Scottsbluff, NE to Pender, NE is 416.8 miles and takes about 8h 18m via State Highway 2, Highway 275, and N-91, with a fuel budget near $66 and enough daylight to finish in a day, though it's best split over two days. You'll be traveling across the Great Plains for the entirety of this trip, staying within Nebraska. This route offers a straightforward drive through the heartland, suitable for those looking for a direct way to connect these two points without extensive detours. Planning for two days will allow for a more relaxed pace and opportunities to appreciate the rural Nebraska landscape.
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
208.4 miles from Scottsbluff, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 6m 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 70
23.9 mi
27m
US Highway 385
16.9 mi
18m
Highway 2
16.5 mi
19m
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 Pender, 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
12 mi·19 min·Highway 51
47
Turn left onto N-9
7.0 mi·8 min·Highway 9
48
Continue on N-9; N-16
0.6 mi·1 min·4th Street
49
Turn left onto Main Street
36 ft·1 sec·Main Street
50
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 8h 18m duration, this trip is best broken into two days to avoid a very long driving day. Aim to depart Scottsbluff in the morning to maximize daylight. With two planned stops, you'll have opportunities to refuel and rest along the way. Consider making your overnight stop roughly halfway, around the 4-hour mark, to break up the 416.8 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services can be spread out between towns on State Highway 2 and Highway 275. The fuel cost is estimated at $66, so budget accordingly.
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 208.4 miles from Scottsbluff, NE, or about 4h 6m 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 92 miles or 1h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 208.4 miles or 4h 6m 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 208.4 miles or 4h 6m
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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pender, 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 208 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Pender, NE
Aim for roughly 208 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 92 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 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
$64.62 one way
$129.24 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg146 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$70.86
$141.71
premium
$4.93
$80.87
$161.73
diesel
$5.60
$91.88
$183.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$65
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$195–$305
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 145.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
125
1
$43.76
$20.01
Efficient EV
104.2
1
$36.47
$16.67
EV Truck/SUV
166.7
2
$58.35
$26.68
Gas CO2
146 kg
EV CO2
49 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Sep 1, 2026
Origin
Scottsbluff, NE
Late night
in Scottsbluff on Wednesday
Local time
12:36 AM
MDT
Current temp
87°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 5 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued September 1 at 5:33PM CDT until September 1 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS North Platte NE
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued September 1 at 5:25PM CDT until September 1 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS North Platte NE
Destination
Pender, NE
Late night
in Pender on Wednesday
Local time
1:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Sunny
SE 8 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued September 1 at 5:33PM CDT until September 1 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS North Platte NE
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued September 1 at 5:25PM CDT until September 1 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS North Platte NE
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
2 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 18m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 73% of this 416.8-mile route is on highways, meaning you'll spend a significant amount of time on more open roads. The longest continuous stretch without a major change in road type is 88.4 miles on State Highway 2. You'll transition from highway cruising to more rural, surface road driving as you approach Pender. Expect long stretches of open road with fewer exits compared to interstate travel.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
50 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 Effort4/10
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 18m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 17 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.
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 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 208 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Pender, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 8.3 hours each way, a round trip means 16.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Pender, NE before the return drive.
