Sometimes you need to take a drive to get away from everything and clear your mind. Lucky for you, you live in Nebraska – a place of exceptional beauty and some of the most scenic drives in the Great Plains. This “road to nowhere” drive actually can take you to some wonderful places, but it’s a perfect journey if you just want to get in the car and see some of Nebraska’s loveliest sights without necessarily getting out and walking around. It’ll take you around two and a half hours from start to finish. The link to the Google map is here if you would like turn-by-turn directions or need to change the route. We feel like this is easily one of the most scenic drives in Nebraska, and you’re sure to love it as much as we do!
This route follows 26 for the most part and switches to Scenic Highway 92 for a while. We’ll begin in Ogallala and end up at the Nebraska/Wyoming border in Henry. Or the other way around, if you’re so inclined.
Google Maps
- Roll through the frontier town of Ogallala, once known as one of the roughest towns in the west. Today it’s calm and sweet as it pays tribute to its wild west roots.
Matthew Trump/Wikimedia
- You’ll drive past Lake McConaughy, Nebraska’s largest lake and top water attraction.
Dave Clark/Flickr
- Next, your route will take you through the rocky, prehistoric hills of Ash Hollow State Historical Park.
Chris Light/Wikimedia
- Go through the tiny but picturesque town of Lewellen and feel right at home. If you need to stop for snacks or just want to enjoy some art, take a break and visit The Most Unlikely Place on Main Street.
Ammodramus/Wikimedia
- After a long stretch of farmland and beautiful scenery, your route will take you through the outskirts of Oshkosh.
Ammodramus/Wikimedia
- This is the point where the trip gets more visually interesting. You’ll catch a view of Courthouse and Jail Rocks as you drive by. If you want to take a little detour, follow the signs to get up close to the formations.
Brett Whaley/Flickr
- Not long after that, you’ll see Chimney Rock rising above the plains, just like the pioneers did. Again, there will be signs to guide you to the formation if you want to see it up close.
James St. John/Flickr
- You won’t need to take a detour to view Scotts Bluff National Monument; this scenic route passes right by it.
CyberXRef/Wikimedia
- After taking a turn to the north, you’ll drive by the lovely Kiowa State Wildlife Management Area, a favorite spot for birdwatchers, before crossing the North Platte River.
Napa/Wikimedia (This picture of the North Platte was taken near Bridgeport, but it looks pretty similar over here.)
- Take a short trip through the village of Morrill next. When you get about a mile outside of town, you’ll pass by the place where the Horse Creek Treaty was signed in 1851.
Ammodramus/Wikimedia
- Last on our drive to nowhere in particular is the tiny village of Henry, right on the Nebraska/Wyoming border. There’s not a whole lot else to say about Henry, so be sure to wave at the 100 or so residents as you pass through or turn around to head home.
Ammodramus/Wikimedia
From here, you can continue on to an adventure in Wyoming or loop around to go back to where you started your journey. For a much longer western Nebraska drive that takes you through tons of incredible natural wonders, be sure to check out our epic western Nebraska natural wonders road trip. You can’t miss it!
Google Maps
Matthew Trump/Wikimedia
Dave Clark/Flickr
Chris Light/Wikimedia
Ammodramus/Wikimedia
Brett Whaley/Flickr
James St. John/Flickr
CyberXRef/Wikimedia
Napa/Wikimedia
(This picture of the North Platte was taken near Bridgeport, but it looks pretty similar over here.)
Have any scenic routes you’d like to see featured someday? Let us know by filling out this form and you just might!
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Scenic Drives in Nebraska September 11, 2021 Tori Jane What are some beautiful drives in Nebraska?
Nebraska is a very scenic state – ignore anyone who says otherwise! As long as you know where to look, you’re sure to find breathtaking drives all over the state, no matter where you’re beginning your journey from. Some of our favorite beautiful drives in Nebraska include gems like the 385 Gold Rush Scenic Byway, which runs from the Colorado state line to Chadron, and the Heritage Highway, a 238-mile stretch of gorgeous road from Brownville to Edison. Read on for even more!
Which scenic Nebraska byways should I add to my bucket list?
Believe it or not, Nebraska is home to nine scenic byways, all of which are truly worth the time it takes to drive them. Some of our very favorites (although it’s extremely difficult to narrow it down to just a couple) include the incredible Bridges to Buttes Byway, an epic 197-mile stretch of scenic road in northwestern Nebraska, the Loup Rivers Scenic Byway, a 150-mile scenic route covering Highways 91 and 11 in central Nebraska, and the Outlaw Trail Scenic Byway, which will blow your mind with its absolutely incredible scenery (including one of the most epic waterfalls in the entire Cornhusker State). There’s also the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway, which consists of 272 miles of interesting sights and scenes. For more details about all these scenic Nebraska byways and then some, take a look at this article.
