Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Trip from Scottsbluff, NE to Macy, NE
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 49m
Distance
439.7 mi
708 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$73
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 41m
★
6 AM
8h 49m
8 AM
9h 5m
10 AM
8h 55m
12 PM
8h 53m
3 PM
8h 55m
5 PM
9h 4m
8 PM
8h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Scottsbluff, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Macy, NE
Helena Jankovičová Kováčová
Trip Overview
Scottsbluff, NE to Macy, NE is 439.7 miles and takes about 8h 49m via State Highway 2, Highway 275, and N-91, with a fuel budget near $78 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This overnight trip spans the Great Plains, offering a straightforward drive across Nebraska. With 2 recommended stops and a driving profile mostly on highways, this route is well-suited for those seeking a direct connection between these two points without extensive detours. Plan for a two-day pace to comfortably cover the distance and enjoy the scenery.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
219.9 miles from Scottsbluff, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 19m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 2 | 88.4 mi | 1h 44m |
| Highway 275 | 50.5 mi | 58m |
| N-91 | 45 mi | 52m |
| Highway 91 | 29.4 mi | 34m |
| Southeast 1st Street | 25.2 mi | 29m |
| Highway 51 | 24.5 mi | 38m |
| Highway 70 | 23.9 mi | 27m |
| US Highway 385 | 16.9 mi | 18m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 2
— 88.4 mi, about 1h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scottsbluff, NE and Macy, NE.
1
Start on Avenue C
54 ft
·
7 sec
·
Avenue C
2
Turn left onto West 20th Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
West 20th Street
3
Continue on East 20th Street
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
East 20th Street
4
Turn right onto US 26; N-71; N-92
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Highway 26
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Continue on US 26
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
US Highway 26
6
Continue on US 26
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
Heartland Expressway
7
Continue on L-62A
9.1 mi
·
10 min
·
L62A
8
At end of road, turn left onto US 385
17 mi
·
18 min
·
US Highway 385
9
Continue on US 385
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
South Highway 385
10
Turn right onto West Kansas Street
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
West Kansas Street
11
Turn right onto N-2
7.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Perkins Road
12
Continue on N-2
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 2
13
Continue on N-2
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
·
1st Street
14
Continue on N-2
82 mi
·
1 hr 37 min
·
State Highway 2
15
Continue on N-2
25 mi
·
29 min
·
Southeast 1st Street
16
Continue on N-2
0.7 mi
·
44 sec
·
Court Street
17
Continue on N-2
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Highway 2
18
Continue on N-2
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Jewett Avenue
19
Turn left onto N-91
45 mi
·
52 min
·
N-91
20
Turn right onto US 183; N-91
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
3rd Street
21
Continue on US 183; N-91
0.8 mi
·
58 sec
·
Highway 183
22
Turn left onto N-91
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Highway 91
23
Turn left onto N-11; N-91
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Highway 11
24
Continue on N-11; N-91
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
South 1st Avenue
25
Continue on N-11; N-91
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
North 1st Avenue
26
Continue on N-11; N-91
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 11
27
Turn straight onto N-91
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Highway 91
28
Continue on N-70; N-91
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway 70/91
29
Continue on N-70; N-91
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Highway 70 - 91
30
Turn left onto US 281; N-70
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Highway 281
31
Continue on US 281; N-70
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
East Street
32
Continue on US 281; N-70
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Highway 281
33
Turn right onto N-70
24 mi
·
27 min
·
Highway 70
34
Turn left onto N-14
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
2nd Street
35
Continue on N-14
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Highway 14
36
Turn right onto 844th Road
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
844th Road
37
Continue on 4th Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
4th Street
38
Turn left onto Hohman Street
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Hohman Street
39
Turn right onto US 275
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Highway 275
40
Continue on US 275
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Front Street
41
Continue on US 275
19 mi
·
21 min
·
Highway 275
42
Enter roundabout onto US 275
195 ft
·
2 sec
·
Highway 275
43
Continue on US 275
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway 275
44
Continue on US 275
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
West Omaha Avenue
45
Continue on US 275
23 mi
·
25 min
·
Highway 275
46
Turn left onto N-51
24 mi
·
38 min
·
Highway 51
47
Turn left onto US 77
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Highway 77
Use the straight lane.
