Nebraska Road Trip: 5 Days on Historic US Route 6ute 6 Travel Itinerary
Omaha to the Colorado Line, 5 Days
Best for: couples, solo travelers, history fans, photographers, small-town explorers
Best seasons: late spring or early fall
Total Nebraska distance: about 373 miles on US Route 6, not counting side trips
Note: US Route 6 in Nebraska does not directly pass through Grand Island, North Platte, or Ogallala. Those can be added as worthwhile side trips, especially Ogallala and Lake McConaughy.
Day 1: Omaha to Lincoln
Drive time: about 1.5 to 2 hours, plus stops
Start in Omaha with riverfront walking, historic neighborhoods, and a good breakfast before easing west. Visit The RiverFront for Missouri River views, then follow US Route 6 toward Ashland and Lincoln. Omaha’s tourism office highlights riverfront trails and city events as major visitor draws.
Highlights
- Walk Omaha’s Old Market or riverfront.
- Stop in Ashland for small-town charm and local history.
- Visit the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum near Ashland.
- Continue into Lincoln for dinner and overnight.
Dining
- Omaha: local café breakfast in the Old Market.
- Lincoln: Haymarket District for casual dinner options.
Lodging
- Stay in Lincoln near the Haymarket for walkability.
Insider tip
- Do not rush this first day. Omaha, Ashland, and Lincoln are the most attraction-dense stretches of Nebraska’s US Route 6 corridor.
Day 2: Lincoln to Hastings
Drive time: about 2.5 hours
Leave Lincoln on a slower prairie rhythm. This is where US Route 6 starts feeling less urban and more Nebraska. Watch for grain elevators, small-town murals, courthouse squares, and classic highway scenes.
Highlights
- Explore Lincoln’s Haymarket in the morning.
- Stop in Friend, a small town often noted by US Route 6 travelers.
- Continue through rural communities toward Hastings.
- Visit Hastings, known as the birthplace of Kool-Aid.
Dining
- Lunch in a small-town café along the way.
- Dinner in Hastings near downtown.
Lodging
- Stay in Hastings for easy access to museums and local restaurants.
Insider tip
- Late spring brings green fields and big skies. Early fall brings harvest color, golden light, and better photography conditions.
Day 3: Hastings to Holdrege and McCook
Drive time: about 2.5 to 3 hours
This day follows the heart of south-central Nebraska. The landscape opens wider, towns grow farther apart, and the highway begins to feel more like a long-form travel story than a checklist.
Highlights
- Morning walk in Hastings.
- Stop in Minden or Holdrege for local history and downtown photos.
- Continue toward McCook, one of the best overnight stops in southwest Nebraska.
- Explore McCook’s historic buildings, local shops, and rural heritage. McCook promotes itself as a destination for history, outdoor recreation, and rural lifestyle.
Dining
- Breakfast in Hastings.
- Lunch in Holdrege or Minden.
- Dinner in McCook at a local grill, steakhouse, or café.
Lodging
- Stay in McCook for the night.
Insider tip
- Fuel up before longer rural stretches. Western Nebraska distances feel different, especially after dark.
Day 4: McCook to Imperial
Drive time: about 1.5 to 2 hours, more with side roads
This is one of the most rewarding US Route 6 days for travelers who enjoy quiet highways, rural photography, and subtle landscape changes. The prairie begins to feel drier and more western.
Highlights
- Morning in McCook.
- Photograph open farmland, grain elevators, and long highway views.
- Stop in small communities along US Route 6 without overplanning.
- Overnight in Imperial, a practical western Nebraska base.
Dining
- Local café breakfast in McCook.
- Simple lunch stop along the way.
- Dinner in Imperial.
Lodging
- Stay in Imperial or nearby local lodging.
Insider tip
- This is a good day to slow down. The best stops may be unplanned: a courthouse square, a vintage sign, a quiet park, or a roadside view.
Day 5: Imperial to the Colorado Line, with Optional Ogallala Side Trip
Drive time: about 1 hour to the Colorado line, longer with side trips
Finish the Nebraska crossing by continuing west toward Colorado. For travelers with extra time, add a side trip north toward Ogallala and Lake McConaughy. Nebraska DOT travel resources identify Lake Ogallala and Lake McConaughy near Ogallala as notable recreation areas. Ogallala also promotes its historic “End of the Texas Trail” identity.
Highlights
- Sunrise or early morning drive west from Imperial.
- Cross into Colorado with wide-open plains behind you.
- Optional side trip: Ogallala, Lake McConaughy, and Lake Ogallala.
- Optional deeper scenic add-on: Nebraska Sandhills, one of the state’s signature landscapes. The Sandhills are described by Nebraska tourism as a region of visual landscape and ecological diversity.
Dining
- Breakfast in Imperial.
- Lunch in Ogallala if taking the side trip.
Lodging
- Continue into Colorado, or overnight in Ogallala if extending the trip.
Insider tip
- The Sandhills are not directly on US Route 6, but they are worth adding if this trip is about landscape photography, quiet roads, and Nebraska’s deeper geography.
Packing and Safety Tips
- Bring water, snacks, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a light jacket.
- Keep the gas tank above half full in western Nebraska.
- Download offline maps before leaving larger towns.
- Watch for farm equipment, deer, wind gusts, and sudden weather changes.
- In late spring, expect storms. In early fall, expect cool mornings and warm afternoons.
- Carry a phone charger, tire gauge, basic first-aid kit, and printed lodging confirmations.
- For photographers, golden hour is best around small towns, grain elevators, prairie roads, and western Nebraska skies.
Subscribe today and let Route 6 come to you, one story at a time.