North Platte, NE Road Trips

In November 1868, the rails of the Union Pacific Railroad reached the location of what is now known as North Platte. Situated between the North and South Platte rivers, just west of the confluence, the town was named by a flip of a coin to determine between North Platte and South Platte. North Platte was incorporated as a city in 1873. In 1882, Colonel William F. Cody, known to the world as Buffalo Bill, responded to the calls of local civic leaders and produced an Independence Day celebration known as the "Old Glory Blowout". He later developed this into his famed Wild West Show, which toured throughout the world. The home he built while living in North Platte, known as Scouts Rest Ranch, is now a state historical park, and is open to tour. North Platte could have gone the way of many small towns in rural Nebraska, becoming a sleepy backwater, except for native Bill Jeffers. Jeffers rose from a "call boy" for Union Pacific, to become president of the railroad. He chose his home town of North Platte to build a reclassification yard. Union Pacific's Bailey Yard is now the largest railroad classification yard in the world. Nearly 4,000 employees service more than 150 trains per day, totaling nearly 15,000 rail cars. During World War II, North Platte became famous for the North Platte Canteen. Volunteers met in early December 1941 at the Depot to greet what they thought was a train load of local troops headed for war. When the train stopped, it turned out to be carrying boys from Kansas instead of North Platte.

1 Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center, 1249 Homestead Rd, ☏ +1 308-532-9920, [email protected]. 9AM-7PM. 100 ft (30 m) tower with two observation decks overlooking Bailey Yard, the world's largest railroad classification yard at 2,850 acres. $8 adults, $6 children, children under 5 free. (updated Jul 2021) 2 Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historic Park, 2921 Scouts Rest Ranch Rd (head east on US-30 and turn north onto Buffalo Bill Ave), ☏ +1 308-535-8035. Park grounds 8AM-sunset, House and Barn W-Su 9AM-5PM, Memorial Day - Labor Day 9AM-5PM, closed Oct 31-April 7. Once the home of Buffalo Bill, now a historical park. Covering 25 acres, this park contains a mansion built in 1886, original outbuildings, and the original barn. $6/day for Nebraska residents, $8 for non-Nebraska residents, House admission $2. (updated Jul 2021) 3 Lincoln County Historical Museum, 2403 North Buffalo Bill Ave (head west on US-30, turn north on Buffalo Bill Ave, on the north side of the river), ☏ +1 308-534-5640, [email protected]. May-Sep: M-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su 1-5PM. Volunteer run museum with both indoor exhibits and open air portions. Features turn of the century buildings and 19th Century log cabins. Has an exhibit on the North Platte Canteen, a volunteer operation serving food to more than 5 million US troops during the Second World War. (updated Jul 2021) Cody Park Railroad Museum, 1601 N. Jeffers (North Highway 83). Home of only 3900 Series "Challenger" steam engines on public display. Also a 6900 Diesel Engine the largest locomotive ever made. Free admission.

NebraskaLand Days. Nebraska's official state celebration. It is held the second week in June each year and features the Buffalo Bill PRCA Rodeo, concerts, a Frontier Revue, parades, and many other events. North Platte Community Playhouse. The Town Hall Lecture Series and Community Concert Series each bring four performances to North Platte a year. Cody Go-Karts, Halligan Drive (I-80 & Highway 83), ☏ +1 308 534-8277. Late May to early Sep: 10AM-10PM. Go-carts, water slides, bumper boats, miniature golf, kiddie rides. Stock Car Races. Every Saturday night May through August at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds, starting at 7PM. Miss Nebraska Scholarship Pageant. Held annually in North Platte the first week of June, just preceding NebraskaLand Days. Beautiful women from across Nebraska compete in various categories to be chosen Miss Nebraska. Miss Rodeo Nebraska Pageant. Held in conjunction with the Buffalo Bill PRCA Rodeo during NebraskaLand Days. These young women, many from ranching families, compete in many events, including horsemanship for the title of Miss Rodeo Nebraska. Fiesta Patrias. Held around September 17th, celebrates the Mexican heritage of many of the area's families. Events include lots of music and food, and a queen contest. Heritage Festival. A production of the Lincoln County Historical Museum and features antique farm implements and practices, as well as many of the practices used in making a home by the first pioneers of the area. Reenactors in period costumes. Usually held in conjunction with NebraskaLand Days.

