Admire the Great Plains, Toadstool Park’s crazy formations, and enjoy swimming, horseback riding, hiking, the Museum of the Fur Trade, and Ogallala National Grassland.
U.S. 20 from Gordon to Crawford puts you through Nebraska’s Pine Ridge Country. The 67-mile trip takes about 1-1/2 hours non-stop. The scenery of the Great Plains on a Nebraska drive is some of the best anywhere in the entire United States.
Begin driving in the town of Gordon. Head west on Route 20 toward the towns of Hay Springs and Rushville. Both have oasis-like parks and historical museums. A side trip north from Crawford will bring you at Toadstool Park where you’ll discover some of the wildest formations anywhere across the Great Plains. To the southwest, you can visit the 974-acre Chadron State Park, which offers hiking, swimming, and horseback riding. The Museum of the Fur Trade, 3 miles east of Chadron, offers the history of North American fur trading. Continue west along the White River to the town of Crawford, seat of Fort Robinson State Park, Nebraska’s largest national park. The Trailside Museum and Fort Robinson Museum also are within the park. You can end the journey by visiting the 95,000-acre Ogallala National Grassland.
Starting Point:
Gordon, NE
Distance of Drive:
67 miles
Must Eat:
Hacienda
605 West Hwy. 20, Gordon, NE 69343
Phone: 308-282-0075
Call ahead to confirm hours of operation.
Best Time of Year for Drive:
Spring to fall
Points of Interest on Drive:
The Mari Sandoz Room
The Fort Robinson Museum and Trailside Museum
Toadstool Park
The Museum of the Fur Trade
Tagged with: hiking • horseback riding • Nebraska
Filed under: Best Road Trips