8 Fun Things To Do in Northwest Nebraska

Nebraska might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think about an outdoorsy US road trip, but it has a lot to offer! The region has striking rock formations, rolling grasslands and some quirky roadside stops that you’re sure to enjoy. This might be the most underrated road trip in the midwest! Keep reading to discover the best things to do in Northwest Nebraska.

Please make sure to leave no trace while you’re out exploring! This includes packing out all trash, never carving on rocks and following rules on campfires. Let’s keep this area beautiful.

8 of the Best Things to do in Northwest Nebraska

Hike Among Unique Rocks at Chadron State Park

• $7 per car for in-state, $14 for out-of-state

Go on a hike in Nebraska’s first state park! Chadron State Park was founded in 1921 and features rocky buttes that extend out of rolling hills. Along with hiking trails, the park offers camping, horseback riding, archery, fishing and they even have a swimming pool.

I enjoyed hiking the Steamboat Trail, which is a 1.3-mile loop that offers some fantastic views of the buttes and surrounding hills. The trail begins with walking on grass, but you’ll soon end up on top of the rocks and have 360-views of the area.

Whether you visit for a quick hike or spend a day or two exploring all of the amenities and trails around this park, this is worth adding to your Nebraska itinerary.

Enjoy an Unusual Roadside Attraction at Carhenge

• Free to visit

If you like fun roadside attractions at all, Carhenge is a must-stop during your time in Nebraska! It’s a series of cars that have been built as a replica of the original Stonehenge in England. The artist, Jim Reinders, lived in England for a while and wanted to bring back some of his fascination with Stonehenge to his hometown of Alliance, Nebraska.

The main area of the attraction features the stonehenge replica made up of vintage cars painted gray. However, that’s not all this park has. There are dinosaur sculptures made of cars and some other neat sculptures. There is even a car that you can sign your name on - called the “Auto”-graph car!

After a short walk around the various sculptures, step inside the shop for information or a souvenir.

Experience the Historic Scotts Bluff National Monument

• Free to visit

Walk among a landmark that was used by Native Americans and later travelers on the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails. Scotts Bluff National Monument is a historic sight with some amazing views, great hiking trails and a neat scenic drive.

One of the best things to do at Scotts Bluff is to drive to the summit of the bluff. The drive is 1.6-miles long and includes multiple tunnels on your way up. At the top, there are two short trails leading to amazing overlooks - the North Overlook (0.6 miles) and South Overlook (0.3 miles). Keep in mind that you cannot take this drive if your vehicle is over 25 feet long and no trailers are allowed.

If you’re up for a longer hike, you can also hike to the top of the bluff on the Saddle Rock Trail. The trail has great views along the way and even has a tunnel to walk through.

At the bottom of the bluff, you can walk along the Oregon Trail on another 1-mile journey. There are historic wagon ruts on this path from the wagons that passed through in the 1800’s.

You can also stop inside the visitor center which has exhibits about the history of the monument, plus a gift shop and theater.

Admire Chimney Rock

• Free to hike, museum is $8 per adult

Chimney Rock is a very iconic rock formation in Nebraska. Similar to Scotts Bluff, this was an important landmark that measured progress as travelers made their way west on the Oregon Trail. The rock has a spire that towers 300-feet high and can be seen from miles all around.

When you visit, there is a short hiking trail that allows you to get a little bit closer and enjoy the rock from many angles. The trails are new and well-maintained. There are a couple of different routes, but I hiked a 1-mile loop.

There is also a museum next to Chimney Rock that tells of the history of the area. The museum has a fee for visiting, while hiking closer to the rock is free.

Eat and Drink in the Town of Scottsbluff

The city of Scottsbluff sits right below Scotts Bluff National Monument and has a variety of restaurants and historic sights. It’s the largest city in the Nebraska Panhandle.

I enjoyed lunch and beer at Flyover Brewing Company. They have all kinds of plane memorabilia, playing on the plane theme and the idea that Nebraska is just a “flyover” state. I enjoyed their lime gose sour beer and the strawberry feta salad.

