Trip from Arlington, NE to Scottsbluff, NE

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

8h 17m

Distance

455.5 mi

733 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$71

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min

4 AM

8h 10m ★

6 AM

8h 18m

8 AM

8h 33m

10 AM

8h 23m

12 PM

8h 21m

3 PM

8h 24m

5 PM

8h 32m

8 PM

8h 13m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Arlington, NE

Dominik Gryzbon

city in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States

Scottsbluff, NE

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Arlington, NE to Scottsbluff, NE covers 455.5 miles and takes about 8h 17m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on I 80, US 26, US 77 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 246.5 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $71.21 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

227.7 miles from Arlington, NE

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 1m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 8h 17m highway drive covering 455.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and US 26. The longest continuous stretch is about 246.5 miles on I 80.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 39 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 246.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 3rd Street.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 17m, 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 (North 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 30 / West Elkhorn Drive): Navigation decision point; at 5.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | North 3rd Street

Turn right onto North 3rd Street

Navigation decision point

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 30 / West Elkhorn Drive

Turn right onto US 30 / West Elkhorn Drive

Navigation decision point

5.1 mi into trip | ~7m in

Turn left

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

332.2 mi into trip | ~5h 46m 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

455.5 mi into trip | ~8h 17m in | Avenue C

Turn right onto Avenue C

Navigation decision point

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 Arlington, NE to Scottsbluff, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Grant along the way.

Grant

332.2 mi in | ~5h 46m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 80	246.5 mi	4h 6m
US 26	84.3 mi	1h 41m
US 77	40.3 mi	46m
Highway 26 West	24.2 mi	28m
Highway 77	15.2 mi	17m
County Road 18	12.6 mi	13m
County Road 11	11.5 mi	13m
Highway 26	7.5 mi	9m

Longest stretch: I 80 — 246.5 mi, about 4h 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, NE and Scottsbluff, NE.

Start on West Eagle Street

42 ft · 4 sec · West Eagle Street

Turn right onto North 3rd Street

441 ft · 21 sec · North 3rd Street

Turn right onto US 30

0.5 mi · 55 sec · West Elkhorn Drive

Continue on US 30

1.3 mi · 1 min · US Highway 30

Continue on US 30

2.7 mi · 3 min · Highway 30

Continue on US 30

0.5 mi · 55 sec · East 23rd Street

Use the straight lane.

Turn left

0.4 mi · 29 sec

Use the left lane.

Merge onto US 77; US 275

2.5 mi · 2 min · US 77; US 275

Take the exit onto US 77

0.4 mi · 45 sec · US 77

Toward US 77 South: Lincoln

Enter roundabout onto US 77

13 ft · 0 sec · Highway 77

Continue on US 77

1.4 mi · 1 min · Highway 77

Enter roundabout onto US 77

154 ft · 2 sec · Highway 77

Continue on US 77

1.4 mi · 1 min · Highway 77

Enter roundabout onto US 77

184 ft · 2 sec · Highway 77

Continue on US 77

0.6 mi · 43 sec · Highway 77

Continue on US 77

11 mi · 13 min · County Road 11

Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the exit onto US 77

5.2 mi · 6 min · US 77

Enter roundabout onto US 77; N-92

154 ft · 1 sec · Highway 77;Wahoo Expressway

Continue on US 77; N-92

12 mi · 13 min · Highway 77;Wahoo Expressway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on US 77

1.8 mi · 1 min · County Road 18

Continue on US 77

0.5 mi · 44 sec · North Highway 77

Continue on US 77

11 mi · 11 min · County Road 18

Take the exit onto US 77

32 mi · 37 min · US 77

Toward I 80 west

Continue on I 80

247 mi · 4 hr 6 min · I 80

Use the slight right lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec

Toward US 26, NE 61: Ogallala, Grant

Turn right onto US 26; N-61

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Highway 26/61

Continue on East A Street

0.4 mi · 49 sec · East A Street

At end of road, turn left onto East 8th Street

330 ft · 9 sec · East 8th Street

Turn right onto North Spruce Street

2.2 mi · 3 min · North Spruce Street

Turn left onto N-61

24 mi · 28 min · Highway 26 West

Continue on US 26

60 mi · 1 hr 11 min · US 26

Turn left onto US 26; US 385

1.0 mi · 1 min · US 26; US 385

Turn right onto US 26; N-92

24 mi · 27 min · US 26; N-92

Turn right onto L-79E

2.1 mi · 2 min · Highway L79E

Turn left onto US 26

7.5 mi · 9 min · Highway 26

Turn left onto East 20th Street

1.2 mi · 3 min · East 20th Street

Continue on West 20th Street

0.2 mi · 39 sec · West 20th Street

Turn right onto Avenue C

54 ft · 2 sec · Avenue C

Arrive at destination

Avenue C

Trip Plan

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 227.7 miles from Arlington, NE, or about 4h 1m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 246.5 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 100 miles or 1h 54m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 227.7 miles or 4h 1m 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 227.7 miles or 4h 1m

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 3m

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 Arlington, 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 Arlington, NE

Aim for roughly 228 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Scottsbluff, NE

Aim for roughly 228 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 100 miles from Arlington, 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 I 80 for about 246.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 227.7 mi from Arlington, NE · 4h 1m into the drive

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Cozad, NE

228 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 Cozad, NE

Overnight Options

Night 1

Cozad, NE

228 mi · about 4.1h in

A practical overnight split lands near Cozad, NE after about 228 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Aurora, NE

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 100 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kearney, NE

Meal break

The midpoint is around 227.7 miles from Arlington, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 246.5 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 228 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.

Arriving in Scottsbluff, NE

The final approach into Scottsbluff, NE usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Scottsbluff, NE.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Scottsbluff, NE with some flexibility left in the schedule.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$71.21 one way

$142.42 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 159 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$78.19	$156.38
premium	$4.89	$87.66	$175.31
diesel	$5.61	$100.57	$201.14

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$71

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$201–$311

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 159.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $48 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	136.7	1	$47.83	$21.86
Efficient EV	113.9	1	$39.86	$18.22
EV Truck/SUV	182.2	2	$63.77	$29.15

Gas CO2

159 kg

EV CO2

53 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 data refreshed 6 hours ago

Origin

Arlington, NE

Late night in Arlington on Wednesday

Local time

5:13 AM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Scottsbluff, NE

Late night in Scottsbluff on Wednesday

Local time

4:13 AM

MDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live 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.

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 earlier

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

6 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 17m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Arlington, NE to Scottsbluff, NE covers 455.5 miles and takes about 8h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 80, US 26, US 77. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 228 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 227.7 miles from Arlington, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $71.21 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 17m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 19 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

On the drive from Arlington, NE to Scottsbluff, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Grant along the way.

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