When you need a little getaway and want to explore our fascinating state, a day trip is perfect. You don’t have to commit to a hotel stay and you can keep costs fairly low. These 15 day trips are by no means a complete list of the things you should see in Nebraska, but they represent some of our favorite trips we’ve featured here in the past.

Obviously, in such a big state, not all of these will be possible as a day trip from every starting point. But even if you have to plan a long drive and an overnight hotel stay to see them, every one of these places is worth a visit. They’re listed here in no particular order.

1. The beautifully remote winery - in the unincorporated community of Parks
Uppa Crik Hop Yard & Tap Room at Sage Hill Loft/Facebook
Located in the very southwestern corner of Nebraska, the little community of Parks is home to Sage Hill Vineyard & Winery. The beautiful scenery is second only to the selection of delicious wines. You can even stay in the "Winemaker's Loft" for an extended trip! Read more about this lovely winery here.
2. A big step back in time - near Royal
Ashfall Fossil Beds/Facebook
Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park is an active archaeological dig that you can see in action. Watch as bones are painstakingly unearthed and learn about some of the fascinating prehistoric creatures that once inhabited Nebraska. Read more about Ashfall here.

On your way there or back, be sure to stop at the quaint farm restaurant in a barn, Green Gables of Pleasant Valley.
3. The roadside farm market - near Kimball
BeeHaven Farm Roadside Market/Facebook
BeeHaven Farm Roadside Market sells farm-fresh products grown and produced onsite and from other local area farms. It's not just a place to shop - it's a little slice of rural Nebraska life that everyone should experience at least once. Read more about the market here.
4. The tiny town you may not have heard of - Callaway
Ammodramus/Wikimedia
Callaway has a population of just around 350 people, but it has plenty to see and do. It also has an interesting history that will fascinate you. Visit on Labor Day weekend for the famed Callaway Kite Flight. Find out more about Callaway right here.
5. The most remote, isolate area of Nebraska - the Sandhills
Runner1928/Wikimedia
If it seems weird to call an area that covers 1/4 of the state "remote and isolated," you need to see the Sandhills for yourself. It's the most sparsely-populated area of the state, and it's also home to some of the most beautiful natural scenery you'll ever lay eyes on. Take the Nebraska Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway for the most scenic route through. Read more about the Sandhills here.
6. Nebraska's only mine - near Scotia
pcdoctorjim/TripAdvisor
Happy Jack Peak and Chalk Mine is a fun bit of Nebraska history-turned-tourist attraction. You can walk through the unique diatomite mine that's unlike anything else you'll find in the whole state, then enjoy the little "mountain" and the incredible scenery from the top. Find out more about it here.
7. The picture perfect little town - Crawford
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr
Crawford, a small Dawes County town in northwestern Nebraska, has retained some of its Wild West charm. There are lots of things to see and do in town, but Crawford is also the perfect home base for lots of other day trips and adventures, such as Fort Robinson, the Hudson-Meng Bison Kill Site, the Museum of the Fur Trade, and more. Check out what you can see in Crawford and the surrounding areas right here.

