How far is Seward, NE from Scottsbluff, NE?

The driving distance from Seward, NE to Scottsbluff, NE is about 384.1 miles (618.1 km), with a travel time of about 05h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 346.8 miles (558.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 32m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
384.06 mi
05h 46m
Flight
346.79 mi
558.1 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Seward.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
346.79 mi
Kilometers
558.1 km
Flight Time
00h 41m

Driving Distance

Road route
384.06 mi
Kilometers
618.09 km
Drive Time
05h 46m

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 05h 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Scottsbluff
Wed, Apr 15, 1:16 AM MDT
Return by in Seward
Wed, Apr 15, 8:03 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Seward
2026-04-14T20:30
Arrive Scottsbluff
Wed, Apr 15, 2:16 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:46 AM to 12:46 PM MDT

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

Leave by
5:28 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Seward
9:00 PM CDT
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
Brady
NE

Village in Nebraska

From Seward
190.2 mi
02h 53m
To Scottsbluff
193.9 mi
02h 53m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 to 17 mph SSW
Destination
54°F
Tuesday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 12:00 AM MDT
Wind
15 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    15 m · 8 sec · Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South 6th Street

    2254 ft · 47 sec · South 6th Street

  3. 3

    Continue on South Highway 15

    1.4 km · 2 min · South Highway 15

  4. 4

    Continue on 280th Road

    4.4 mi · 5 min · 280th Road

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 80 West: Grand Island

    1583 ft · 38 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    251.8 mi · 4 hr 12 min

  7. 7

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

    1578 ft · 40 sec

  8. 8

    Turn right onto South Highway 26/61

    1.1 km · 1 min · South Highway 26/61

  9. 9

    Continue on East A Street

    2278 ft · 50 sec · East A Street

  10. 10

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

    101 m · 10 sec · East 8th Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto North Spruce Street

    2.2 mi · 4 min · North Spruce Street

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Highway 26 West

    24.2 mi · 28 min · Highway 26 West

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    59.8 mi · 1 hr 11 min

  14. 14

    Turn left

    1 mi · 2 min

  15. 15

    Turn right

    23.6 mi · 28 min

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Highway L79E

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Highway L79E

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Highway 26

    7.5 mi · 9 min · Highway 26

  18. 18

    Turn left onto East 20th Street

    1.2 mi · 3 min · East 20th Street

  19. 19

    Continue on West 20th Street

    1191 ft · 40 sec · West 20th Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Avenue C

    17 m · 2 sec · Avenue C

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Avenue C

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Seward 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
21 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 West
252 mi · 66%
Highway 26 West
84 mi · 22%
Highway 26
7.5 mi · 2%
280th Road
4.43 mi · 1%
North Spruce Street
2.25 mi · 1%
Highway L79E
2.14 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 80 West

Merge slight left

252 mi · 04h 12m

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
05h 46m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+37.3 mi
346.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Brady
02h 53m from Seward
Leave By
5:28 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 384.1 miles (618.1 km) and usually takes 05h 46m 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?

Brady is a useful midpoint, sitting about 190.2 miles from Seward and 193.9 miles from Scottsbluff.

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

The direct path is about 346.8 miles (558.1 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:28 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $51.10 one way or $102.19 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 120.4 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Seward and Rain Showers Likely near Scottsbluff.

Stop Ideas Near Brady

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

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

RAIL

McCook

94 mi away
101 Norris Ave.
RAIL

Holdrege

106 mi away
100 West Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Seward and Scottsbluff. Straight-line distance: 346.79 mi (558.1 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Seward

City in Alaska, USA

Population7,363
Coordinates40.9069500, -97.0989200
Altitude455
CountryUnited States
Scottsbluff

#2 Scottsbluff

City in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States

Population14,373
Coordinates41.8666300, -103.6671700
Altitude1186
CountryUnited States
Start: Main Street (-97.09892, 40.906974)
End: Avenue C (-103.667064, 41.86663)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 618 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)12h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 36m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 40m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 24m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 47m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
13.55 gal
51.3 L · about $51.10
Round trip
$102.19
27.1 gal · 102.6 L
Estimated CO2
120.4 kg one way
Round trip: 240.8 kg / 531 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $51.10 $102.19
Mid-grade $4.25 $57.63 $115.26
Premium $4.65 $63.06 $126.12
Diesel $5.30 $71.87 $143.74

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 15, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Seward, NE and Scottsbluff, NE. The current time in Seward is 20:30:27, although it is 19:30:27 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.