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Trip from Scottsbluff, NE to Cozad, NE

Drive Time

4h 10m

Distance

220.5 mi

355 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$33

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

9 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 58m ★
6 AM
4h 11m
8 AM
4h 37m
10 AM
4h 20m
12 PM
4h 17m
3 PM
4h 21m
5 PM
4h 36m
8 PM
4h 3m

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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Downtown Scottsbluff, NE, NE

Scottsbluff, NE

Diana GP

Downtown Cozad, NE, NE

Cozad, NE

Vladimir Srajber

Trip Overview

The drive from Scottsbluff, NE to Cozad, NE covers 220.5 miles and takes about 4h 10m 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, US Highway 26 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 95.1 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.49 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

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

110.3 miles from Scottsbluff, NE

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 13m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 4h 10m highway drive covering 220.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and US 26. The longest continuous stretch is about 95.1 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 22 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 95.1 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 West 20th Street.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 4h 10m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 20th Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.9 miles (L-79E / Highway L79E): Lane positioning matters here; at 218.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

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

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | West 20th Street

Turn left onto West 20th Street

Navigation decision point

5
8.9 mi into trip | ~12m in | L-79E / Highway L79E

Turn right onto L-79E / Highway L79E

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
218.7 mi into trip | ~4h 6m in

Take the exit toward NE 21: Cozad

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 222 Toward NE 21: Cozad
7
220.3 mi into trip | ~4h 10m in | N-21 / East 8th Street

Turn left onto N-21 / East 8th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
220.5 mi into trip | ~4h 10m in | H Street

Turn right onto H Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 80 95.1 mi 1h 35m
US 26 84 mi 1h 39m
US Highway 26 12.5 mi 15m
Highway 92 11 mi 12m
Highway 26 7.5 mi 9m
North Spruce Street 2.7 mi 4m
Highway L79E 2.1 mi 2m
East 20th Street 1.2 mi 3m
Longest stretch: I 80 — 95.1 mi, about 1h 35m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Scottsbluff, NE and Cozad, 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

7.5 mi · 9 min · Highway 26
5

Turn right onto L-79E

2.1 mi · 2 min · Highway L79E
Use the right lane.
6

Turn left onto N-92

11 mi · 12 min · Highway 92
7

Continue on US 26; N-92

13 mi · 15 min · US Highway 26
8

Turn left onto US 26; US 385

1.0 mi · 1 min · Main Street
9

Continue on US 26

84 mi · 1 hr 39 min · US 26
10

Turn right onto North Spruce Street

2.7 mi · 4 min · North Spruce Street
11

Turn left onto US 26; US 30; N-61; I 80 Alt

305 ft · 7 sec · US 26; US 30; N-61; I 80 Alt
12

Turn right onto US 26; N-61

0.9 mi · 1 min · South Highway 26/61
13

Turn left

0.4 mi · 52 sec
Toward I 80 east
14

Merge onto I 80

95 mi · 1 hr 35 min · I 80
15

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 33 sec
Exit 222 Toward NE 21: Cozad
16

Turn slight left

98 ft · 11 sec
Toward NE 21 North: Cozad, Robert Henri Museum
17

Turn left onto N-21

0.9 mi · 1 min · South Meridian Avenue
18

Continue on N-21

0.3 mi · 39 sec · State Highway 21
19

Continue on N-21

433 ft · 21 sec · E Street
20

Turn left onto N-21

0.2 mi · 38 sec · East 8th Street
Use the left lane.
21

Turn right onto H Street

67 ft · 2 sec · H Street
22

Arrive at destination

H Street

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 110.3 miles from Scottsbluff, NE, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.1 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 110.3 miles or 2h 13m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 28m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cozad, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Scottsbluff, NE

This is one driving day of about 220.5 miles and 4h 10m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Scottsbluff, 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 95.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 110.3 mi from Scottsbluff, NE · 2h 13m into the drive

Downtown North Platte, NE, NE

Mid-route town

Meal stop

North Platte, NE

110 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.

Pacing Suggestions

North Platte, NE

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

North Platte, NE

Meal break

The midpoint is around 110.3 miles from Scottsbluff, 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 95.1 miles.

Arriving in Cozad, NE

The final approach into Cozad, 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 Cozad, NE.

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
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$33.49 one way

$66.98 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 77 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $36.92 $73.84
premium $4.80 $41.63 $83.25
diesel $5.64 $48.99 $97.97

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$33

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$58–$83

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 77.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

9 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Lonesome Dove Lodge and Cabins - Tesla Supercharger

Ogallala, NE

Tesla

8 DCFC

Runza - Tesla Supercharger

North Platte, NE

Tesla

8 DCFC

Nebraska Barn and Grill - Tesla Supercharger

Gothenburg, NE

Tesla

8 DCFC

Walmart 7129 (Ogallala, NE)

Ogallala, NE

Electrify America

4 DCFC

Walmart 1585 (North Platte, NE)

North Platte, NE

Electrify America

4 DCFC

Flying J 687

North Platte, NE

eVgo Network

4 DCFC

Janssen CJDR of North Platte

North Platte, NE

Non-Networked

2 DCFC

NPPD EV STATION SB SINCLAIR DCN

Scottsbluff, NE

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

Tesla: 3 ChargePoint Network: 2 Electrify America: 2 Non-Networked: 1 eVgo Network: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 66.1 0 $23.15 $10.58
Efficient EV 55.1 0 $19.29 $8.82
EV Truck/SUV 88.2 1 $30.87 $14.11

Gas CO2

77 kg

EV CO2

26 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 3 days ago

Origin

Scottsbluff, NE

Morning in Scottsbluff on Monday

Local time

6:54 AM

MDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cozad, NE

Morning in Cozad on Monday

Local time

7:54 AM

CDT

Current temp

38°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 later

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

Temperature spread

4 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

4h 10m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Scottsbluff, NE to Cozad, NE covers 220.5 miles and takes about 4h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, US 26, US Highway 26. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 110.3 miles from Scottsbluff, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.49 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 10m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 20th Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.9 miles (L-79E / Highway L79E): Lane positioning matters here; at 218.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Scottsbluff, NE to Cozad, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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