Major city · United States
SutherlandSutherland, Nebraska
Skip as a base: see the O'Fallon's Bluff trail ruts and the state aid bridge in 2–3 hours, then sleep in North Platte, 25 mi east.
Sutherland is a farm-and-railroad town of about 1,300 people on the South Platte in Lincoln County, 25 mi west of North Platte on I-80. Its draw is trail history: Oregon-California Trail ruts at O'Fallon's Bluff and Mormon Trail ruts near the 1910s state aid bridge. Two to three hours covers it; lodging is one motel and a reservoir campground.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (heat and storms), Dec–Feb (ice, closed seasonal stops)
- Airports
- LBF · DEN
- Nights
- 0–1
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Sutherland911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Sutherland, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyLow-crime small town; the real risks are highway driving, summer storms, heat and rattlesnakes in the grassland.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportLBF North Platte Regional (About 25 mi east; connecting flights from Denver.
- Getting aroundCar only for the sights: O'Fallon's Bluff and the reservoir are outside town.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee to go$2–4
- Street or quick mealDeli sandwich or breakfast sandwich$6–10
- BeerDraught beer in a town bar$4–7
- Budget bedReservoir campsite, a night, per roomUS$20
- Mid-range bedSmall-town motel double room, a night, per roomUS$95
- High-end bedSmall-town motel double room, a night, per roomUS$140
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$60 · Mid US$110 · High US$200
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- LBF North Platte Regional (About 25 mi east; connecting flights from Denver. Check current schedules.) · DEN Denver International (About 3.5 h west by I-80 and I-76; the usual arrival for a road trip.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
Feb
Avoid
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
Mar
not flagged
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Apr
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
May
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Jun
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Jul
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Aug
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Sep
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Oct
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Nov
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Dec
Avoid
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
Best: May–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)), coolest Jan (−11°C (12°F)12°F (−11°C) low), wettest May (10 rain days), driest Jan (4). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Sutherland: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
−11°C (12°F)12°F (−11°C)
4 rd
Feb
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
−9°C (16°F)16°F (−9°C)
4 rd
Mar
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
6 rd
Apr
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
8 rd
May
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
10 rd
Jun
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
9 rd
Jul
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
8 rd
Aug
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
8 rd
Sep
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
6 rd
Oct
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
5 rd
Nov
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
4 rd
Dec
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
−10°C (14°F)14°F (−10°C)
4 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Car only for the sights: O'Fallon's Bluff and the reservoir are outside town. The grid itself is walkable or bikeable in 10–15 minutes. No public transit.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
North Platte
goDoor to door: About 25–30 min
I-80 east, about 25 mi
Buffalo Bill Ranch, Bailey Yard viewing and the region's hotels and restaurants.
Hershey, Nebraska
cautionDoor to door: About 15 min
I-80 east, about 12 mi
Small I-80 stop; pair it with North Platte rather than a trip of its own.
Brady, Nebraska
cautionDoor to door: About 25 min
I-80 east, about 22 mi
Another small Platte valley town; a short leg on the same drive.
Wallace, Nebraska
cautionDoor to door: About 30 min
Highway 25 south, about 25 mi
Quiet farm town; the drive itself is the point.
McCook
overnightDoor to door: About 1 h 45 min
Highway 25 south then US 6/34 west, about 90 mi
Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep there or skip.
Grand Island
overnightDoor to door: About 2 h
I-80 east, about 130 mi
A staging city for the eastern Platte valley, not a day trip.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Sutherland town
One motel on First St; a car is needed for everything else.
Sutherland Reservoir
Camping about 5 mi south on Highway 25; check in at the Oregon Trail Golf Course. Seasonal.
North Platte
25 mi east on I-80: the practical base for this stretch, with chain hotels and more food.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $60–90 excl. bed
- Mid
- $90–140 excl. bed
- High
- $140+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Small-town motel double room1 × 1 night × US$95 | US$95 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$110 | US$220 |
| Fuel, 100 mi at 28 mpg1 × US$12 · check | US$12 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$10 | US$20 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$35 |
| Trip total≈ US$191 per person per day, bed included | US$382 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee to go | $2–4 |
| Deli sandwich or breakfast sandwich | $6–10 |
| Drive-in burger and shakeSeasonal; check hours. | $8–14 |
| Draught beer in a town bar | $4–7 |
| Gallon of gascheck | $3.00–3.60 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Rattlesnakes near the trail ruts and reservoir grassland; watch where you step.
- The Mormon Trail ruts sit on private land: cross the fence only if you leave no damage.
- Summer storms bring hail and sudden wind; check the forecast before driving.
- Fuel and food are thin between towns: fill up at the I-80 interchange.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
SutherlandSutherland, Nebraska
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Embassy
No consulates here; nearest for most countries are in Denver or Omaha (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- I-80 Sutherland interchange → North Platte: about 25 mi, 25–30 min by car
- Sutherland → Sutherland Reservoir: about 5 mi south on Highway 25 (check)
- Sutherland → Denver: about 3.5 h by I-80 and I-76
Say or show
- Where are the Oregon Trail ruts? — Where is the trail ruts site?
- Is this private land? — Is this private land?
- How far is North Platte? — How far to North Platte?
- Can I camp here? — Can I camp here?
- Is there gas close by? — Is there gas nearby?
- Thank you — Thank you
Rural Nebraska: distances are long, cell signal can drop, and many seasonal businesses close in winter.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Sutherland. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (heat and storms), Dec–Feb (ice, closed seasonal stops) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for LBF and DEN: last connections, drive times, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: town grid, O'Fallon's Bluff rest area, the state aid bridge and Mormon ruts, the reservoir.
- Place pages with verified access notes (bluff ruts, bridge, private-land ruts) and eat pages with seasonal hours.
- Storm and heat fixtures so gates A–D can go green.