Road	Length	High point
Bridges to Buttes Byway (US-20) A 197-mile Nebraska-designated scenic byway along US-20 from the Wyoming border east to Valentine. The route traverses three distinct landscapes: rolling Sandhills grasslands on the eastern end, valley pine bluffs through the Nebraska National Forest and Fort Robinson State Park in the middle, and open prairie at the Oglala National Grassland approaching Wyoming. Access points include Agate Fossil Beds National Monument and Toadstool Geologic Park. A portion between Fort Robinson and Hay Springs is also designated the Crazy Horse Memorial Highway.	285 mi	—
CarhengeStop A full-scale replica of England's Stonehenge constructed from 38 vintage American cars, arranged in a circle and painted grey. Built by Jim Reinders and dedicated at the June 1987 summer solstice, it sits on the open plains three miles north of Alliance. Free to visit year-round, dawn to dusk, with a seasonal gift shop. The surrounding Car Art Reserve adds a cluster of automotive sculptures nearby.	—	—
Chimney Rock National Historic SiteStop A solitary spire of volcanic ash and clay rising more than 300 feet above the North Platte valley, the most-mentioned landmark in Oregon Trail diaries. Designated a National Historic Site in 1956. The Ethel and Christopher J. Abbott Visitor Center, 1.5 miles south of US-92 near Bayard, houses trail history exhibits and is operated by History Nebraska.	—	—
Gold Rush Byway (US-385) A 131-mile Nebraska-designated scenic byway along US-385 between Chadron and Sidney, tracing the historic Sidney–Deadwood Trail used during the 1870s Black Hills Gold Rush. The road crosses pine-covered buttes, rolling hills, and lush river valleys, passing Chadron State Park (Nebraska's oldest), the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center, Carhenge near Alliance, Courthouse and Jail Rocks near Bridgeport, and historic Sidney. Considered one of the most scenic roads in the state.	154 mi	—
Heritage Highway Scenic Byway (US-136) A 238-mile Nebraska-designated scenic byway along US-136 from Brownville on the Missouri River west to Edison, crossing 10 counties of southeastern Nebraska. Highlights include the Homestead National Historical Park in Beatrice (commemorating the 1862 Homestead Act), Rock Creek Station State Historical Park with deep Oregon-California Trail wagon ruts near Fairbury, and the Willa Cather Childhood Home in Red Cloud. The eastern terminus at Brownville is one of Nebraska's oldest towns, with Missouri River waterfront and local wineries.	143 mi	—
Lincoln Highway National Scenic & Historic Byway (US-30) A 452-mile Nebraska-designated and nationally recognized historic byway following US-30 from the Wyoming state line to the Iowa border at Blair — the only Nebraska byway that crosses the entire state. The route traces the original 1913 Lincoln Highway, America's first transcontinental road. Eastern miles follow the Platte River valley through Omaha; the central stretch passes the Lincoln Highway Visitors Center in Shelton and the 'stair steps' original alignment at Gothenburg; the western leg offers open plains scenery and historic markers toward the Wyoming border.	119 mi	—
Loup Loop / Broken Bow Area (NE-92) ~80–100 mi loop. Mix of rolling plains and Sandhills terrain.	1 mi	—
Loup Rivers Scenic Byway About 150 miles along Nebraska Highways 11 and 91 from Wood River to Dunning, following the Loup river valleys from farm country into the edge of the Sandhills. A quieter mix of rolling plains and dune terrain than the better-known NE-2 corridor.	111 mi	—
Outlaw Trail Scenic Byway (NE-12) NE-12 follows the Missouri and Niobrara river bluffs for roughly 231 miles from South Sioux City to Valentine, with some genuinely sweeping curves near Niobrara State Park. Smith Falls, Nebraska's tallest waterfall, and Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge sit near the western end.	108 mi	—
Sandhills CorralStop A bar and grill at the junction of US-83 and Nebraska Highway 2 in Thedford — the most notable food and fuel stop in the middle 100-plus-mile stretch of the 272-mile Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway. Known for burgers and smoked prime rib. In a region where gas and meals can be 50+ miles apart, Thedford is the critical mid-route resupply.	—	—
Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway (NE-2) NE-2 runs 272 miles from Grand Island to Alliance across the largest stabilized sand dune field in the Western Hemisphere, with long banked turns that follow the dune terrain. The scenery improves dramatically west of Broken Bow; plan fuel stops, as towns are far apart.	194 mi	—
Scotts Bluff National MonumentStop A 800-foot-tall sandstone and clay bluff rising dramatically above the North Platte River valley — one of the most recognizable landmarks on the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails. The 1.6-mile Summit Road winds through three tunnels to a paved overlook with sweeping views across western Nebraska into Wyoming. Operated by the National Park Service; established 1919.	—	—
Toadstool Geologic ParkStop An otherworldly badlands of mushroom-shaped clay pedestals capped with sandstone slabs, formed 38–24 million years ago — geologically related to the South Dakota Badlands. Located in the Oglala National Grassland north of Crawford. Open 24 hours, free, with a 1-mile interpretive loop trail and primitive camping. Fossils of entelodonts and hyaenodons have been found here.	—	—
Western Trails Scenic & Historic Byway (US-26) A 144-mile Nebraska-designated scenic byway following US-26 and NE-92 from Ogallala to the Wyoming border, tracing the Oregon, California, and Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trails. The route passes Chimney Rock National Historic Site, Scotts Bluff National Monument, the North Platte River valley, and Gering-Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area. The western segment follows NE-92 through Bridgeport and Bayard before merging to Gering; eastern miles follow US-26 through the Platte valley from Ogallala to Oshkosh.	109 mi	—