Other restaurants to check out in town include Runza (a famous Nebraska chain), Pineapple’s and Scotty’s Drive-in. And if you have time, see a show at the Midwest Theater or visit the Farmer’s Market if you’re in town on Saturday morning.

See Real Fossils at Agate Beds Fossil National Monument

• Free to visit

Discover some very unique fossils at Agate Beds Fossil National Monument. This park has a lot to see at their visitor center, including fossils, a movie and a large display of Native American artifacts. There are also a couple hiking trails that allow you to see fossils in the wild.

I loved the Daemonelix Trail, which is one mile and takes you to a couple Daemonelix fossils. These are spiral tunnels that were created by an ancient beaver. The tunnels are several feet tall and quite unique to see! The trail also has some beautiful views.

You can also hike the Fossil Hills Trail, which goes past dig sites where important fossils were discovered, and has a boardwalk with river and wetland views.

I think that Agate Beds is a very underrated national park site, and should be on your list as one of the best things to do in Nebraska!

Discover Unique Rock Formations at Toadstool Geological Park

• $3 per vehicle

The Toadstool Geological Park is one of the most unique trails in Nebraska! The hoodoo rock formations remind me of Southern Utah or New Mexico.

The area has badland rock formations that were formed millions of years ago, plus fossils of extinct animals. You can hike a 0.8 mile loop to see the hoodoos up close.

Hike or Bike at Fort Robinson State Park

• $7 per car for in-state, $14 for out-of-state

Fort Robinson State Park is a huge park with many opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. In fact, it has 60 miles of hiking trails and 20 miles of mountain biking trails. (they even rent mountain bikes!)

The park was originally a fort in the Old West, and there are several buildings that still stand from that era. You can explore some of these buildings and learn more at the Fort Robinson History Center.

You can also take a Jeep tour, go horseback riding, take a stagecoach ride, see a show at the Post Playhouse, and more. I’m blown away by the amount of offerings and amenities at Nebraska state parks!

How To Get To Northwest Nebraska

If you’re flying into this region, the Western Nebraska-Scottsbluff Regional Airport is the convenient place to fly into. They have daily flights from Denver, making it easy to connect between many other cities.

This area is also only 3 hours away from Denver, making it a great weekend getaway.

Northwest Nebraska is also only 2-3 hours from Rapid City and the South Dakota Black Hills, making it a great addition to a South Dakota road trip.

Where to Stay in Northwest Nebraska

If you’re interested in camping in Northwest Nebraska, both Fort Robinson State Park or Chadron State Park are great options. They both offer electric campsites, as well as basic sites. Chadron State Park also offers cabins.

If you’re looking for a hotel, the city of Scottsbluff is a great place to stay. A few great options include the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Scottsbluff-Gering or the Hampton Inn & Suites Scottsbluff. And if you’re looking for a more unique experience, check out the Barn Anew Bed and Breakfast Country Retreat.

When to Visit Northwest Nebraska

This area of Nebraska experiences harsh winters and hot summers, so the best time to visit (especially if you want to hike) is the spring or fall. I visited in the summer and it was HOT.

The best months tend to be March - May (you may get to see wildflowers!) and September - November (you might see some beautiful fall foliage!).

Final Thoughts

I hope this guide helps you discover some of the unique beauty that Nebraska has to offer! In my opinion, this is a very underrated midwest destination with beautiful rock formations, unique attractions and beautiful parks with a range of activities. Plan your Nebraska road trip today!

For more Midwest Travel Guides, check out these guides:

• The Perfect Badlands and Black Hills South Dakota Itinerary
• A Guide to Badlands National Park in October
• 10+ Unique Things To Do in Kansas
• How to Spend 3 Days in Madison, Wisconsin
• The Best Things To Do in Cedar Rapids, IA
• How to Spend 3 Days on the Minnesota North Shore
• An Epic Michigan UP Road Trip
• The Best Hikes near Cincinnati
• A Guide to Exploring Hocking Hills
• The Best Things To Do in Cuyahoga Valley
• The Best Hikes in Indiana

Thanks for Reading!