America's Scenic Byways

Sandhills Journey

272 miles - 5 hours

Named for the Sandhill Cranes that descend on the shallow Platte River every spring migration and for the area’s 20,000 square miles of stabilized sand dunes that are the largest in the Western Hemisphere, the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway bisects a timeless, wind-blown ocean of undulating dunes, native grass, and vivid blue lakes. Take a journey on this pristine byway to a place where culture abounds and where Nature is still master of the land.

Local family homesteads along the Sandhills Journey keep alive the traditions of generations. Small towns punctuate the road, and friendly folks are always ready for rich conversation. Third, fourth, and fifth-generation cattle ranchers or “Sandhillers” are stewards of the land, working side-by-side with nature and grazing cattle where buffalo once roamed. Come see trains that lie parallel the trails blazed by the pioneers, and explore the boundless beauty of forests that are home to diverse wildlife. Have some old-fashioned fun at an authentic soda fountain and the local drive-in.

Explore Nebraska Highway 2, the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway, and leave with an immediate desire to return, a sense of rejuvenation, and the comforting feeling of knowing that there is still a wild place in the world right in the heart of Nebraska.