By Switchback · Updated 2026-06-10

Best season

May–early October

Helmet law

Required under 21; 21+ exempt with safety course

Eye protection

Required unless windshield

Lane splitting

Not permitted

Nebraska's best riding lives in the parts of the state the interstate never touches. The Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway (NE-2) runs 272 miles from Grand Island to Alliance across the largest stabilized sand dune field in the Western Hemisphere, with long banked turns that follow the dune terrain and scenery that improves dramatically west of Broken Bow. Along the northern border, the Outlaw Trail Scenic Byway (NE-12) follows the Missouri and Niobrara river bluffs for roughly 231 miles from South Sioux City to Valentine, with genuinely sweeping curves near Niobrara State Park and side trips to Smith Falls — Nebraska's tallest waterfall — near the western end. Between them, the Loup Rivers Scenic Byway traces about 150 miles of Highways 11 and 91 from Wood River to Dunning, following the Loup river valleys from farm country into the edge of the dunes. This is distance riding: big horizons, far-apart towns, and roads that ask you to settle in rather than attack.

The Sandhills cover about a quarter of Nebraska, and almost nobody outside the state knows they exist. They're grass-stabilized sand dunes — the largest such field in the Western Hemisphere — and NE-2 was engineered through them in long, banked curves that follow the terrain instead of fighting it. Up north, NE-12 earns its Outlaw Trail name from the river-bluff country along the Missouri and Niobrara, where the road finally gets to bend. Nebraska riding rewards a particular temperament: if a 270-mile day of open country, small-town cafes, and almost no traffic sounds like a feature rather than a bug, this is your state.

Matching the Route to Your Bike

Long-haul dune country: The Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway (NE-2) runs 272 miles from Grand Island to Alliance. The banked sweepers through the dunes suit touring bikes and cruisers perfectly; the scenery turns properly remarkable west of Broken Bow. Plan fuel around Grand Island, Broken Bow, and Thedford — the gaps between them are the longest on this page.
River-bluff curves: The Outlaw Trail Scenic Byway (NE-12) follows the Missouri River bluffs roughly 231 miles from South Sioux City to Valentine. The best stretch of sweeping curves sits around the village of Niobrara and Niobrara State Park, where the Niobrara River meets the Missouri. Smith Falls State Park and the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge are short side trips east of Valentine.
Quiet valley alternative: The Loup Rivers Scenic Byway (NE-11/NE-91) covers about 150 miles from Wood River, just off I-80, to Dunning at the edge of the Sandhills. It's the gentler, emptier cousin of NE-2 — rolling farm-to-ranch transition country with Burwell as the natural midpoint stop. Any bike works; arrive at Dunning with fuel to spare.
Dual-sport and ADV: The byways themselves are paved, but the Sandhills are laced with minimum-maintenance county roads and sand two-tracks. Sand riding skills are mandatory off the pavement — dune sand swallows street tires.

