Scotts Bluff National Monument
Scotts Bluff National Monument is located west of the city of Gering in western Nebraska, United States. The site is in the hands of the National Park Service. It had 182K visitors in 2025.
A national monument, 2 mi west of Gering
57% of visits come in Jun–Sep
July is the busiest month, with about 29,236 visitors. January sees about 3,540. When to go ↓
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 15°, with about 43" of snow a year. When to go ↓
Gering is the nearest base
Gering is 2 miles east, with 6 places to stay. Where to stay ↓
Established in 1919
Scotts Bluff National Monument dates from 1919 and is run by National Park Service. About ↓
Best months: May, Jun and Sep
May, June and September are the mild months, with highs of 71–83°. When to go ↓
Written from National Park Service visitor counts, NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia. Updated when the Park Service posts a new month.
Crowds and weather, month by month
Use the months below to time a visit to Scotts Bluff.
Scotts Bluff National Monument
Scotts Bluff National Monument is located west of the city of Gering in western Nebraska, United States. This National Park Service site protects over 3,000 acres of historic overland trail remnants, mixed-grass prairie, rugged badlands, towering bluffs and riparian area along the North Platte River. The park boasts over 100,000 annual visitors.
The monument's north bluff is named after Hiram Scott, who was a clerk for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company and died near the bluff in 1828. The bluff served as an important landmark on the Oregon Trail, California Trail and Pony Express Trail, and was visible at a distance from the Mormon Trail. Over 250,000 westward emigrants passed by Scotts Bluff between 1843 and 1869. It was the second-most referred to landmark on the Emigrant Trails in pioneer journals and diaries.
- Type
- National Monument
- Established
- 1919
- Elevation
- 4,409 ft
- Run by
- National Park Service
- Listed
- National Register of Historic Places (1966)
- Wikipedia readers
- 23K a year
- Official site
- nps.gov/scbl
Hours, entry and address
Rooms near Scotts Bluff National Monument
Hotels, motels or campgrounds are closest in Scottsbluff (16) and Gering (6).
Scottsbluff
The closest town with somewhere to stay.
14,259 people
4 mi northeast of Scotts Bluff National Monument Visitor Center · at the park edge
Gering
8,535 people
2 mi east of Scotts Bluff National Monument Visitor Center · at the park edge
Terrytown
1,040 people
2 mi northeast of Scotts Bluff National Monument Visitor Center · at the park edge
Minatare
696 people
11 mi east of Scotts Bluff National Monument Visitor Center · 10 mi to the park
Compare 7 towns
| Town | From the visitor center | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scottsbluff | 4 mi northeast | 5 min | 16 8 hotels · 2 motels · 3 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins · 2 campgrounds | 14,259 | $138K | D |
| Gering | 2 mi east | 5 min | 6 3 hotels · 1 motel · 2 RV parks | 8,535 | $187K | — |
| Terrytown | 2 mi northeast | 5 min | 1 1 hotel | 1,040 | $114K | — |
| Minatare | 11 mi east | 15 min | 1 1 lodge or cabins | 696 | $81K | — |
| Torrington | 29 mi northwest | 45 min | 9 4 hotels · 1 motel · 2 lodges & cabins · 2 RV parks | 6,205 | $198K | C+ |
| Morrill | 15 mi northwest | 20 min | 1 1 hotel | 918 | $141K | — |
| Bayard | 20 mi east | 30 min | 1 1 RV park | 1,087 | $110K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service, from the visitor center
Places to add to Scotts Bluff
Each of these is within 65 miles.
121 mi LandmarkChimney Rock National Historic Site
50 mi National Historic SiteFort Laramie National Historic Site37K visitors a year
59 mi LandmarkFort Robinson
40 mi National MonumentAgate Fossil Beds National Monument17K visitors a year
65 mi MuseumQuebec-One Missile Alert Facility
59 mi MuseumTrailside Museum of Natural History at Fort Robinson State Park
22 mi GardenNorthfield Park ArboretumPhoto credits
Chimney Rock National Historic Site: Mike Tigas from Columbia, MO, United States, CC BY 2.0 · Fort Laramie National Historic Site: Chris Light (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Fort Robinson: Slothus, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Agate Fossil Beds National Monument: The original uploader was Urban at French Wikipedia., Public domain · Quebec-One Missile Alert Facility: Jayron32, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Trailside Museum of Natural History at Fort Robinson State Park: Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2 · Northfield Park Arboretum: Xnatedawgx, CC BY-SA 3.0
A year of 182,392 visitors (2025)
Visits each year from 2016 to 2025.
Scotts Bluff in questions
What town is Scotts Bluff National Monument near?
Gering, NE, about 2 miles east.
When is the best time to visit Scotts Bluff National Monument?
May, June and September, with highs of 71–83°. July is the busiest month (about 29,236 visitors).
How many people visit Scotts Bluff National Monument each year?
182,392 in 2025, according to the National Park Service. The record is 194,027, set in 2021.
What is the closest airport to Scotts Bluff National Monument?
Western Neb. Rgnl/William B. Heilig (BFF), about 7 miles away. The nearest big hub is Denver (DEN), about 145 miles.
Where should I stay near Scotts Bluff National Monument?
Scottsbluff (4 mi, 16 places to stay), Gering (2 mi, 6 places to stay) and Torrington (29 mi, 9 places to stay).
Gering has the answers
Be the first to share a tip in Gering’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · National Park Service visitor use statistics · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.