Origin
Kimball, NE
Night in Kimball on Saturday
Local time
10:23 PM
MDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kimball, NE to Scottsbluff, NE
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
54m
Distance
45.2 mi
73 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kimball, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Scottsbluff, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are traveling from Kimball to Scottsbluff, you are looking at a straightforward 45.2-mile trek across the Nebraska Great Plains. This drive typically takes about 54 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip that requires no overnight stay. Budgeting about $7 for fuel will cover your transit, leaving your travel funds open for your destination. Because the route is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your personal schedule. It is a practical, efficient connection between these two locations that keeps you moving steadily through the heart of the state.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Highway 71 | 31.8 mi | 34m |
| Highway 71 | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| Five Rocks Road | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Road 41E | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Avenue I | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Chestnut Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Avenue B | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Overland Drive | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Highway 71
— 31.8 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kimball, NE and Scottsbluff, NE.
1
Start on South Chesnut Street
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
South Chesnut Street
2
Continue on North Chestnut Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Chestnut Street
3
Continue on Road 41E
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Road 41E
4
At end of road, turn left onto N-71
32 mi
·
34 min
·
North Highway 71
5
Continue on N-71
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Highway 71
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
Toward Gering
7
Continue on Five Rocks Road
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Five Rocks Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on S-79H
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Avenue I
9
Turn right onto West Overland Drive
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
West Overland Drive
10
Turn left onto Avenue B
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Avenue B
11
Turn left onto West 20th Street
386 ft
·
13 sec
·
West 20th Street
12
Turn right onto Avenue C
54 ft
·
2 sec
·
Avenue C
13
Arrive at destination
Avenue C
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
First break window
Fuel and coffeeA short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.6 miles from Kimball, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 45.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
2.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
N-71 / North Highway 71
At end of road, turn left onto N-71 / North Highway 71
Navigation decision point
4
39.2 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward Gering
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Gering
3
44.1 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
West Overland Drive
Turn right onto West Overland Drive
Navigation decision point
4
44.6 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
Avenue B
Turn left onto Avenue B
Navigation decision point
5
45.2 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
Avenue C
Turn right onto Avenue C
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.07 one way
$14.13 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.76 | $15.52 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.70 | $17.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.98 | $19.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.75 | $2.17 |
| Efficient EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.96 | $1.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.33 | $2.89 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Destination
Scottsbluff, NE
Night in Scottsbluff on Saturday
Local time
10:23 PM
MDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
54m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 81% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will rely primarily on North Highway 71 and Highway 71, eventually transitioning onto Five Rocks Road as you approach your destination. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 31.8 miles on North Highway 71, providing a consistent pace for the bulk of your travel. Expect a focused experience behind the wheel where the road conditions remain fairly uniform for the majority of the hour-long commute. It is a no-nonsense route that prioritizes directness over technical turns.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.8 mi on North Highway 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Highway 71 and Highway 71. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in near N-71 / North Highway 71.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Kimball, NE to Scottsbluff, NE is easy. At 54m with 81% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (N-71 / North Highway 71): Navigation decision point; at 39.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 44.1 miles (West Overland Drive): Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Kimball, NE to Scottsbluff, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Gering along the way.
Gering
39.2 mi in
|
~43m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 45.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31.8 miles on North Highway 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 (N-71 / North Highway 71): Navigation decision point; at 39.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 44.1 miles (West Overland Drive): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Scottsbluff, NE before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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