Seasonal and Road Hazards to Know

Wind is constant and crosswinds are the price of admission — the same open terrain that makes the views also means there's nothing to break a 30-mph gust before it reaches your lane. Deer are the top wildlife hazard at dawn and dusk, especially in the river-bluff country along NE-12 and the Niobrara valley. Ranch country adds cattle trucks, slow farm equipment, and loose gravel dragged onto the pavement at section-road intersections.

Spring and early summer bring fast-building thunderstorms with hail, and shelter is scarce — on the emptiest stretches of NE-2 you can ride 30 miles without an awning to hide under, so watch the sky and check radar at every stop. Cell coverage drops out across large parts of the Sandhills; download offline maps and tell someone your route before committing to the remote sections.

Planning Notes

Valentine is the best multi-day base in the north — full services, the western anchor of NE-12, and access to Smith Falls and the Niobrara National Scenic River. Broken Bow plays the same role on NE-2. The two byways link naturally into a multi-day loop: NE-2 west through the dunes, north to Valentine, then NE-12 east along the rivers. Watch the calendar in early August — the Sturgis Rally (August 7–16 in 2026) sits just across the South Dakota line, and rally traffic flows through northern and western Nebraska that week, tightening lodging in the small towns. Either embrace the company or shift your dates.

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// Frequently asked

Nebraska changed its helmet law effective January 1, 2024. Riders under 21 must wear a DOT-compliant helmet. Operators 21 and older may ride without a helmet only if they hold the proper motorcycle license and have completed an approved motorcycle safety course (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,279); out-of-state riders qualify with a valid motorcycle license from their home state. Passengers may go helmetless only if they are 21 or older and the operator qualifies for the exemption. Wearing a helmet is strongly recommended regardless of what the law allows.

Yes. All operators must use eye protection — glasses covering the orbital region, goggles, a face shield, or a windshield that protects the operator's line of vision in all operating positions (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,279). Helmetless riding without eye protection is a citable violation.

No. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,308 prohibits motorcycles from overtaking a vehicle in the same lane and from operating between lanes of traffic or adjacent rows of vehicles. Treat splitting and filtering as prohibited.

Carefully. Towns thin out fast west of Broken Bow, and the most distinctive dune scenery coincides with the longest empty stretches. Fuel in Grand Island or Broken Bow heading west, top off in Thedford near the heart of the Sandhills, and don't pass a station below half a tank. The same logic applies to the Loup Rivers byway — Dunning, at its western end, has minimal services.

Indirectly, yes. The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally runs August 7–16 in 2026, just across the South Dakota line from Nebraska's northwest corner, and westbound riders funnel through the state in the days around it. Expect more bikes on NE-2 and NE-12 and tighter lodging in western and northern Nebraska towns during rally week — book ahead or shift your trip a week or two either way.

The Sandhills Journey (NE-2) is the signature ride, but it's a commitment — 272 miles one way. If you want the essence in a day, ride the Broken Bow–to–Alliance section, where the dunes are at their best. Riders who prefer river scenery to open dunes should pick the Outlaw Trail (NE-12) instead and aim for the sweeping curves around Niobrara State Park, with Smith Falls as the payoff near Valentine.

//Sources & references

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,279 — Nebraska Legislature ↗Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,308 — Nebraska Legislature ↗Nebraska Helmet Law — Sarpy County, NE ↗Nebraska outlines how to legally ride a motorcycle without a helmet in 2024 — Lincoln Journal Star ↗Updated motorcycle helmet requirements advanced — Unicameral Update ↗Is Lane Splitting Legal in Nebraska? — Hauptman, O'Brien ↗Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (August 7–16, 2026) — Travel South Dakota ↗