:32, although it is 23:55:32 in O'Neill.

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.