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Trip from David City, NE to Scottsbluff, NE

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

7h 20m

Distance

392.9 mi

632 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$61

one way

EV Charging

Fair

2 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
7h 10m ★
6 AM
7h 21m
8 AM
7h 42m
10 AM
7h 28m
12 PM
7h 26m
3 PM
7h 29m
5 PM
7h 41m
8 PM
7h 14m

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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city in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States

Scottsbluff, NE

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Trip Overview

The drive from David City, NE to Scottsbluff, NE covers 392.9 miles and takes about 7h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 80, US 26, Highway 30 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 186.8 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $61.43 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

196.5 miles from David City, NE

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 36m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 20m. Total distance: 392.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 20m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (85%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 7h 20m highway drive covering 392.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and US 26. The longest continuous stretch is about 186.8 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 36 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 186.8 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 N-15 / North 4th 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 7h 20m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 13 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (N-15 / North 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 43.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 82.8 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | N-15 / North 4th Street

Turn left onto N-15 / North 4th Street

Navigation decision point

4
43.4 mi into trip | ~52m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

5
82.8 mi into trip | ~1h 42m in | I 80

Merge onto I 80

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.
5
269.6 mi into trip | ~4h 49m 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
392.9 mi into trip | ~7h 20m 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 David City, NE to Scottsbluff, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Grant along the way.

Grant

269.6 mi in | ~4h 49m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 80 186.8 mi 3h 6m
US 26 84.3 mi 1h 41m
Highway 30 26.1 mi 30m
Highway 26 West 24.2 mi 28m
County Road 130 13.4 mi 16m
31 Road 12.2 mi 14m
County Road 131 9.6 mi 11m
Highway 26 7.5 mi 9m
Longest stretch: I 80 — 186.8 mi, about 3h 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on East D Street

40 ft · 8 sec · East D Street
2

Turn left onto N-15

0.6 mi · 1 min · North 4th Street
3

Continue on N-15

2.7 mi · 3 min · MN Road
4

Turn right onto N-92

0.8 mi · 54 sec · 32 Road
5

Turn straight onto N-92

12 mi · 14 min · 31 Road
6

Continue on N-92

2.8 mi · 3 min · County Road 131
7

Continue on US 81; N-92

0.8 mi · 51 sec · East Park Street
8

Continue on US 81; N-92

6.8 mi · 7 min · County Road 131
9

Continue on US 81; N-92

13 mi · 16 min · County Road 130
10

Turn straight onto N-92

3.4 mi · 3 min · Highway 92
11

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec
12

Turn left onto US 30

8.3 mi · 9 min · Highway 30
13

Continue on US 30

0.6 mi · 1 min · 16th Street
14

Continue on US 30

0.9 mi · 1 min · G Street
15

Continue on US 30

18 mi · 21 min · Highway 30
16

Turn left onto North Gunbarrel Road

4.1 mi · 5 min · North Gunbarrel Road
17

Continue on Husker Highway

0.7 mi · 1 min · Husker Highway
18

Turn right onto US 34; N-2; I 80 Alt

2.4 mi · 3 min · Highway 34
19

Turn left onto South Locust Street

4.1 mi · 5 min · South Locust Street
20

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 49 sec
21

Merge onto I 80

187 mi · 3 hr 6 min · I 80
Use the slight right lane.
22

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward US 26, NE 61: Ogallala, Grant
23

Turn right onto US 26; N-61

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Highway 26/61
24

Continue on East A Street

0.4 mi · 49 sec · East A Street
25

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

330 ft · 9 sec · East 8th Street
26

Turn right onto North Spruce Street

2.2 mi · 3 min · North Spruce Street
27

Turn left onto N-61

24 mi · 28 min · Highway 26 West
28

Continue on US 26

60 mi · 1 hr 11 min · US 26
29

Turn left onto US 26; US 385

1.0 mi · 1 min · US 26; US 385
30

Turn right onto US 26; N-92

24 mi · 27 min · US 26; N-92
31

Turn right onto L-79E

2.1 mi · 2 min · Highway L79E
32

Turn left onto US 26

7.5 mi · 9 min · Highway 26
33

Turn left onto East 20th Street

1.2 mi · 3 min · East 20th Street
34

Continue on West 20th Street

0.2 mi · 39 sec · West 20th Street
35

Turn right onto Avenue C

54 ft · 2 sec · Avenue C
36

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 196.5 miles from David City, NE, or about 3h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 186.8 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 86 miles or 1h 45m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 196.5 miles or 3h 36m 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 6m

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 David City, 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 David City, NE

This is one driving day of about 392.9 miles and 7h 20m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 86 miles from David City, 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 186.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 196.5 mi from David City, NE · 3h 36m into the drive

Downtown North Platte, NE, NE

Mid-route town

Meal stop

North Platte, NE

196 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Popular next leg

North Platte, NE to Scottsbluff, NE

174.3 mi · 3h 23m

Pacing Suggestions

Grand Island, NE

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 86 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Gothenburg, NE

Meal break

The midpoint is around 196.5 miles from David City, 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 186.8 miles.

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.

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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Scotts Bluff National Monument

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 392.9
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$61.43 one way

$122.85 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 138 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $67.44 $134.89
premium $4.89 $75.61 $151.22
diesel $5.61 $86.75 $173.49

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$61

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$86–$111

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 137.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

2 DC fast chargers · Coverage: fair

ChargePoint Charging Station

Scottsbluff, Nebraska

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

InCharge Energy Charging Station

Scottsbluff, Nebraska

InCharge

1 DCFC

ChargePoint: 1 InCharge: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 117.9 1 $41.25 $18.86
Efficient EV 98.2 1 $34.38 $15.72
EV Truck/SUV 157.2 1 $55.01 $25.15

Gas CO2

137 kg

EV CO2

46 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

David City, NE

Afternoon in David City on Thursday

Local time

4:05 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Scottsbluff, NE

Afternoon in Scottsbluff on Thursday

Local time

3:05 PM

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.

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

3 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

7h 20m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from David City, NE to Scottsbluff, NE covers 392.9 miles and takes about 7h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, US 26, Highway 30. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 196.5 miles from David City, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $61.43 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 7h 20m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 13 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (N-15 / North 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 43.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 82.8 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from David City, NE to Scottsbluff, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Grant along the way.

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