Eastern Nebraska’s Sandhills hold their secrets low to the ground. They rise slowly—more elevation shift than topographic drama—forming one of the largest grass-stabilized dune systems in the Western Hemisphere. It’s a landscape shaped by ancient wind, where the terrain gathers itself into quiet, muscular undulations just before dissolving into the Platte’s loamy flats. The grass sways. And the towns are stitched into the land like seams in a well-worn coat.
The Sandhills stretch over 19,000 square miles, but on the eastern edge—where cropland gives way to rangeland—you’ll find a series of communities built into the rhythm of the land. Places like Burwell and North Loup sit beside rivers that cut clean channels through dune-stiffened terrain. Others, like Ashton and Ravenna, edge up to rolling bluffs where prairie grasses grow deep and the soil grows sandy. These towns are practical and precise—born of cattle drives, rail spurs, and seasonal migration—but each one offers a distinct vantage point for understanding the Sandhills as a working and living landscape.
This is the kind of region where the surrounding environment still sets the tone. Trails leave straight from town limits into blowouts and pastures. Public land access is often a handshake away. And on any given afternoon, a drive just outside of town reveals sharp dune contours beneath a wide horizon.
Whether you’re paddling the Calamus River, watching prairie chickens boom at dawn, or just scanning the terrain from a gravel ridge outside Taylor, this is where the Sandhills become visible—through towns that reflect the shape, function, and restraint of the land itself.
15. North Loup: Peaceful Countryside Retreat
North Loup exudes quiet charm, resting beside cottonwood groves and the gentle bends of the North Loup River. The town’s Popcorn Days festival has filled Main Street with parades and free popcorn every August since 1901, making it one of Nebraska’s oldest continuous celebrations.
Birders gather at sunrise on the nearby river bluffs to watch sandhill cranes staging in spring, a spectacle that feels almost private compared with the crowds farther south. Our favorite hidden spot is the two-mile trail behind the old brick school, leading to a bench that overlooks native prairie restored by local volunteers.
Antique hunters will appreciate Country Traders Mall, housed in a repurposed lumberyard and stocked with farm relics. After a full day, the village’s vintage neon theater sign glows like a beacon against dark-sky perfection.
The average price for a 3-4 bedroom home in North Loup ranges from $100,000 to $400,000, providing affordable living in a charming small town.
Where is North Loup?
North Loup lies in Valley County, about 50 miles north of Grand Island and a quick detour west of Nebraska Highway 11. The town sits on the transition zone where flat cornfields yield to the first sandy ridges of the eastern Sandhills.
Drivers usually reach it by taking U.S. 281 to Ord and following the tree-lined river road north. Its lightly traveled location means quiet roads ideal for cycling and gravel-grinding adventures.
14. Ravenna: The Friendly City
Ravenna earned its nickname through block-party traditions and a downtown where shop owners greet visitors by name after a single visit. Each July, the city hosts Annevar (Ravenna spelled backward), turning the city park into a carnival complete with sand volleyball under string lights.
Ravenna’s Burlington Depot Museum showcases railroad history and even houses a working telegraph demo that kids adore. Just outside town, Happy Jack Peak rises 180 feet above rolling pasture, offering panoramic views and a rare chance to stand atop an ancient dune.
Stargazers flock here in late summer when the Perseid meteor shower paints the sky unobstructed by big-city glow. Before leaving, many travelers pop into Sandhills Spirits, a craft distillery tucked in an old grain elevator that still smells faintly of corn.
In Ravenna, 3-4 bedroom homes typically cost between $150,000 and $450,000, offering options for those seeking a peaceful Nebraska community.
Where is Ravenna?
In Buffalo County, Ravenna sits 25 miles northwest of Kearney along Nebraska Highway 2, also known as the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway. The highway’s gentle curves reveal native prairie grasses immediately after departing the Platte Valley.
Visitors arriving by car often pair Ravenna with a side trip to nearby Sherman Reservoir for fishing or paddle-boarding. Thanks to its shortline-rail past, the town is also a whistle-stop on Amtrak’s Chicago-Denver route, though only freight trains pass regularly today.
13. Burwell: Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway
This stretch of Burwell sits right on Highway 91, where travelers first sense the Sandhills rising in rhythmic dunes north of town. The community’s colorful murals celebrate ranch life, rodeo legends, and the Loup River’s winding path.
A lesser-known gem is the Calamus Outfitters ranch tour, where guests ride atop open-air buses into blow-out valleys to see prairie chickens booming at dawn. Just ten minutes west, Calamus Reservoir offers white-sand beaches that surprise newcomers who associate Nebraska only with corn.
Try renting kayaks to explore inlets where pelicans preen undisturbed. Evenings often end with live music at Sandstone Grill’s courtyard under strings of Edison bulbs. Burwell presents 3-4 bedroom houses priced from $150,000 to $450,000, blending affordability with scenic Sandhills surroundings.
Where is Burwell? (Scenic Byway Section)
Burwell is located in Garfield County, about 80 miles north of Grand Island and directly on Nebraska Highway 91, part of the nationally designated Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway.
The town nestles along the North Loup River, giving anglers easy access to cool, clear water. Most visitors arrive via Highway 281 and then head west, watching cropland gradually shift to grass-covered dunes. That slow transformation makes the drive to Burwell as memorable as the destination.
12. Ashton: Small Town with Big Scenery
Ashton may have fewer than 200 residents, yet the view from its water tower platform (open during community events) stretches across wave after wave of grassy hills. Polish heritage runs deep here, evident in St. Francis Church’s stained-glass windows imported from Kraków in 1903.
The town café serves pierogis every Friday alongside classic Nebraska beef burgers, blending old-world flavor with local ranching pride. Scenic drives radiate in all directions; our pick follows 812th Road west to a high ridge where prairie coneflowers blanket midsummer roadsides.
Photographers appreciate the abandoned wooden granaries that dot the landscape, weathered silver against green pasture. An evening walk often ends at the restored 1902 bandstand, where impromptu polka tunes still echo.
Ashton offers 3-4 bedroom homes averaging $100,000 to $400,000, perfect for buyers looking for rural charm.
Where is Ashton?
Situated in Sherman County, Ashton lies eight miles east of Loup City on Nebraska Highway 92. The village sits just south of where the Platte Valley’s loam gives way to sandier soils, creating an intriguing mix of crops and native grass.
Travelers from Omaha typically reach Ashton in under three hours via I-80, then exit north at York. Light traffic and a gently curving route make the final stretch enjoyable for motorcyclists.
11. Cedar Rapids: Charming Streets and Scenic Views
Cedar Rapids greets visitors with maple-shaded avenues and a downtown anchored by a 1913 brick opera house now hosting bluegrass jams. The Cedar River loops around town, forming fishing holes where smallmouth bass thrive among limestone shelves.
Locals boast of the hidden waterfall on private ranchland south of town; tours can be arranged through the Boone County tourism office. During autumn, tree-lined 140th Street becomes a tunnel of gold, perfect for slow Sunday drives.
We also recommend a stop at the restored Phillips 66 station, now a museum of road-trip memorabilia. Each June, Big Rodeo Days brings barrel racing and ranch bronc riding to an arena carved out of pastureland just north of Main Street.
Cedar Rapids features homes with 3-4 bedrooms ranging from $150,000 to $450,000, appealing to those wanting a cozy small-town feel.
Where is Cedar Rapids?
The village sits in Boone County along Nebraska Highway 52, roughly halfway between Columbus and Ord. Its namesake river begins in the Sandhills, giving the community a direct hydrological link to the dunes.
Visitors commonly approach from U.S. 281, enjoying open vistas that reveal scattered blowouts hinting at the larger Sandhills to the west. In spring, grain trucks share these roads with birding vans, creating a uniquely Nebraskan traffic mix.
10. St. Paul: Gateway to Nature and History
St. Paul combines ornate Victorian homes with prairie trailheads only minutes apart. The Howard County Historical Village preserves a blacksmith shop and one-room schoolhouse, offering living-history demos on summer weekends.
Outdoor fans launch canoes into the Middle Loup River at an access point two miles east, gliding through sandbar mazes rich with turtle tracks. The Grover Cleveland Alexander Baseball Museum honors the Hall-of-Fame pitcher born nearby and houses one of his game-used gloves.
Try the Riverside Disc Golf Course, where fairways weave between towering cottonwoods and glimpses of open prairie appear at every dogleg. After sundown, locals gather for pie at The Sweet Shoppe, a 1922 soda fountain still scooping malts.
3-4 bedroom homes in St. Paul usually fall between $150,000 and $450,000, offering a balance of affordability and community.
Where is St. Paul?
St. Paul rests 25 miles north of Grand Island on U.S. 281, making it an easy add-on for travelers driving I-80 across the state. The town occupies a natural terrace above the Loup River floodplain, affording elevated views toward the Sandhills horizon.
Most visitors arrive by car, but cyclists appreciate the shoulder-wide highway connecting St. Paul with smaller river villages. Its strategic location lets day-trippers reach prairie chicken blinds or Platte River crane roosts within an hour.
9. Spalding: Rivers and Rolling Plains
Spalding’s charm rests where Beaver and Cedar Creeks meet, creating oxbows framed by native prairie. The Mill Bridge, a rare lattice-truss span built in 1909, is now a pedestrian path into thick riparian forests teeming with songbirds.
Anglers often have the creek to themselves, casting for channel catfish beneath overhanging cottonwoods. For a taste of local culture, check out the Tiny Theatre, a 48-seat venue housed in a converted bank that screens classics every other Friday night.
A favorite spot for sunset is the hayfield overlook on 820th Road, where meadowlarks provide the soundtrack. During winter, bald eagles perch on ice-rimmed snags along the creek, creating postcard scenes.
Spalding delivers 3-4 bedroom housing options priced from $100,000 to $400,000, ideal for first-time homebuyers.
Where is Spalding?
Located in Greeley County along Nebraska Highway 91, Spalding lies 60 miles northwest of Columbus. The town borders the eastern fringe of the Sandhills, evident in nearby rolling pastures dotted with blow-out swales.
Most travelers reach Spalding via U.S. 281, then follow Highway 91 west, a route lined with hay bales stacked like sculptures. Because two state highways intersect here, it makes a handy waypoint for loop drives through central Nebraska.
8. Loup City: Polish Heritage and Lake Fun
Loup City proudly bills itself as the “Polish Capital of Nebraska,” a claim celebrated each June during Polish Days with pierogi-making contests and folk dance troupes. The downtown square circles a 1915 courthouse and retains original iron hitching posts visible beside modern planters.
Adventure starts five minutes away at Sherman Reservoir, where clear water fills a canyon carved by prehistoric floods; kayaking into sheltered coves often yields encounters with grazing deer on the banks. History buffs can tour the Bristol Rock Church, a fieldstone structure withstood prairie winds since 1887.
A lesser-known treat is the apple orchard north of town that offers self-serve cider slushies on the honor system. Evening travelers gather on the west dam to watch the sun drop behind knobby hills reflected in still water.
Loup City’s 3-4 bedroom homes typically cost between $150,000 and $450,000, fitting a range of budgets in a quiet setting.
Where is Loup City?
The town sits in Sherman County at the junction of Highways 92 and 58, roughly 40 miles north of Kearney. Rolling loess hills give way to sandy rangeland just north of the reservoir, marking the Sandhills’ southeastern edge.
Drivers can reach Loup City via I-80 to Kearney, then Highway 10 north, completing the trip in under an hour and a half. Plenty of pullouts line the route, ideal for photographing prairie wildflowers from May through July.
7. Scotia: Village by the Cedar River
Scotia rests along a lazy bend of the Cedar River, its stone-arched bridges framing reflections of willow trees in calm water. The village green hosts farmers markets where tins of locally harvested honey sit beside Sandhills prairie seed packets.
Campers favor Scotia’s Riverside Park, where grassy pads sit steps from fishing jetties and fire rings crafted from repurposed well casings. Near town, Happy Jack Chalk Mine—an underground tunnel carved through ancient diatomite—offers a 56-degree refuge on sweltering days.
Try renting tubes at the general store and floating the mellow river past bluffs thick with wild grape vines. White pelicans often circle overhead during fall migration, using thermal currents rising from nearby sandy ridges.
Scotia’s 3-4 bedroom properties fall in the $100,000 to $400,000 range, offering modest living with scenic views.
Where is Scotia?
Scotia lies in Greeley County on U.S. Highway 281, 43 miles north of Grand Island. Its location along the Cedar River places it within a narrow riparian corridor that slices into the eastern Sandhills.
Visitors driving from Omaha usually take Highway 92 west to 281, enjoying increasingly open vistas as they progress. Low traffic and broad shoulders make this stretch popular with bicycle touring groups.
6. Greeley: Irish Roots and Rural Splendor
Greeley’s shamrock street banners hint at the town’s 19th-century Irish immigrant heritage, still celebrated during the annual St. Patrick’s Bash each March. Downtown storefronts display Celtic knots alongside ranch brands, reflecting a blend of homesteader history and contemporary agriculture.
The Greeley County Museum houses artifacts from nearby Ghost Town Scotia Junction, including an intact telegraph key and prairie schooner parts. Fans of rural art drive six miles east to see “Prairie Parish,” a hillside chapel painted sky blue and open 24/7 for reflection.
Every August, the county fair brings ranch rodeos and homemade kolache contests to the fairgrounds under a sea of green 4-H shirts.
Evenings in Greeley often conclude with a sunset drive north on 483rd Avenue, where sandy blowouts glow apricot in slanting light. In Greeley, 3-4 bedroom homes range from $150,000 to $450,000, giving buyers choices in this peaceful town.
Where is Greeley?
Greeley sits at the crossroads of Highways 281 and 56, roughly 55 miles north of Grand Island. It occupies fertile bottomland south of the Loup River yet is only minutes from the first sage-dotted dunes of the Sandhills.
The town’s small municipal airport welcomes fly-in visitors, while most travelers arrive along the well-paved north-south corridor of 281. From here, gravel roads head west into sandy ranch country perfect for bird-watching and photography.
5. Broken Bow: Historic Charm Near the Sandhills
Broken Bow’s brick-paved square is ringed by restored buildings such as the Arrow Hotel, where pressed-tin ceilings and buffalo mounts create frontier ambiance without sacrificing modern comfort.
The Custer County Museum chronicles early ranch life and features a fully assembled sod house inside its galleries. Outdoor lovers use Broken Bow as a supply hub before venturing into the Nebraska National Forest at Halsey, the largest hand-planted forest in the Western Hemisphere.
Just south of town, the Jenner’s Park arboretum hides a tiny suspension bridge and acres of picnic spots beneath towering oaks. Craft-beer fans gather at Kinkaider Brewing, which names each ale after regional lore like “Snow Beast” and “Devil’s Gap.”
Make time for the Sunday morning farmers market, where bison jerky shares table space with Sandhills prairie bouquets. Broken Bow presents 3-4 bedroom houses priced between $150,000 and $450,000, blending comfort with affordability.
Where is Broken Bow?
Broken Bow resides in Custer County at the meeting of Highways 2 and 21, approximately 65 miles west of Grand Island. It stands close to the geographic center of Nebraska, making it a natural jumping-off point for trips deeper into the Sandhills.
Many travelers arrive via the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway (Highway 2), enjoying sweeping vistas of grass-covered dunes from Alliance. The town’s municipal airport, with its 4,300-foot runway, welcomes small aircraft carrying anglers bound for area lakes.
4. Sargent: Antique Capital Amidst Rolling Hills
Sargent’s downtown overflows with antique stores, each tucked into false-front buildings painted in cheerful pastels. Treasure hunters (of the vintage variety) often spend an entire day combing through farm implements, carnival glass, and Depression-era signage.
The Comstock Premier Lodge nearby offers guided bison safaris across 4,000 acres of sandhill pasture, where massive bulls graze among blowout penstemon blooms. Fishermen cast for trout in the Middle Loup River upstream, thanks to cool springs that seep from sandy banks.
On Saturday nights, the community theater stages melodramas complete with audience “boos” and popcorn tosses.
Wind down with pie at the quaint café whose recipe titles—like “Grandma Got Lost in the Sandhills”—tell stories of local humor. Sargent offers 3-4 bedroom homes from $100,000 to $400,000, perfect for those seeking tranquility.
Where is Sargent?
The town sits at Highways 183 and 2 junction in Custer County, just east of where the Sandhills rise visibly in undulating slopes. Drivers from Kearney head north on 183, crossing wide grasslands dotted with windmills before rolling into Sargent’s welcoming business district.
The nearby Calamus River loop trail offers cyclists a scenic, low-traffic route into deeper dune country. Because intercity buses stop here twice daily, travelers without cars can still access the region.