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8. One of the most beautiful, unique state parks - near Shubert
Mark N./Yelp
Indian Cave State Park has so much to offer visitors, and it doesn't end with the ancient petroglyph-adorned cave. There are miles and miles of hiking trails, a ghost town, outstanding camping, and absolutely breathtaking scenery. Find out more here.
9. Henderson Mennonite Heritage Park - near Henderson
Henderson Mennonite Heritage Park/Facebook
It's not every day that you find a Mennonite settlement in Nebraska. But this one near Henderson was once a thriving community. Today, the buildings and history are preserved for other generations of Nebraskans to learn from and enjoy. Read more about it here.
10. Riverside Discovery Center - Scottsbluff
Riverside Discovery Center/Facebook
This zoo/park/education center is just full of things for individuals and families to do. You'll have a terrific time while you learn about tons of animals and ecological systems. Read more about this attraction here.
11. A sweet chocolate factory tour - near Tekamah
Master's Hand Candles
Chocolate is one of our favorite things ever, and on this tour you can see where and how it's made. You can even get some samples and buy some goodies to take home with you. Find out how to take this delicious tour here.
12. The charming little town - Fairbury
Ammodramus/Wikimedia
You might not think to visit Fairbury as a destination on its own, but you should reconsider. This sweet little town has a beautifully preserved historic district and some places that seem like they're straight out of a fairy tale. If you've never visited, you might be surprised at just how lovely it is. Find out more about Fairbury here.
13. The state's tallest waterfall - near Valentine
Brett Whaley/Flickr
Smith Falls State Park is a beautiful place to spend a day. The unique ecosystem here is home to lots of plants that you won't find in other places in Nebraska. Not to mention the absolutely stunning beauty of the waterfall itself. Pictures just don't do it justice - you've got to visit this one in person.
14. The wine trail through southeast Nebraska
Google Maps
The Southeast Nebraska Winery Trail Association has a group of member wineries dotting the southeastern part of the state. We've put them together into a road trip, but you can rearrange the stops to suit your own tastes. Whatever order you visit the wineries in, you'll be delighted by their products.
15. The otherworldly landscape - in the Oglala National Grassland
Karin Dalziel/Flickr
Toadstool Geologic Park is one of the most unusual places you'll see in all of Nebraska. The rock formations here look like something you'd expect to find on another planet, and you can take a short walk among them to admire just how incredible they are. Bonus side trip: the Hudson-Meng Bison Kill Site is just a few short miles away. Read more about this geologic wonder here.

There are thousands of awesome day trips to take in Nebraska – and as always, we’ll keep telling you about them!

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More to Explore

Day Trips Near Me In Nebraska

Tori Jane | July 27, 2021

What are the best day trips in Nebraska I can take?  

Nebraska is a fun state filled with plenty of day trips perfectly designed to help us unwind without going too far away from home. From Omaha, a drive to Ashland just takes about a half-hour and is super fun for those who love wildlife and wildlife parks. Burt County is another fun place to make a whole day trip out of; boutique shops, chocolatiers, and more await visitors there like some kind of Nebraskan paradise. If you can dream it, you can make a trip out of it, and Nebraska is great for those who like low-key but engaging things to do.  

What are some must-visit places in Nebraska?  

Contrary to popular beliefs of other Americans, Nebraska is far from a boring place – you just need to know where to look. It’s a place with interesting geology, and paying a visit to both Chimney Rock and Scottsbluff National Monument are must-dos for Nebraskans and visitors alike. Our state parks are wonderful and truly showcase some of the most beautiful places in the state. There are also strange and wonderful things, like Carhenge – what is that you ask? Guess you’ll simply have to come and see.  

What kind of unique day trips in Nebraska are possible? 

If you can dream it, you can drive it – that's what we say. You can create all kinds of unique day trips in Nebraska. If you’re an ice cream fan, draw up plans for a tour of the best creameries in the state. If you’re a chaser of waterfalls, a road trip to all the most iconic falls in the state is a must-do. What about an awesome natural wonders road trip, which takes you to all the most interesting places in nature that Nebraska’s got to offer? You could also create a trip in which you visit all most offbeat and bizarre places in the state; the possibilities are truly endless and entirely up to the limits of your imagination.  

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Explore Nebraska

Featured Addresses
Sage Hill Vineyard, 70993 Rock Creek Rd, Parks, NE 69041, USA
Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park, 517th Ave, Royal, NE, USA
BeeHaven Farm Roadside Market, 855 NE-71, Harrisburg, NE 69345, USA
Callaway, NE 68825, USA
Sand Hills, Whitman, NE 69366, USA
Happy Jack Peak, Scotia, NE 68875, USA
Crawford, NE 69339, USA
Indian Cave State Park, 720 Road, Shubert, NE, USA
Heritage Mennonite Park, 720 Rd B, Henderson, NE 68371, USA
Riverside Discovery Center, South Beltline Highway West, Scottsbluff, NE, USA
Master's Hand - Every Woman's Dream Shop, 3599 Co Rd F, Tekamah, NE 68061, USA
Fairbury, NE 68352, USA
Smith Falls State Park, 90159 Smith Falls Rd, Valentine, NE 69201, USA
Toadstool Geological Park and Campground, Harrison, NE 69346, USA