48
Turn right onto N-94
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Highway 94
49
Turn right onto US 75
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 75
50
Turn right onto Main Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
51
Turn right onto Skunk Hollow Drive
39 ft
·
1 sec
·
Skunk Hollow Drive
52
Arrive at destination
Skunk Hollow Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 8h 49m estimated drive time, splitting this trip over two days is highly recommended. Aim to depart early on your first day to cover a significant portion of the 439.7 miles. Your longest stretch on highway is 88.4 miles, so plan your first overnight stop accordingly, keeping in mind the 2 required stops. Ensure your fuel tank is full before departing Scottsbluff, as fuel stops might be less frequent on the latter half of the route. Check your fuel cost estimate of $78 to budget accordingly for the 439.7 miles.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 219.9 miles from Scottsbluff, NE, or about 4h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.4 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 97 miles or 1h 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 219.9 miles or 4h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 219.9 miles or 4h 19m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Macy, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Scottsbluff, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Scottsbluff, NE
Aim for roughly 220 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Macy, NE
Aim for roughly 220 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 97 miles from Scottsbluff, NE.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 2 for about 88.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
220 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Eddyville, NEOvernight Options
Night 1
220 mi · about 4.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Eddyville, NE after about 220 miles or 4.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 97 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 219.9 miles from Scottsbluff, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before State Highway 2 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 88.4 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 220 miles or 4.4 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Love's Travel Stop
0.4 mi from route
Rest Area
2.3 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 249.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West 20th Street
Turn left onto West 20th Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 26; N-71; N-92 / Highway 26
Turn right onto US 26; N-71; N-92 / Highway 26
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
51.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
West Kansas Street
Turn right onto West Kansas Street
Navigation decision point
4
248.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 53m in
|
US 183; N-91 / 3rd Street
Turn right onto US 183; N-91 / 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
4
249.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 54m in
|
N-91 / Highway 91
Turn left onto N-91 / Highway 91
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$73.10 one way
$146.21 round trip
$4.22/gal
25.4 MPG avg
154 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $79.63 | $159.26 |
| premium | $5.18 | $89.72 | $179.45 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $92.61 | $185.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$73
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$203–$313
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 153.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $46 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 131.9 | 1 | $46.17 | $21.11 |
| Efficient EV | 109.9 | 1 | $38.47 | $17.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 175.9 | 2 | $61.56 | $28.14 |
Gas CO2
154 kg
EV CO2
51 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Origin
Scottsbluff, NE
Afternoon in Scottsbluff on Wednesday
Local time
1:05 PM
MDT
Current temp
50°F
Mostly Clear
N 5 to 15 mph
5% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Macy, NE
Afternoon in Macy on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 3 to 8 mph
33% chance
Live forecast
86°F
Eddyville, NE
220 mi in
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
10 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
8h 49m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway driving, with 74% of the total mileage on major roads. You'll encounter an 88.4-mile stretch on State Highway 2, which is the longest continuous segment without a significant change in road type. After the highway portions, expect to transition to more rural surface roads as you approach your destination. The driving will feel like cruising through open country for most of the trip.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
52 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 88.4 mi on State Highway 2.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 2 and Highway 275. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 20th Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 49m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 19 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 20th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (US 26; N-71; N-92 / Highway 26): Lane positioning matters here; at 51.7 miles (West Kansas Street): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
4,254 ft
1,114 ft
Total Climb
396 ft
Total Descent
3,170 ft
Highest Point
4,254 ft
~31.4 mi in
Elevation Range
3,140 ft
Notable High Points
4,254 ft at ~31.4 miles
+309 ft prominence
About the Cities
Starting in Scottsbluff, NE
Full guide →Founded 1900
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
Arriving in Macy, NE
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
8h 49m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 88.4 miles on State Highway 2. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 220 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 3 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Macy, NE before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. There are 3 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: near the start (West 20th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (US 26; N-71; N-92 / Highway 26): Lane positioning matters here; at 51.7 miles (West Kansas Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Scotts Bluff National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.8 hours each way, a round trip means 17.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Macy, NE before the return drive.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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