Iowa state line to Shelton
165.2 miles: 3 hours, 16 minutes
Miles and miles of farmland and train tracks accompany US 30; at some points these are all you can see for long stretches at a time. Occasional silos and farmhouses dot the landscape too. You’ll pass Fremont State Recreation Area, which offers abundant recreation opportunities, including boating and hiking. The bridge over Loup River is a highlight.
Shelton to North Platte
122.8 miles: 2 hours, 24 minutes
Railroad tracks, fields and silos continue to closely parallel US 30 on this leg of the trip. In Kearney the fields temporarily give way to businesses and a residential area as well as The University of Nebraska at Kearney campus. Crossing over the North Platte River in North Platte is a nice way to end this leg.
North Platte to Wyoming state line
182.8 miles: 3 hours, 21 minutes
The rural US 30 scenes continue on the final leg of this trip—more fields, more flatland. Chappell Lake provides a contrast to all the earth tones. If your trip takes place in mid-June, plan to check out North Platte’s