You'll find just about every fast food place and many of the chain restaurants in North Platte that you will in the rest of the country. These are some of the best local restaurants. Amigo's, 1210 South Jeffers, ☏ +1 308 532-7950. Dave's Place, 1510 East Fourth, ☏ +1 308 532-3922. North 40 Chophouse, 520 North Jeffers, ☏ +1 308-365-8726. Espresso Shoppe, 408 N Chestnut St, ☏ +1 308 534-9550. A great coffee house and lunch place, sometimes entertainment on weekend evenings. King Buffet and Mongolian Grill, 402 East Leota, Suite #1. La Casa Nueva, 1911 East Fourth St, ☏ +1 308 534-8967. La Hacienda, 321 East Sixth St, ☏ +1 308 532-0148. Merrick's Ranch House, 1220 East Fourth St, ☏ +1 308 532-8200. A completely smoke-free restaurant. Penny's Diner, 473 Halligan Dr, ☏ +1 308 535-9900. Open 24 hours. Tempura Japanese Restaurant, 221 East Sixth St, ☏ +1 308 532-0711.

Karaoke can be found most nights of the week at some locations. Brothers, 215 E 6th, ☏ +1 308 534-3670. Kelsey's Place, 219 Rodeo Rd, ☏ +1 308-532-9941. Dave's Place, 1510 East 4 St, ☏ +1 308 532-3922. The House Bar, 1601 E 4 St, ☏ +1 308-534-7171. The Hub Bar, 702 N Jeffers, ☏ +1 308 532-5030. Platte Bar, 119 W 6, ☏ +1 308 532-6300.

Americas Best Value Inn North Platte, 602 East Fourth St, ☏ +1 308 534-4020. Best Western Plus North Platte Inn & Suites, 3201 S Jeffers St, ☏ +1 308 534-3120. Blue Spruce Motel, 821 South Dewey, ☏ +1 308 534-2600. Cedar Lodge Motel, 421 W Rodeo Rd, ☏ +1 308 532-0970. Hampton Inn, 200 Platte Oasis Pkwy, ☏ +1 308 532-6000. Holiday Inn Express:, 300 Holiday Frontage Rd (I-80 Exit 177), ☏ +1 308 532-9500, toll-free: +1-888-HOLIDAY (4654329), [email protected]. Wi-Fi, Ethernet ports. "Executive Suite" (2 rooms) is $150/night; less-expensive rooms available. Hospitality Inn, 501 Halligan Dr, ☏ +1 308-300-2092. Husker Inn, 721 East Fourth St, ☏ +1 308 534-6960. La Quinta, 2600 Eagles Wings Pl, ☏ +1 308 534-0700. Motel 6, 2619 Halligan Dr, ☏ +1 308 534-6200, fax: +1 308 532-5276. North Platte Inn and Suites, 1209 S Dewey St, ☏ +1 308-532-0130. Quality Inn, 2901 S. Jeffers St, ☏ +1 308-532-6144. Super 8, 220 W Eugene Ave, ☏ +1 308-535-1805. A-1 Sunset Mobile Park, 3120 Rodeo Rd, ☏ +1 308 532-9182. Buffalo Bill State Historical Park, 2921 Scouts Rest Ranch Rd, ☏ +1 308 535-8035. Frontier Resort, Cafe and Marina, ☏ +1 308 532-8776. Located at Lake Maloney. Cody Park, 1400 North Jeffers. Holiday RV Park and Campground, 601 Halligan Dr, ☏ +1 308 534-2265. Lake Maloney State Recreation Area. Bare-bones camping at Lake Maloney, five miles south of North Platte on highway 83.

The primary means of getting to North Platte is Interstate 80, which runs east-west; US 83 serves as the primary north-south route. Lincoln is three hours east on I-80; Cheyenne is 3 hours west on I-80; Denver is four hours west on I-80 and I-76. 1 North Platte Regional Airport (LBF IATA), 5400 E Lee Bird Dr (head west on US-30, take the second right on the other side of the river), ☏ +1 308-532-1900. Providing only one route both to and from Denver International (DEN IATA). This airport averages only 77 flights a day. Free parking and car rental on site. (updated Jul 2021) Burlington Trailways and Express Arrow stop in North Platte on their way between Denver and Omaha.

Most people get around North Platte by car, but you can also explore the city by bicycle, using the streets and highways, or the extensive network of trails.