Where is Scenic Highway 92 in Nebraska?
Scenic Highway 92, also known as HWY NE 26/US 92, also known as the Western Trails Scenic Byway, is a truly breathtaking scenic drive stretching from Ogallala to the Wyoming state border. It’s a bit shorter than many of Nebraska’s scenic drives, at just 144 miles in length, but it’s jam-packed with things to see and do. You’ll want take at least an entire day to drive it so you can enjoy all the stops along the way; better still, it’s pretty easy to create an entire weekend adventure around this drive, and who doesn’t love weekend-long vacations?
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Scenic Drives in Nebraska
September 11, 2021
Tori Jane
What are some beautiful drives in Nebraska?
Nebraska is a very scenic state – ignore anyone who says otherwise! As long as you know where to look, you’re sure to find breathtaking drives all over the state, no matter where you’re beginning your journey from. Some of our favorite beautiful drives in Nebraska include gems like the 385 Gold Rush Scenic Byway, which runs from the Colorado state line to Chadron, and the Heritage Highway, a 238-mile stretch of gorgeous road from Brownville to Edison. Read on for even more!
Which scenic Nebraska byways should I add to my bucket list?
Believe it or not, Nebraska is home to nine scenic byways, all of which are truly worth the time it takes to drive them. Some of our very favorites (although it’s extremely difficult to narrow it down to just a couple) include the incredible Bridges to Buttes Byway, an epic 197-mile stretch of scenic road in northwestern Nebraska, the Loup Rivers Scenic Byway, a 150-mile scenic route covering Highways 91 and 11 in central Nebraska, and the Outlaw Trail Scenic Byway, which will blow your mind with its absolutely incredible scenery (including one of the most epic waterfalls in the entire Cornhusker State). There’s also the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway, which consists of 272 miles of interesting sights and scenes. For more details about all these scenic Nebraska byways and then some, take a look at this article.
Where is Scenic Highway 92 in Nebraska?
Scenic Highway 92, also known as HWY NE 26/US 92, also known as the Western Trails Scenic Byway, is a truly breathtaking scenic drive stretching from Ogallala to the Wyoming state border. It’s a bit shorter than many of Nebraska’s scenic drives, at just 144 miles in length, but it’s jam-packed with things to see and do. You’ll want take at least an entire day to drive it so you can enjoy all the stops along the way; better still, it’s pretty easy to create an entire weekend adventure around this drive, and who doesn’t love weekend-long vacations?
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Nebraska is a very scenic state – ignore anyone who says otherwise! As long as you know where to look, you’re sure to find breathtaking drives all over the state, no matter where you’re beginning your journey from. Some of our favorite beautiful drives in Nebraska include gems like the 385 Gold Rush Scenic Byway, which runs from the Colorado state line to Chadron, and the Heritage Highway, a 238-mile stretch of gorgeous road from Brownville to Edison. Read on for even more!
Which scenic Nebraska byways should I add to my bucket list?
Believe it or not, Nebraska is home to nine scenic byways, all of which are truly worth the time it takes to drive them. Some of our very favorites (although it’s extremely difficult to narrow it down to just a couple) include the incredible Bridges to Buttes Byway, an epic 197-mile stretch of scenic road in northwestern Nebraska, the Loup Rivers Scenic Byway, a 150-mile scenic route covering Highways 91 and 11 in central Nebraska, and the Outlaw Trail Scenic Byway, which will blow your mind with its absolutely incredible scenery (including one of the most epic waterfalls in the entire Cornhusker State). There’s also the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway, which consists of 272 miles of interesting sights and scenes. For more details about all these scenic Nebraska byways and then some, take a look at this article.
Where is Scenic Highway 92 in Nebraska?
Scenic Highway 92, also known as HWY NE 26/US 92, also known as the Western Trails Scenic Byway, is a truly breathtaking scenic drive stretching from Ogallala to the Wyoming state border. It’s a bit shorter than many of Nebraska’s scenic drives, at just 144 miles in length, but it’s jam-packed with things to see and do. You’ll want take at least an entire day to drive it so you can enjoy all the stops along the way; better still, it’s pretty easy to create an entire weekend adventure around this drive, and who doesn’t love weekend-long vacations?
