ROAD SORTIES Scenic Roads

Loup Rivers Scenic Byway

Loup Rivers Scenic Byway is a State Scenic Byway in Nebraska. Within Nebraska it covers roughly 140 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Loup Rivers Scenic Byway with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.

Nebraska's Loup Rivers Scenic Byway runs 150 miles on Highways 11 and 91 from Wood River to Dunning, crossing the Sandhills roughly through the midpoint town of Ord. It takes its name from the North, Middle, and South Loup Rivers, named by early French fur trappers using 'loup,' their word for wolf. The Pawnee once made their home along these rivers, and the Pawnee Indian Museum near Genoa documents their culture and history. Fort Hartsuff, active from 1874 to 1881 during the Plains Indian Wars, served as a relief post protecting settlers on the open plains, and Burwell's Nebraska's Big Rodeo has run every year since 1921. At the byway's western edge, the Nebraska National Forest, the largest hand-planted forest in the country, rises improbably out of grass-covered sand dunes. Rolling Sandhills grassland, dotted with lakes and wetlands, defines most of the drive between these historic stops.

Plan a drive on Loup Rivers Scenic Byway →

What is a State Scenic Byway?

State Scenic Byways are roads a state has formally recognized for their scenic, natural, historic or cultural value — each state's own curated collection of drives worth taking slowly.

Where to Stay along Loup Rivers Scenic Byway

No campgrounds are listed close to Loup Rivers Scenic Byway yet, but there are rooms near the route.

Campsite, lodging, RV rental and membership links are affiliate links — booking through them may earn Road Sorties a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Recreation.gov links are not affiliate links.

← All scenic roads in Nebraska