Major city · United States
AshlandAshland, Nebraska
Give Ashland one night, or a half-day stop off I-80 between Lincoln and Omaha: the SAC Museum and the wildlife drive are the reasons to come.
Ashland is a town of about 2,500 on Salt Creek, 30 mi (48 km) from both Lincoln and Omaha, and it sits 5 mi off I-80 at Exit 426. There is no bus, no taxi and no hotel in town, so you need a car and a bed booked in advance. Two big attractions sit at the interstate exit; the town itself is a small downtown of antique shops, a cider room and a winery.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jan–Feb (cold, ice), Jul–Aug (heat and storms)
- Airports
- OMA · LNK
- Nights
- 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
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Ashland911 ▾
- 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 Ashland, 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 driving (ice in winter, deer and storms), summer heat on the park trails, and having no taxi if you drink.
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.
- AirportOMA Eppley Airfield, Omaha (About 48 km (30 mi) east by I-80; the usual arrival airport for this area.).OMA Eppley Airfield, Omaha (About 30 mi (48 km) east by I-80; the usual arrival airport for this area.).
- Getting aroundA car is required.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or ice cream cone downtown$3–7
- Sit-down mealSteak dinner$25–45
- Beerdraught$5–8
- Budget bedState-park or glamping cabin, a night, per roomUS$120
- Mid-range bedBed and breakfast room (2 people), a night, per roomUS$150
- High-end bedBed and breakfast room (2 people), a night, per roomUS$190
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$60 · Mid US$120 · High US$220
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
- OMA Eppley Airfield, Omaha (About 48 km (30 mi) east by I-80; the usual arrival airport for this area.) · LNK Lincoln Airport (About 48 km (30 mi) west; smaller, fewer flights.)OMA Eppley Airfield, Omaha (About 30 mi (48 km) east by I-80; the usual arrival airport for this area.) · LNK Lincoln Airport (About 30 mi (48 km) west; smaller, fewer flights.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
Feb
Avoid
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
Mar
not flagged
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Apr
not flagged
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
May
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°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
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Nov
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Dec
not flagged
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
Best: May–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jan–Feb, Jul–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)), coolest Jan (−10°C (14°F)14°F (−10°C) low), wettest May (11 rain days), driest Jan (5). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Ashland: 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
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
−10°C (14°F)14°F (−10°C)
5 rd
Feb
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
−8°C (18°F)18°F (−8°C)
5 rd
Mar
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
7 rd
Apr
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
9 rd
May
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
11 rd
Jun
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
10 rd
Jul
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
9 rd
Aug
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
8 rd
Sep
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
7 rd
Oct
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
6 rd
Nov
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
5 rd
Dec
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
−8°C (18°F)18°F (−8°C)
5 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
A car is required. There is no public transport and no taxi service in town. Downtown is walkable once you park, and the street grid is simple: numbered streets run north–south and increase westward, named streets run east–west. The attractions at Exit 426 are 3–5 mi (5–8 km) from downtown, so drive between them.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 40 min
I-80 east, about 48 km (30 mi)I-80 east, about 30 mi (48 km)
Big-city food, museums and the airport. Easy half-day or evening run.
Lincoln
goDoor to door: About 40 min
I-80 west, about 48 km (30 mi)I-80 west, about 30 mi (48 km)
State capital; good for a rainy day when the parks are muddy.
Gretna
cautionDoor to door: About 25 min
I-80 east, one exit before Omaha
Mostly outlet shopping and services; only worth it if you need them.
Door to door: About 1 h 15 min
I-80 west past Lincoln
Too far for a day from Ashland; treat it as a separate stop.
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.
Downtown Ashland (Silver St and N 14th St)
The only in-town beds: one bed and breakfast, plus the RV campground by Salt Creek. Book ahead; rooms are few.
Exit 426 / W Park Hwy
State-park cabins and a glamping retreat near the SAC Museum and Mahoney State Park. Car needed for everything.
Lincoln or Omaha
Both are about 48 km (30 mi) away. Sleep there and do Ashland as a half-day stop if in-town beds are full.Both are about 30 mi (48 km) away. Sleep there and do Ashland as a half-day stop if in-town beds are full.
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
- $60–100 excl. bed
- Mid
- $100–170 excl. bed
- High
- $170+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Bed and breakfast room (2 people)1 × 1 night × US$150 | US$150 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$120 | US$240 |
| Rental car, one day1 × US$70 · A car is required here. | US$70 |
| Fuel, about 60 mi (100 km) of local driving1 × US$10 | US$10 |
| SAC Museum adult ticket2 × US$14 | US$28 |
| Wildlife Safari Park adult ticket2 × US$8 | US$16 |
| Mahoney State Park day pass, non-resident vehicle1 × US$8 | US$8 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15 | US$30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$55 |
| Trip total≈ US$304 per person per day, bed included | US$607 |
From $130 a night; rates vary by date.
2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or ice cream cone downtown | $3–7 |
| Burger and fries at a pub | $12–18 |
| BBQ plate at a smokehouse | $15–25 |
| Steak dinner | $25–45 |
| Beer, draught | $5–8 |
| Wine or cider tasting | $8–15 |
| 18 holes of golfQuarry Oaks $80, Iron Horse $55, Ashland Golf Club $40. | $40–80 |
| Gallon of petrolcheck | $3.00–3.60 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- No bus, no taxi, no rideshare guarantee: plan every leg by car.
- No hotels or motels in the city; beds are a B&B, cabins and an RV campground, and they fill on event weekends.
- Camp Ashland, a National Guard training camp nearby, is off-limits to visitors.
- Summer brings heat and afternoon storms; winter brings ice on US-6 and NE-66.
- Cell signal is fine in town but patchy on the rural roads around the parks.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
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AshlandAshland, Nebraska
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Ashland is small; give the street and number, e.g. 1404 Silver St.To this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Embassy
No consulates in Ashland. Nearest consulates-general are in Omaha and Chicago; embassies are in Washington, DC.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- OMA airport → Ashland by rental car: about 48 km (30 mi), 40 minabout 30 mi (48 km), 40 min
- Fuel for a 60 mi (100 km) day: about $10
- SAC Museum adult entry: $14
Say or show
- Where is I-80 from here? — Where is the interstate?
- No — you will need to drive. — Is there a taxi or rideshare?
- Most places do; carry some cash. — Do you take cards?
Tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis (none in town).
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 Ashland. 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 Jan–Feb (cold, ice), Jul–Aug (heat and storms) · 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
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for OMA and LNK: last sensible arrival time, rental-car desk hours, overnight fallback in Lincoln or Omaha.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: downtown Silver St, the Exit 426 museum and parks, the US-6 golf and steakhouse strip, and the Salt Creek campground.
- Place pages with verified hours and ticket prices (SAC Museum, Wildlife Safari Park, Mahoney State Park) and eat pages with last orders.
- Event-weekend fixtures so beds and park entry can be flagged as full before arrival.