York, NE to Scottsbluff, NE is 352.8 miles and takes about 6h 23m via I 80 and US 26, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Nebraska, traversing the Great Plains region for its entirety. Expect mostly highway cruising for this trip, making it a straightforward transit. It's a solid option if you need to get from the eastern part of the state to the western panhandle 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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
176.4 miles from York, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
225.8 mi
3h 45m
US 26
84.3 mi
1h 41m
Highway 26 West
24.2 mi
28m
Highway 26
7.5 mi
9m
North Spruce Street
2.2 mi
3m
Highway L79E
2.1 mi
2m
US 81
1.8 mi
2m
North Lincoln Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 225.8 mi, about 3h 45m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 96 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~719 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,071
Quietest
2 AM
~107 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 York, NE and Scottsbluff, NE.
1
Start on East 7th Street
276 ft·19 sec·East 7th Street
2
Turn left onto North Lincoln Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·North Lincoln Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 81; I 80 Alternate
1.8 mi·2 min·US 81; I 80 Alternate
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 80 west
5
Merge onto I 80
226 mi·3 hr 45 min·I 80
Use the slight right lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward US 26, NE 61: Ogallala, Grant
7
Turn right onto US 26; N-61
0.7 mi·1 min·South Highway 26/61
8
Continue on East A Street
0.4 mi·49 sec·East A Street
9
At end of road, turn left onto East 8th Street
330 ft·9 sec·East 8th Street
10
Turn right onto North Spruce Street
2.2 mi·3 min·North Spruce Street
11
Turn left onto N-61
24 mi·28 min·Highway 26 West
12
Continue on US 26
60 mi·1 hr 11 min·US 26
13
Turn left onto US 26; US 385
1.0 mi·1 min·US 26; US 385
14
Turn right onto US 26; N-92
24 mi·27 min·US 26; N-92
15
Turn right onto L-79E
2.1 mi·2 min·Highway L79E
16
Turn left onto US 26
7.5 mi·9 min·Highway 26
17
Turn left onto East 20th Street
1.2 mi·3 min·East 20th Street
18
Continue on West 20th Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·West 20th Street
19
Turn right onto Avenue C
54 ft·2 sec·Avenue C
20
Arrive at destination
Avenue C
Trip Plan
Starting your drive from York in the morning will give you ample time to reach Scottsbluff before sunset. With a total duration of just over six hours, one planned stop should be sufficient to break up the 225.8-mile stretch on I 80. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially on the longer highway segments, and aim to refuel before you leave major towns. The $55 fuel estimate is based on current averages, so check prices before you depart.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 176.4 miles from York, NE, or about 2h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 225.8 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 78 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 176.4 miles or 2h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 8m
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 York, 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 York, NE
This is one driving day of about 352.8 miles and 6h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from York, 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 I 80 for about 225.8 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 352.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North Lincoln Avenue
Turn left onto North Lincoln Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
3.4 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the exit toward I 80 west
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 80 west
5
3.7 mi into trip|~6m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
229.5 mi into trip|~3h 51m 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
352.8 mi into trip|~6h 23m in|Avenue C
Turn right onto Avenue C
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.92 one way
$95.84 round trip
$3.45/gal25.4 MPG avg123 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.85
$53.48
$106.95
premium
$4.15
$57.64
$115.29
diesel
$3.75
$52.09
$104.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.4 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
105.8
1
$37.04
$16.93
Efficient EV
88.2
1
$30.87
$14.11
EV Truck/SUV
141.1
1
$49.39
$22.58
Gas CO2
123 kg
EV CO2
41 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
York, NE
Morning
in York on Saturday
Local time
11:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
30°F
Widespread Frost
SSW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 3:54AM CDT until October 17 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS North Platte NE
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Destination
Scottsbluff, NE
Morning
in Scottsbluff on Saturday
Local time
10:33 AM
MDT
Current temp
34°F
Clear
SSE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 3:54AM CDT until October 17 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS North Platte NE
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM 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
4 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
6h 23m 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 352.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely highway, with 98% of the 352.8 miles on major roadways like I 80 and US 26 West. You'll experience a longest stretch of 225.8 miles on I 80, offering extended periods of consistent driving. The transition to surface roads will occur later in the drive as you approach your destination. Expect plenty of rural cruising with fewer dense exit clusters.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 225.8 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 around 0.1 miles in near North Lincoln Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
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 6h 23m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 11 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Lincoln Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 3.7 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
3,888 ft1,604 ft
Total Climb
2,623 ft
Total Descent
340 ft
Highest Point
3,888 ft
~355.7 mi in
Elevation Range
2,284 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 York, 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 225.8 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 26 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 26 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 0.1 miles (North Lincoln Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 3.7 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 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.8 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.
