Nebraska road guide
The best motorcycle roads in Nebraska
The best motorcycle roads in Nebraska are north and west of I-80: NE 2 and US 83 across the grass-covered Sandhills, US 20 and US 385 through the Pine Ridge, NE 71 through the Wildcat Hills and the tunnel road up Scotts Bluff. Add the Niobrara country, the Missouri River bluffs and the Lincoln Highway, and you get 10 rides, each with its region, why it's worth it, what to watch for and the best season.
- Roads listed
- 10
- Regions
- 4
- Signature ride
- Sandhills on NE 2
- Check before you go
- Nebraska 511
Before you pick
How to use this list of the best motorcycle roads in Nebraska
Nebraska's best riding is about distance, solitude and landscapes most people never see from the interstate. The Sandhills are the largest dune field in the Western Hemisphere, grassed over and dotted with lakes and ranches. The northwest has pine-covered ridges and buttes. The panhandle has sandstone bluffs that marked the Oregon Trail. And the far east has wooded bluffs along the Missouri. Curves are rare, so the roads that have them stand out.
Plan around fuel and wind. In the Sandhills and the panhandle, towns with gas can be an hour apart, and crosswinds are a given. Check Nebraska 511 for road conditions, and the best time to ride in Nebraska before you plan an early spring or late fall trip. The Nebraska motorcycle rides overview covers the state as a whole.
The Sandhills
Sandhills roads: grass, dunes and nobody else
- 1. Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway (NE 2)Why: About 272 miles from Grand Island to Alliance, rolling over the dunes through Broken Bow, Thedford, Mullen and Hyannis, often beside long coal trains. Near Halsey it passes the Nebraska National Forest, a huge hand-planted forest in the middle of the grassland. Watch for: Hour-long gaps between fuel, crosswinds, cattle and railroad crossings. Best season: June to September.
- 2. US 83 from North Platte to ValentineWhy: A north-south crossing of the Sandhills through Thedford, roughly 130 miles of rolling dunes, ranches and almost no traffic. It's one of the classic routes north to the Black Hills. Watch for: Deer and cattle, long empty stretches and heavy bike traffic in early August. Best season: June to September.
- 3. Outlaw Trail Scenic Byway (NE 12)Why: East from Valentine along Nebraska's northern edge, past Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge and through the Niobrara and Missouri river country, with more hills and bends than most Nebraska roads. Watch for: Gravel at junctions, deer near the rivers and summer canoe and tubing traffic around Valentine. Best season: May to October.
The northwest
Pine Ridge roads: buttes and ponderosa
- 4. Bridges to Buttes Byway (US 20)Why: US 20 runs west across northern Nebraska through Valentine, Chadron and Crawford, climbing into the Pine Ridge past Fort Robinson State Park, with pine-covered buttes and real grades. Watch for: Deer and elk in the Pine Ridge, wind on the open stretches and few services west of Chadron. Best season: May to October.
- 5. Gold Rush Byway (US 385)Why: North through the western panhandle from Sidney through Bridgeport and Alliance, past Carhenge, a full-size Stonehenge built from old cars, then on to Chadron and the South Dakota line. The historic route to the Black Hills gold fields, and a natural way to Sturgis. Watch for: Long fuel gaps, crosswinds and heavy bike traffic in August. Best season: May to October.
The panhandle
Panhandle roads: bluffs, tunnels and the Oregon Trail
- 6. Western Trails Scenic and Historic Byway (US 26)Why: US 26 follows the North Platte valley west from the Ogallala area past Chimney Rock and on toward Scotts Bluff, tracing the Oregon Trail. Lake McConaughy, north of Ogallala, is the big summer side trip. Watch for: Summer lake traffic, crosswinds in the valley and farm equipment. Best season: May to September.
- 7. Scotts Bluff Summit RoadWhy: A short paved road at Scotts Bluff National Monument near Gering that climbs to the top of the bluff through three tunnels, the only road tunnels in Nebraska, with a view over the whole valley. Watch for: Tight curves, low speed, pedestrians at the top and closures for weather. Best season: May to October.
