Weeping Water to Scottsbluff is 437.6 miles and takes about 7h 57m via I 80 and US 26, with a fuel budget near $68 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across Nebraska. With 95% of the route on highways, you'll experience mostly open road cruising. This is a solid one-day option if you're looking to cover ground efficiently.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
218.8 miles from Weeping Water, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
293.7 mi
4h 58m
US 26
84.3 mi
1h 41m
Highway 26 West
24.2 mi
28m
Highway 26
7.5 mi
9m
Highway 1
7 mi
8m
Church Road
6 mi
8m
310th Street
3 mi
4m
144th Street
2.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 293.7 mi, about 4h 58m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 65 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~822 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,161
Quietest
2 AM
~112 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Weeping Water, NE and Scottsbluff, NE.
1
Start on West Eldora Street
178 ft·9 sec·West Eldora Street
2
Turn right onto North Elm Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·North Elm Street
3
Turn right onto West F Street
328 ft·14 sec·West F Street
4
Turn left onto North East Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·North East Street
5
Continue on 144th Street
2.7 mi·3 min·144th Street
6
Turn left onto N-1
7.0 mi·8 min·Highway 1
7
Turn right onto 310th Street
3.0 mi·4 min·310th Street
8
Turn left onto Church Road
6.0 mi·8 min·Church Road
9
Turn right onto N-63
1.1 mi·1 min·238th Street
10
Turn left
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 80 west
11
Merge onto I 80
294 mi·4 hr 58 min·I 80
Use the slight right lane.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward US 26, NE 61: Ogallala, Grant
13
Turn right onto US 26; N-61
0.7 mi·1 min·South Highway 26/61
14
Continue on East A Street
0.4 mi·49 sec·East A Street
15
At end of road, turn left onto East 8th Street
330 ft·9 sec·East 8th Street
16
Turn right onto North Spruce Street
2.2 mi·3 min·North Spruce Street
17
Turn left onto N-61
24 mi·28 min·Highway 26 West
18
Continue on US 26
60 mi·1 hr 11 min·US 26
19
Turn left onto US 26; US 385
1.0 mi·1 min·US 26; US 385
20
Turn right onto US 26; N-92
24 mi·27 min·US 26; N-92
21
Turn right onto L-79E
2.1 mi·2 min·Highway L79E
22
Turn left onto US 26
7.5 mi·9 min·Highway 26
23
Turn left onto East 20th Street
1.2 mi·3 min·East 20th Street
24
Continue on West 20th Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·West 20th Street
25
Turn right onto Avenue C
54 ft·2 sec·Avenue C
26
Arrive at destination
Avenue C
Trip Plan
For this 7-hour, 57-minute drive, leaving early in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. You'll have two recommended stops, which should be sufficient for breaks along the 437.6-mile route. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 293.7-mile stretch on I 80, as services can become less frequent. The $68 fuel estimate is a good baseline for planning your budget. Since this is a feasible one-day trip, you have flexibility with your timing.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 218.8 miles from Weeping Water, NE, or about 3h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 293.7 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 96 miles or 1h 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 218.8 miles or 3h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 42m
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 Weeping Water, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Weeping Water, NE
This is one driving day of about 437.6 miles and 7h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 96 miles from Weeping Water, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 293.7 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 437.6 — 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|North Elm Street
Turn right onto North Elm Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|North East Street
Turn left onto North East Street
Navigation decision point
5
20.6 mi into trip|~27m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
314.3 mi into trip|~5h 25m 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
437.6 mi into trip|~7h 57m in|Avenue C
Turn right onto Avenue C
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$64.62 one way
$129.25 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg153 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$71.34
$142.69
premium
$4.72
$81.25
$162.50
diesel
$4.80
$82.63
$165.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$65
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$90–$115
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 153.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $46 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
131.3
1
$45.95
$21.00
Efficient EV
109.4
1
$38.29
$17.50
EV Truck/SUV
175
2
$61.26
$28.01
Gas CO2
153 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.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Weeping Water, NE
Afternoon
in Weeping Water on Saturday
Local time
3:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Clear
S 6 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Scottsbluff, NE
Afternoon
in Scottsbluff on Saturday
Local time
2:40 PM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Clear
ESE 5 to 15 mph2% chanceLive forecast
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
7 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
7h 57m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 437.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 95% of this 437.6-mile trip on highways, meaning you'll encounter frequent exits and opportunities for services. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 293.7 miles on I 80. After I 80, the route transitions to US 26 West, which will feel more like rural cruising as you approach Scottsbluff. Be aware of the change in road type after the main interstate section.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 293.7 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US 26. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Elm 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 7h 57m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 16 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (North East Street): Navigation decision point; at 20.6 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
3,888 ft1,097 ft
Total Climb
2,791 ft
Total Descent
0 ft
Highest Point
3,888 ft
~437.6 mi in
Elevation Range
2,791 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 Weeping Water, 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 293.7 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 29 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 Scottsbluff, 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 29 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 (North Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (North East Street): Navigation decision point; at 20.6 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 8.0 hours each way, a round trip means 15.9 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.
