Nebraska Road Trip Shocks
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about travel in Nebraska. This part of the Midwest is often referred to as “flyover country” and many Midwesterners groan about the long drive across Nebraska to get to the Mountain West. We drove across Nebraska this summer, and there were some things that surprised us on our Nebraska road trip.
Nebraska is More Than Corn Fields
Yes, the state mascot is the cornhusker, so corn and cornfields are definitely a major part of Nebraska. And while there are a lot of cornfields in Nebraska, there’s actually more than that. The topography isn’t totally flat. The western part of the state has really cool sandstone buttes at Scotts Bluff National Monument and Chimney Rock.
Driving Through Nebraska
If you don’t fly over Nebraska, then you’ll probably have to drive through it. It is seven hours to drive across Nebraska, and if you’re like many Midwest families headed to the Black Hills, you will drive across it at some point. Stretches between towns are long and desolate, so make sure you fill up your gas tank whenever you can. Fortunately, driving through Nebraska is pretty easy. The roads are nice and the speed limit on the interstate is 75 miles per hour.
We were shocked, though, at how short the highway on-ramps are. They don’t give you much room to merge and get up to speed!
Nebraska Weather
The weather in Nebraska is all over the place. They get hot humid temperatures in the summer and bitter cold and wind in the winter. Sometimes you can get both in the same day! Don’t always trust the forecast; have layers to bundle up when it’s cold and to remove when it’s hot.
Five Things You Will Love & Hate About Midwest US Travel
Things to See in Nebraska
The best way to break up the long drive across Nebraska is to check out some of the sites along the way. Many Nebraska tourist attractions are not far from the highway, so you won’t get too far off route exploring. There are some great museums in Nebraska, including art museums in Lincoln and Omaha, the International Quilt Museum, a Pioneer Village, and the Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum. The Henry Doorly Zoo is one of the best zoos in the United States.
Friendly Locals
It doesn’t take long to realize how friendly everyone in Nebraska is. Total strangers will wave or nod as you pass by on the road, especially if you get off the beaten path. Everyone we met in Nebraska was super friendly, interested in our travels, and helpful with recommendations for their favorite things to see in Nebraska. They don’t want anything from you; they’re just naturally friendly.
Love for the Cornhuskers
Nebraska loves their Cornhuskers! While cornhusking is a job that many teenagers do in the summer, in this case, we’re referring to the University of Nebraska sports programs. Of course, the Big 10 Football team is the biggest, but they get behind every Cornhusker team. And they travel all over to follow their teams. My hometown at the University of Illinois fills with Nebraska license plates anytime the Cornhuskers are coming to play the Fighting Illini.
Nebraska Time Zones
If you are driving across Nebraska, don’t let a time change catch you off guard! Most of Nebraska is in the Central Time Zone, but the Western part of the state is in the Mountain Time Zone. Keep this in mind if you’re planning to visit any attractions in Nebraska. If you’re driving west, you’ll gain an hour, and if you’re driving east, you will lose an hour.
Nebraska Food
Nebraska has invented some pretty tasty treats over the years and has managed to keep some of them secret from the rest of the world. The Reuben Sandwich and Kool-Aid both come from Nebraska. They also really like their Dorothy Lynch dressing. It’s a Nebraska staple, similar to French dressing, but they put it on everything!
Simply Jocelyn shares the best things to eat in Nebraska!
Ask any Nebraska native what food they miss most from home, and many will say “Runza.” A Runza is a beef and cabbage sandwich, or bread pocket. There’s even a fast-food chain called Runza. You have to try one when you visit Nebraska.
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
We really enjoyed our Nebraska road trip this summer. Sure, we didn’t intentionally visit Nebraska, but we made sure to explore a bit of the state rather than just passing through. I’m so glad we did! Interested in more Midwest travel destinations? Check out these other blog posts: