Omaha to Phoenix road trip: Drive time, distance & best stops
The best road trip stops on the Omaha to Phoenix drive are Kearney NE, Raton NM and Albuquerque NM. The distance from Omaha to Phoenix by car is 1,300 miles, with a 19h50m driving time.
Planning an Omaha to Phoenix road trip itinerary
The Omaha to Phoenix drive connects the biggest cities in Nebraska and Arizona.
Omaha is the biggest city in Nebraska, and has a handful of solid attractions rather than anything truly great.
The Durham Museum has a rather eclectic set of exhibits, but the setting is marvellous – in the art deco Union Station. On a sunny day, meanwhile, the Heartland of America Park offers great views of the Missouri River.
Top Omaha experiences include electric bike rentals, scavenger hunts and the Henly Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.
Omaha hotels with excellent guest ratings include the Cambria and the Kimpton Cottonwood.
A stay in Phoenix is at its best when you explore the surrounding Sonoran Desert. That might be in a hot air balloon flight, on an ATV tour or on a guided sunset hiking adventure. You can also do day tours along the Apache Trail.
For other Phoenix experiences, try a downtown food tour, a street art tour or a spooky nighttime ghost walk.
Attractions that you might wish to buy advance include cell phone-friendly tickets for include Phoenix Zoo, the Sea Life aquarium or a drunk Shakespeare performance.
For Phoenix accommodation options with a bit of character, try the art-splashed Foundre or the resort-like Raintree at Phoenix South Mountain Preserve.
Omaha to Phoenix distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Omaha to Phoenix is 1,300 miles. That makes for a driving time of around 19 hours and 50 minutes.
The best stops to add to an Omaha to Phoenix road trip are Kearney NE, Raton NM and Albuquerque NM.
Omaha to Phoenix drive: Kearney NE
There are a few moderately interesting museums in Kearney, Nebraska. The Kearney Area Children’s Museum has plenty of interactivity for the kids, MONA covers art and the Fort Kearney Museum offers glass bottom boat rides.
But easily Kearney’s most prominent attraction is the Great Platte River Road Archway. It straddles the I-80, and you can go inside for exhibits about the Oregon Trail.
Omaha to Phoenix road trip attractions: Raton NM
Raton NM lies just to the south of the scenic, 7,834ft-elevation Raton Pass, which straddles the Colorado/ New Mexico border. This was once one of the key points on the Santa Fe Trail. There’s a scenic overlook on the Colorado side, and a camp and café on the New Mexico side.
Raton is also the gateway to the Sugarite Canyon State Park, which offers all manner of outdoor activities and plenty of wildlife viewing.
Best stops between Omaha and Phoenix: Albuquerque NM
Fabulous Albuquerque experiences include a sunrise hot air balloon flight, old town ghost walks, nature tours by bike and guided hops between craft breweries . You can also pay a visit to the castle-like Turquoise Museum and old town food tours focusing on New Mexican flavours.
Great Albuquerque accommodation choices include the historic, adobe-style Casas de Suenos and the old town’s art-filled Hotel Chaco.
- For more suggestions, check out the Albuquerque to Phoenix road trip guide.
More Omaha road trips
Atlanta to Omaha | Chicago to Omaha | Omaha to Colorado Springs | Dallas to Omaha | Denver to Omaha | Omaha to Des Moines | Houston to Omaha NE | Omaha to Kansas City | Omaha to Minneapolis | Omaha to Nashville | North Platte to Omaha | Omaha to Oklahoma City | Omaha to Salt Lake City | Omaha to St Louis.
More Phoenix road trips
Albuquerque to Phoenix | Phoenix to Colorado Springs | Dallas to Phoenix | Denver to Phoenix | El Paso to Phoenix | Phoenix to Flagstaff | Phoenix to Grand Canyon (South Rim) | Houston to Phoenix | Phoenix to Kingman | Las Cruces to Phoenix | Phoenix to Prescott | Phoenix to San Antonio | Phoenix to Santa Fe | Phoenix to Sedona | Phoenix to Tombstone | Phoenix to Tucson | Phoenix to Williams AZ | Winslow to Phoenix | Phoenix to Yuma.