Road Tripping from Austin to Scottsbluff: Your Guide to Drive Time and Fun Stops Along the Way

If you're looking for a long road trip across the United States, you might be wondering about the travel time between Austin, Texas and Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Luckily, there are plenty of routes to choose from depending on your preferences and time constraints. Here, we'll break them down for you.

Route 1: I-35 N to I-80 W

The most direct route from Austin to Scottsbluff takes you through the heart of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and the eastern edge of Colorado. It's about 1,073 miles, and with good traffic and no major stops, you should be able to complete it in about 16 hours.

But why rush it? Stop in Fort Worth for some delicious BBQ, check out Oklahoma City's Bricktown Entertainment District, or catch a ballgame in Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium. If you're feeling up to a longer break, visit Denver's art scene or drive the Pikes Peak Highway just outside the city.

Route 2: US-281 N

The second shortest route takes you through the middle of the country, with stops in Wichita Falls, Oklahoma City, and Salina, KS. This route is about 928 miles and should take about 14 hours. One fun stop to make is the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center in Hutchinson, which houses the world's largest collection of artifacts from the Soviet space program.

Route 3: US-287 N

This route takes you through Amarillo, Texas and the panhandle of Oklahoma, before crossing into the Great Plains of Colorado and Wyoming. It's about 1,127 miles and a 17-hour drive. Stop to see the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, or explore the history of the Old West at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum in Wyoming.

Route 4: I-10 W to I-25 N

If you're looking for a more scenic route and don't mind an extra day of driving, this one takes you through desert terrain and pine forests before reaching the Rocky Mountains. This route starts in San Antonio, Texas, and heads west to Las Cruces, NM before turning north to Denver, CO. It's about 1,500 miles and could take up to 24 hours. However, you can stop at Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas, the White Sands National Park in New Mexico, or the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado.

Recommendations Along the Way

No matter which route you choose to take, there are plenty of places to see and things to do. In addition to the destinations mentioned above, here are a few other suggestions:

• Amarillo, TX - Big Texan Steak Ranch, Cadillac Ranch, Palo Duro Canyon State Park
• Oklahoma City, OK - National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Myriad Botanical Gardens
• Denver, CO - Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, Denver Art Museum, Denver Botanic Gardens
• Cheyenne, WY - Cheyenne Depot Museum, Wyoming State Museum, Vedauwoo Recreation Area

No matter which route you choose, enjoy the journey as much as the destination. Make sure to take frequent rest stops, stay hydrated, and stock up on snacks. With the right attitude and some planning, your road trip from Austin to Scottsbluff could be the adventure of a lifetime.