3. Taylor: A Hidden Gem in Loup County
Taylor’s claim to fame is its “Villagers of Taylor” project—life-size plywood silhouettes hand-painted to depict historic residents engaged in everyday tasks from butter churning to cattle wrangling.
These figures peek around corners, turning a simple stroll into an open-air art hunt. Though small, the Loup County Historical Museum surprises guests with an original 1880s jail cell and arrowheads collected from nearby archaeological digs.
Just outside town, the “Bowring Ranch” state historical site offers insight into Sandhills ranching and expansive vistas perfect for sunset photography. Kayakers slide into the Calamus River north of town, floating past dunes where prairie roses bloom.
During late April, locals gather for prairie-chicken dances on private blinds that can be reserved through the chamber office. Taylor features 3-4 bedroom houses ranging from $100,000 to $400,000, making it an affordable retreat.
Where is Taylor?
Taylor anchors Nebraska Highway 91 in tiny Loup County, 23 miles west of Burwell. Sitting squarely on the edge of the Sandhills, the village enjoys rolling topography that climbs noticeably as drivers head north.
Visitors usually reach Taylor by following Highway 281 to Burwell, then turning west along a route dubbed the “Fossil Freeway” for its nearby Cretaceous chalk deposits. Light air traffic also touches down at the grass strip one mile east of town, a convenience for ranchers and aerial photographers alike.
2. Ord: Scenic Beauty Along the Loup River
Ord wraps around the North Loup River, its tree-lined waterway giving the town a park-like feel even in the heart of downtown. A river-walk trail connects to city parks, disc-golf fairways, and a renovated hydroelectric dam from 1925.
Shoppers browse clothing boutiques in repurposed brick warehouses, while art enthusiasts admire the Valley County Mural Project’s swirling prairie motifs. The Ord Golf Club claims some of Nebraska’s most dramatic tee-box elevations thanks to neighboring sand ridges.
Our pick for a hidden outing is Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park, where 1870s limestone buildings stand intact among cottonwoods only five miles southeast. Summer nights bring live music to the downtown square, with lawn chairs set in circles as laughter drifts beneath café-light canopies.
Ord’s 3-4 bedroom homes typically cost between $150,000 and $450,000, ideal for settling in Nebraska’s scenic Sandhills.
Where is Ord?
Ord lies at Highways 11 and 70 intersection, 72 miles north of Kearney. The town hugs the North Loup River Valley, a natural corridor between the eastern Sandhills and the loess hills to the east.
Visitors from Lincoln typically reach Ord in under three hours by following U.S. 34 and Highway 281 before cutting west. A small regional airport on the south edge of town allows quick access for anglers eager to hit nearby Davis Creek Reservoir.
1. Burwell: Gateway to the Eastern Sandhills
Burwell tops our list for good reason: Nebraska’s Big Rodeo transforms the fairgrounds into a buzzing frontier village every July, complete with saddle broncs and trick-rope artists.
Year-round, the historic square offers saddle-makers, outfitters, and a soda fountain dishing up “prairie dust” sundaes sprinkled with local honey-roasted corn. The Garfield County Frontier Museum houses a two-headed calf and a fully restored 1906 wind charger, illustrating Sandhills’ ingenuity.
Anglers adore Calamus Reservoir’s walleye runs, while hikers favor the untouched prairie of Calamus Outfitters’ Switzer Ranch. A secret treat sits nine miles north at Willow Lake, a spring-fed oasis where river otters have been spotted in early morning light.
A perfect day ends with a drive up to “Rodeo Hill,” a high point south of town where the setting sun paints golden waves across 20,000 square miles of grass. Burwell appears again with 3-4 bedroom homes priced $150,000 to $450,000, confirming its appeal for a range of buyers.
Where is Burwell? (Gateway Section)
Burwell rests in Garfield County along Highway 11, roughly 80 miles northwest of Grand Island. The town sits beside the North Loup River, marking a natural entrance into the eastern Sandhills’ sea of dunes.
Most travelers arrive via U.S. 281 and turn west at St. Paul, watching fertile fields gradually yield to open rangeland. Its central location makes Burwell an excellent home base for loop drives, wildlife tours, or simple front-porch sunsets across endless prairie.
