Cambridge, NE to Scottsbluff, NE is 254.8 miles and takes about 5h 4m via US 26 and I 80, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Nebraska, traversing the familiar Great Plains landscape. With a high percentage of highway driving, expect a relatively straightforward trip. This route is best suited for a single-day drive, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. It's a practical choice if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground across the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
127.4 miles from Cambridge, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 26
84.3 mi
1h 41m
I 80
49.7 mi
49m
US 83
33.4 mi
39m
Highway 26 West
24.2 mi
28m
N-18
20.2 mi
26m
Road 407
17.6 mi
23m
Highway 26
7.5 mi
9m
West 2nd Street
5.9 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
US 26
— 84.3 mi, about 1h 41m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
1 PM
~603 veh/hr typical
· worst 973
Quietest
3 AM
~91 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 50 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cambridge, NE and Scottsbluff, NE.
1
Start on US 6; US 34
0.6 mi·1 min·Nasby Street
2
Continue on US 6; US 34
1.9 mi·2 min·Highway 6 & 34
3
Turn right onto Road 407
18 mi·23 min·Road 407
4
Continue on N-18
20 mi·26 min·N-18
5
Turn left onto N-23
5.9 mi·7 min·West 2nd Street
6
Continue on N-23
0.4 mi·39 sec·Highway 23
7
Continue on N-23
1.2 mi·1 min·Ash Street
8
Turn right onto US 83; N-23
33 mi·39 min·US 83; N-23
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 80 West
10
Merge onto I 80
50 mi·49 min·I 80
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward US 26, NE 61: Ogallala, Grant
12
Turn right onto US 26; N-61
0.7 mi·1 min·South Highway 26/61
13
Continue on East A Street
0.4 mi·49 sec·East A Street
14
At end of road, turn left onto East 8th Street
330 ft·9 sec·East 8th Street
15
Turn right onto North Spruce Street
2.2 mi·3 min·North Spruce Street
16
Turn left onto N-61
24 mi·28 min·Highway 26 West
17
Continue on US 26
60 mi·1 hr 11 min·US 26
18
Turn left onto US 26; US 385
1.0 mi·1 min·US 26; US 385
19
Turn right onto US 26; N-92
24 mi·27 min·US 26; N-92
20
Turn right onto L-79E
2.1 mi·2 min·Highway L79E
21
Turn left onto US 26
7.5 mi·9 min·Highway 26
22
Turn left onto East 20th Street
1.2 mi·3 min·East 20th Street
23
Continue on West 20th Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·West 20th Street
24
Turn right onto Avenue C
54 ft·2 sec·Avenue C
25
Arrive at destination
Avenue C
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 4m estimated duration, starting your drive in Cambridge, NE in the morning is ideal to ensure you have ample daylight. The $45 fuel cost is an estimate, so factor in current gas prices. While this drive is manageable in one day, there's flexibility to stop if needed. A good point to consider a break might be around the halfway mark or when you transition onto I 80. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 84.3-mile stretch on US 26, as services can be spread out in this part of Nebraska.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 127.4 miles from Cambridge, NE, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 56 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.4 miles or 2h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scottsbluff, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cambridge, NE so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cambridge, NE
This is one driving day of about 254.8 miles and 5h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Cambridge, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 26 for about 84.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway reset
4.8 mi from route
~12 min detour
$10 to $20
Ogallala, Nebraska
Hours: 11 am–8 pm
+13082840899
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 254.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.6 mi into trip|~3m in|Road 407
Turn right onto Road 407
Navigation decision point
4
40.3 mi into trip|~53m in|N-23 / West 2nd Street
Turn left onto N-23 / West 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
6
47.8 mi into trip|~1h 3m in|US 83; N-23
Turn right onto US 83; N-23
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
131.5 mi into trip|~2h 33m in
Take the exit toward US 26, NE 61: Ogallala, Grant
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 26, NE 61: Ogallala, Grant
5
254.8 mi into trip|~5h 4m in|Avenue C
Turn right onto Avenue C
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.63 one way
$75.26 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$41.54
$83.08
premium
$4.72
$47.31
$94.62
diesel
$4.80
$48.11
$96.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.4
0
$26.75
$12.23
Efficient EV
63.7
0
$22.30
$10.19
EV Truck/SUV
101.9
1
$35.67
$16.31
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Cambridge, NE
Late night
in Cambridge on Sunday
Local time
3:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 1:31AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Destination
Scottsbluff, NE
Late night
in Scottsbluff on Sunday
Local time
2:15 AM
MDT
Current temp
63°F
Clear
SE 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 1:31AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 4m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Scotts Bluff National Monument
National Monument
Towering 800 feet above the North Platte River, Scotts Bluff has served as a landmark for peoples from Native Americans to emigrants on the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails to modern travelers. Ri...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 254.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend most of your time on highways, with 79% of the 254.8-mile route being highway driving. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 84.3 miles, which occurs on US 26. Expect a good amount of rural cruising, especially as you transition from US 83 to US 26 and then connect to I 80. The drive transitions from primarily highway to more surface road driving as you approach your destination.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 84.3 mi on US 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 26 and I 80. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in near Road 407.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 4m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (Road 407): Navigation decision point; at 40.3 miles (N-23 / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 47.8 miles (US 83; N-23): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
3,888 ft2,268 ft
Total Climb
2,189 ft
Total Descent
569 ft
Highest Point
3,888 ft
~254.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,620 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Cambridge, NE to Scottsbluff, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Grant along the way.
Scottsbluff is a town in the Panhandle region of Nebraska, USA. The geological structure that gives the town its name was an important waypoint on the Oregon Trail and is preserved today as a national monument. The town of Gering is 1½ miles (2 km) south.
Top landmarks
•Western Public Service Building — building in Scottsbluff, United States of America
•Lincoln Hotel — hotel in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, United States
•Fontenelle Apartment House — apartment building in Scottsbluff, United States of America
The longest stretch is about 84.3 miles on US 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 8 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through NE can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (Road 407): Navigation decision point; at 40.3 miles (N-23 / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 47.8 miles (US 83; N-23): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Scotts Bluff National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Scottsbluff, NE before the return drive.