- 8. NE 71 through the Wildcat HillsWhy: South from Scottsbluff and Gering, NE 71 climbs through the pine-covered Wildcat Hills toward Kimball. One of the few Nebraska roads with real elevation and curves back to back. Watch for: Deer, wildlife and wind on top. Best season: May to October.
Eastern Nebraska
Eastern Nebraska: the river and the Platte
- 9. Lewis and Clark Scenic Byway along the MissouriWhy: Follows the Missouri River along Nebraska's eastern edge, through river towns like Brownville and Nebraska City and past Indian Cave State Park, whose park roads climb wooded bluffs. The closest thing to hill country near Omaha and Lincoln. Watch for: Deer, farm traffic and gravel on side roads. Best season: April to June, and October for color.
- 10. Lincoln Highway (US 30)Why: The route of the first coast-to-coast highway, following the Platte valley across the state through small towns, parallel to I-80. Flat and relaxed, but full of history and a far better ride than the interstate. Watch for: Railroad crossings, farm equipment and small-town speed zones. Best season: May to October.
Summary
Nebraska motorcycle roads at a glance
| Road | Region | Best season |
|---|---|---|
| Sandhills Journey Byway (NE 2) | Sandhills | Jun to Sep |
| US 83, North Platte to Valentine | Sandhills | Jun to Sep |
| Outlaw Trail Byway (NE 12) | North | May to Oct |
| Bridges to Buttes Byway (US 20) | Pine Ridge | May to Oct |
| Gold Rush Byway (US 385) | Panhandle | May to Oct |
| Western Trails Byway (US 26) | Panhandle | May to Sep |
| Scotts Bluff Summit Road | Panhandle | May to Oct |
| NE 71, Wildcat Hills | Panhandle | May to Oct |
| Lewis and Clark Byway | East | Apr to Jun, Oct |
| Lincoln Highway (US 30) | Platte valley | May to Oct |
In the app
Add Nebraska roads to Rippin'
Most of Nebraska's classic roads are waiting for a rider to add them. Ride one with Rippin' recording, then open Segments and tap Create a Segment: drop a start gate and a finish gate and trace the line. A person on the Rippin' team checks it before it goes live, and your name stays on it. Read how roads get added and how segments and leaderboards work.
A segment board is about who owns the road and who rides it, not a race. Rippin' never rewards speed on public roads, and a deer stepping out of the Wildcat Hills pines is a good reason to ride them with margin.
Long Nebraska loops claim a lot of turf. Ride out on NE 2 and back on US 83 and the land inside becomes yours on the live map. Here are the Nebraska roads riders have already added.
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Nebraska on Rippin' right now.
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No Nebraska roads are in the app yet. Add the one you love from Segments and a person on our team checks it before it goes live. How roads get added.
FAQ
Questions riders ask.
What is the best motorcycle road in Nebraska?
Most riders start with NE 2, the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway, which crosses the dunes from Grand Island to Alliance. For curves, NE 71 through the Wildcat Hills and US 20 through the Pine Ridge stand out.
Are there curvy roads in Nebraska?
A few. NE 71 through the Wildcat Hills, the Scotts Bluff Summit Road, US 20 in the Pine Ridge and the park roads at Indian Cave State Park have real curves and elevation.
Does Nebraska have any road tunnels?
Yes, three, all on the Summit Road at Scotts Bluff National Monument near Gering.
What is the best Nebraska route to Sturgis?
US 83 north through the Sandhills to Valentine, or US 385 through the panhandle past Alliance and Chadron. Both beat the interstate. Fill up often and expect heavy bike traffic in early August.
How far apart are gas stations in the Sandhills?
Towns with fuel can be an hour or more apart on NE 2 and US 83, and small stations may close early. Fill up whenever you pass one.
Can I add Nebraska roads to Rippin'?
Yes. Any rider can add a road with Create a Segment. A person on the Rippin' team checks it before it goes live, and your name stays on it.
Put a Nebraska road on the map.
Download Rippin' free, ride the Sandhills with it recording, and add the road. Your name stays on it.
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