# Road trips in Nebraska > 4 road trips and 13 hand-picked places in Nebraska, with routes, stops and practical tips for driving and camping. Source: https://camping-spirit.com/roadtrips/nebraska/ 4 road trips and 13 hand-picked places in Nebraska, with routes, stops and practical tips for driving and camping. ## Road trips through Nebraska - [On the Oregon Trail in Nebraska](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/oregon-trail/): Following the pioneers along the North Platte to Chimney Rock and Scotts Bluff. - [Nebraska Sandhills on Highway 2](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b9-nebraska-sandhills/): Across the grass-covered dunes of the Sandhills on one of America’s emptiest two-lane roads, from Grand Island to Carhenge. - [Niobrara River: waterfalls and fossil rhinos](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b9-niobrara/): Waterfalls, bison and river floats around Valentine, then east along US-20 to fossil beds and the Missouri. - [Along the Platte: Lincoln, the crane migration and Buffalo Bill](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b19-platte-river-cranes/): Follow I-80 and the Platte River west across Nebraska, from the capitol in Lincoln to the sandhill crane roosts, the Archway and Buffalo Bill’s ranch. ## Places worth the detour in Nebraska - [Carhenge](https://camping-spirit.com/places/carhenge/): Stonehenge rebuilt from 39 gray-painted vintage cars, standing in a field in the Nebraska Sandhills. - [Smith Falls State Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b9-smith-falls-sp/): Nebraska’s highest waterfall, reached over a footbridge across the Niobrara and a boardwalk through a cool, fern-lined canyon. A popular take-out for river floaters. - [Ashfall Fossil Beds](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b9-ashfall-fossil-beds/): Rhinos, horses and camels buried by volcanic ash about 12 million years ago, left exactly where they fell. Watch paleontologists at work inside the Rhino Barn; open in the warmer months. - [Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b19-rowe-sanctuary/): The best place to see the spring migration of sandhill cranes, when over half a million birds roost on the Platte River from late February to early April. Book blind tours at dawn or dusk well in advance. - [Scotts Bluff National Monument](https://camping-spirit.com/places/scotts-bluff/): A landmark for Oregon Trail pioneers. Wagon ruts are still visible at the foot of the bluff. - [Chimney Rock](https://camping-spirit.com/places/chimney-rock-ne/): A thin spire of rock that pioneers mentioned in their diaries more than any other landmark. - [Nebraska National Forest, Bessey District](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b9-bessey-forest/): The largest hand-planted forest in the US, started in 1902 to prove trees could grow in the Sandhills. Climb the Scott Lookout Tower for a view of pines against the dunes. - [Snake River Falls](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b9-snake-river-falls/): One of Nebraska’s largest waterfalls by volume, dropping into a sandstone canyon south-west of Valentine. A short path leads to viewpoints above the falls. - [Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b9-fort-niobrara-nwr/): Bison and elk graze the prairie above the Niobrara River on a site that was once an army post. Drive the wildlife loop and walk down to Fort Falls. - [Niobrara State Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b9-niobrara-sp/): Bluffs over the meeting of the Niobrara and Missouri rivers, crossed by an old railroad bridge now used as a trail. Cabins and campsites look out over the river bottoms. - [Nebraska State Capitol](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b19-nebraska-capitol/): A 1932 limestone tower capitol topped by a gold dome and The Sower statue, with rich mosaic floors inside. Free guided tours run hourly, and the 14th-floor observation decks look out over the plains. - [Great Platte River Road Archway](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b19-archway/): A museum built as a bridge spanning I-80, telling the story of the Oregon, California and Mormon trails, the Pony Express and the Lincoln Highway. Use exit 275 east of Kearney; large lot for RVs. - [Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b19-buffalo-bill-ranch/): William F. Cody’s 1886 Scout’s Rest mansion and barn, where he wintered his Wild West show. Open mainly in summer; the adjoining state recreation area has a campground. ## FAQs **What are the best road trips in Nebraska?** Popular routes include On the Oregon Trail in Nebraska, Nebraska Sandhills on Highway 2, Niobrara River: waterfalls and fossil rhinos and Along the Platte: Lincoln, the crane migration and Buffalo Bill. CampingSpirit has 4 trip guides that pass through Nebraska, each with a stop-by-stop itinerary and a route map. **Which places in Nebraska are worth a detour?** Our editors recommend Carhenge, Smith Falls State Park, Ashfall Fossil Beds and Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary.