When travelers headed west through the Great Plains in the 19th century, there was one incredibly important landmark they watched for: Chimney Rock. The landscape today looks much as it did when wagon trains crossed this way during the great western migration. Visitors can get a sense of what it must have felt like for the pioneers when they arrived here. The sandstone formation is more than 300 feet tall, and it is located in the North Platte Valley.

Chimney Rock and its surroundings have been extremely well preserved. The visitor center and Chimney Rock Cemetery are the only two modern developments in the area. Aside from the massive formation itself, the visitor center is the main attraction for learning about the site's rich history.

In addition to being a critical landmark on western journeys, Chimney Rock held significance for Native Americans and even Mormons. As a result, Chimney Rock National Historic Site is not to be missed. The museum in the visitor center displays educational materials, media presentations, and historical exhibits relating to life on the trails. Be sure to watch the short video on the important role Chimney Rock played in the expansion of the nation, serving as a guiding landmark for hundreds of thousands of western trailblazers.

• Best Time To Visit: From June to October
• Website: https://www.nps.gov/scbl/learn/historyculture/chimney-rock.htm
  
• Admission: Adults (19 and over): $8, Children (5-18): $4, Young Children (4 & under): Free
  
• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.0/5
  
• Location: Morrill County, Nebraska

Carhenge, three miles north of Alliance, is one of the strangest attractions in Nebraska. The full-scale replica of England’s famous Stonehenge is made entirely from old cars. Local resident Jim Reinders and his family built it from 38 cars, each painted gray. Some are half-buried, others are welded together, and some protrude from the ground at odd angles, just like the real Stonehenge.

It is a truly inspired monument of Americana. If you like modern art, you’ll appreciate this quirky statement piece. If you’re a vintage car enthusiasts, you’ll love the use of cars in the monument. Even if you’re just passing through a want a great photo, Carhenge is worth a stop.

Quirky automobile sculptures complement Carhenge, including “Spawning Salmon,” a car that looks like giant salmon bursting from the ground, and “The Ford Seasons,” representing the four stages of wheat grown in the area. There is no admission charge to view Carhenge, and there’s a small visitor center and gift shop where you can spend 50 cents to smash a penny for a souvenir. Carhenge is marking two special days this summer: its 30th-anniversary party on June 21 and a full solar eclipse on August 21.

• Best Time To Visit: From September through the end of October
• Website: https://carhenge.com/
  
• Admission: Free
  
• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
  
• Location: Nebraska

One of nature's most impressive avian migrations takes place in the plains of Nebraska. Each March and the first week or so of April, thousands and thousands of sandhill cranes stop in the cornfields for a bit of rest and to gorge themselves on leftover corn kernels. The best place to see this spectacle is in the area east and west of Kearney.

As you drive along Interstate 80, keep a close eye out for tall, gangly birds standing in farmers' fields, or circling above looking for places to land. They won't be hard to spot, the number of birds is astounding.

It's worth taking a detour in Kearney and getting the local map showing the most ideal viewing locations. The town and local area has done a good job of providing lookout platforms and highway pull-offs for visitors. For a more in-depth experience, head to the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary, approximately 20 minutes from Kearney.

While this airborne migration is typical of many types of birds, what makes this unbelievable is the size. More than 80 percent of all sandhill cranes make the migration following the same path. For 80 miles in Nebraska, birds fly along what is known as the flyover, which stretches all the way from Grand Island to Kearney.

• Best Time To Visit: The Middle of March
• Website: N/A
  
• Admission: Free
  
• Tripadvisor Rating: 5.0/5
  
• Location: Nebraska

Buffalo Bill had a successful career in the Wild West, making a name for himself. His legacy is now protected by the Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park. The park is located in his former home, where visitors can learn everything they can about him.

The Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park chronicles his life from childhood to career. Visitors to his home can take a self-guided tour to see preserved artifacts and details about his life. Who would have guessed that a child raised in this historic home would grow up to become one of the West's most famous showmen?

On its 25 acres, the park has several other structures, including a barn house and a log cabin. Hiking trails are nearby, and camping is permitted on the property. The main house has recently been designated a National Historic Landmark. You can now tour his Second Empire mansion from the nineteenth century. You can also see a staggering amount of Buffalo Bill memorabilia, much of which is related to his legendary Wild West Show.

• Best Time To Visit: Year- round
• Website: https://visitnorthplatte.com/directory-posts/buffalo-bill-state-historical-park/
• Admission: Adults – $4; Children 13 and under – $1; Children 3 and under – Free
• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.0/5
  
• Location: North Platte, Nebraska 69101

Learn about Nebraska’s history and Western migration from the 19th century at the immersive exhibits inside the Archway. Just outside of the city of Kearney is the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, better known as simply the Archway. The arch itself stretches over the busy Interstate 80, and it honors and represents the difficulties and importance of the Westward Expansion.

Archway visits begin by meeting buckskin-clad frontiersmen and bonnet-topped pioneer women. Take an escalator up two stories to begin an interactive tour dedicated to the routes that migrating waves of people have used through the Platte River Valley for generations. Motion-sensing exhibits explain Native American hunting routes and the Oregon, Mormon and California trails. You’ll learn about the Mormon Trail, hear about pioneers along the Oregon Trail and find out why people were so eager to travel through to California.

When you hear the train whistle you know you’re at the Transcontinental Railroad exhibit. A window looking out over I-80 and outfitted with a police radar gun shows the speeds of vehicles passing under visitors’ feet. An exhibit dedicated to the Lincoln Highway is complete with a drive-in theater display.

The Archway gift shop is a great place to stock up on coonskin caps, books and other souvenirs. Sculptures, walking trails and other exhibits are outdoors. Pioneering children love blazing their own trails in the TrailBlaze Maze.

• Best Time To Visit: Year- round
• Website: https://archway.org/
  
• Admission: Adult (13+): $15 + tax. Senior (62+): $13 + tax. Youth (6-12): $7 + tax. 5 & under: Free
  
• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
  
• Location: Kearney, Nebraska 68847

The North Platte Valley is full of unique rock formations that marked progress west for pioneers and Native Americans living in the region. Scotts Bluff National Monument is one of the most prominent landmarks that towers 800-ft above the valley. Seeing the landmark signaled that you’re even closer to exploring the Great plains.

Scotts Bluff National Monument has long been an important landmark and is now designated as a national monument for preservation. Established in 1919 by Presidential Proclamations, Scotts Bluff National Monument preserves and protects over 3,000 acres of mixed-grass prairie, rugged badlands, towering bluffs, historic trail remnants and riparian area along the North Platte River.

The main attraction is a sandstone rock formation rising high above the valley. The site also encompasses the grounds surrounding the bluff. Visit the visitor center to see exhibitions and a documentary film about Scotts Bluff. There are also interactive activities for children. When you're done inside, head to the hiking trails near the bluff. You'll have one of the best views in Nebraska and can even see Chimney Rock in the distance.

For pioneers on the Oregon, California, Mormon Pioneer, and Pony Express Trails, the bluff served as an important landmark. Visitors to Scotts Bluff National Monument can walk in the footsteps of pioneers on Oregon Trail relics, drive to the bluff's summit via the Summit Road, and marvel at the sight of the bluffs rising from the prairie. The park receives over 100,000 visitors each year.

• Best Time To Visit: Year- round
• Website: https://www.nps.gov/scbl/
  
• Admission: Free
  
• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
  
• Location: Gering, Nebraska

One of the must-see natural attractions in Nebraska's northwest corner is Toadstool Geologic Park. The park is located in a remote area of the state's extreme northwest corner and is known for its unique geologic formations. Dirt roads dominate the 19-mile drive from Crawford, Nebraska, to Toadstool; it’s an off-the-beaten-path experience that is well worth it. The badlands-like scenery, made from banded layers of volcanic ash and sediments created by flooding, is a surreal vision.

It is a must-see attraction for visitors to the state because of the stunning rock formations and unusual examples of the effects of water and wind over millions of years. Hiking the Interpretive Toadstool Trail, a well-marked one-mile loop, is the best way to experience it.

Here, paleontologists study forms and fossils from millions of years ago. Visitors can join a fascinating guided walking tour or explore on their own on a 1-mile loop trail. Aside from the otherworldly scenery, there are numerous prehistoric fossils and a 30-million-year-old stone trackway of migratory bird and animal tracks. It is illegal to remove fossils.

Camping and picnicking are also popular activities in the park. While the view near the campsites and interpretive signs is impressive, it isn't nearly as breathtaking as what you'd see on the hike, which takes just over an hour if you stop frequently to take in the breathtaking scenery. A detailed trail brochure explaining the numbered post markers along the way is available at the Trail Site.

• Best Time To Visit: Nighttime
• Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nebraska/recreation/recarea/?recid=10616
• Admission: $3/vehicle/day use. $15/ vehicle/night camping
  
• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
  
• Location: Harrison, Nebraska

Fans of aircraft and aviation technology will be impressed by the extensive collections on display at this museum in Ashland, midway between Omaha and Lincoln. The Strategic Air and Space Museum is a fantastic place to go if you want to have a one-of-a-kind experience that combines flight simulations with aviation history, animal encounters, and more. The Strategic Air and Space Museum will captivate you whether you are a veteran or simply interested in military aviation. From the Wright brothers' first flight to the most recent space shuttle launches, the Strategic Air and Space Museum is one of the best places to visit in Nebraska, United States.

The museum, which began as the Strategic Air Command in 1959, grew over the years and moved to its current location in a modern facility in 1998. A few years later, the name was changed to the Strategic Air and Space Museum.

The museum covers 300,000 square feet and displays a wide range of airplanes, spacecraft, and changing special exhibits. The massive B-17G "Flying Fortress," the B-25N "Mitchell," and the MIG-21F "Fishbed-C" are among the aircraft highlights. Several ICBMs (Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles) are stationed outside the main building. These missiles were designed to deliver nuclear warheads but were never used, fortunately for humanity.

A planetarium with seasonal astronomy shows and motion rides for a fee that simulate being in a helicopter and riding a roller coaster are also on-site. A diverse range of traveling exhibits, permanent exhibits, and special events provide museum visitors with one-of-a-kind experiences.

• Bes Time To Visit: Year- round
• Website: https://www.sacmuseum.org/
  
• Admission: $12 - adults age 13 years and above, $11 - seniors or military, $6 - children ages 4-12 years, ages 3 and under - free
  
• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
• Location: Ashland, Nebraska

Indian Cave State Park in Nebraska is home to more than 3,000 acres overlooking the Missouri River. It is named after an impressive sandstone cave with breathtaking petroglyphs. These petroglyphs are prehistoric Native American depictions of life from a long-forgotten era. Some of the images found in the sandstone include buffalo and hunters.

The park's main attraction is the cave and petroglyphs, but it also has an impressive network of hiking and biking trails that overlook the Missouri River, hardwood forests, and secluded areas. Indian Cave State Park also hosts annual events and is home to a wealth of history, including the historic river town of St. Deroin. Living history weekends and seasonal events make this a popular destination for both visitors and locals.

There are more than 22 miles of hiking and biking trails, as well as 16 miles of equestrian trails. Along the trail, there are benches and shelters, and visitors are encouraged to pick up a hiking map at the main entrance. Along the trails, you can see deer, turkey, beavers, racoons, and an endless number of birds. Year-round naturalist programs and birding tours are available. Outdoor enthusiasts can access the Missouri River via two concrete ramps; wrangler-guided horseback trail rides are available during the summer and fall, and several shelters can be reserved for events and celebrations.

Campgrounds provide both primitive and RV camping options. The primitive campground is open all year and has 134 RV units with electrical hookups. The camping areas include showers, laundry facilities, picnic tables, and grills. There is even a group equestrian campground area for those who bring their horses to the park. Indian Cave State Park has several great amenities and options for those who want to explore the great outdoors, and it should be on the itinerary of anyone traveling through the Midwest.

• Best Time To Visit: Year- round
• Website: N/A
  
• Admission: $30 for an Annual Permit, $15 for a Duplicate Annual Permit (used for that second vehicle in your family) or a Daily Permit is $6 per day
  
• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.0/5
  
• Location: Shubert, Nebraska

If you have an inner desire to become the lonely cowboy making his way across the Great Plains, then the Cowboy Trail is for you. This 195-mile trail follows an old Chicago & Northwestern railway line as it traverses the northern part of the state.

Communities along the trail are generally spaced about 10-15 miles apart. Although dedicated trail restrooms and drinking fountains are not available on the trail, these amenities are typically available from town parks and trailside businesses. In addition to water, it's also recommended that travelers bring spare tire tubes as Texas sandbur seeds can occasionally be found on some sections of the trail.

Beginning on the trail's east end in Norfolk, you'll follow the Elkhorn River, which is lined with tall trees. The surrounding valley is picturesque, dotted with farmsteads and cultivated fields. There is a detour in this section, just east of Clearwater, where a bridge was washed out in 2010; the detour takes you from 517th to 519th streets via the shoulder of US Highway 275.

West of O’Neill, you'll experience more native prairie lands and, in Long Pine, the stunning Sandhill country takes over. These grass-covered dunes, the largest in the western hemisphere, carry you along the trail en route to Valentine. Here, the Cowboy Trail crosses the Niobrara River Valley—where five major ecological systems converge—via a dramatic 0.25-mile trestle 150 feet above the river. The trail is open to walkers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. It's best to travel from west to east to ensure you have the prevailing winds at your back.

• Best Time To Visit: April through September
• Website: https://bikecowboytrail.com/
  
• Admission: Free
  
• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
• Location: Nebraska