7 Best Nebraska Towns For A Winter Getaway

During the winter, Nebraska transforms into a quiet, snow-covered playground, perfect for those seeking an event-filled seasonal getaway. Winter visitors can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, including scenic hikes, sledding, skating, and ice fishing.

For those who prefer to stay warm, there are many unique indoor experiences, from local events and snug cabins, to inviting pubs, and shops with hot cups of coffee and delicious baked goods. Each of these elements makes an ideal setting for those seeking to explore the best Nebraska towns during the winter.

Kearney

Home to the University of Nebraska at Kearney and filled with a variety of outdoor activities, food, shopping, and local history, Kearney, Nebraska, is a colorful city. With cold winters, there is plenty to do inside, where you can stay warm and still enjoy the season. Head over to McCue’s Nebraska Taproom for Trivia Nights and test your knowledge while enjoying a variety of unique light-flavored beers.

Visitors can watch a classic winter game by heading over to the Viaero Center to watch a game of ice hockey, or you can grab your skates or rent a pair and attend a public indoor ice-skating event. Cottonmill Park is a popular spot in the winter due to its wide sledding hill. Visitors can also build snow forts and sculptures around town, provided there is winter snowfall.

Ashland

Located on the southern bank of the Platte River is the town of Ashland, Nebraska. During the winter, the area experiences an average of between 20 inches to an upper range of 40 inches of snowfall, and the town becomes an oasis for adventure and exploration. Head over to nearby Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, a popular spot in the winter for sledding, ice skating, and cross-country skiing.

Qwest Lake is another great outdoor spot in the winter, stocked with rainbow trout; it is a perfect place for ice fishing. Stop by Fariner Bakery, which offers seasonal coffee, such as cinnamon and nutmeg lattes and peppermint mochas. Every year in December, Ashland holds their Holiday Craft Festival, with over 80 vendors, you are sure to find something to take home.

Valentine

Valentine, Nebraska, is known for its outdoor activities, with scenic rivers, winding trails, and stunning wildlife. A popular activity in the winter is ice-fishing at Valentine National Wildlife Refuge, with a wide variety of fish available and sometimes close to a foot of ice covering the lakes in the area. In the winter, Smith Falls State Park, containing Nebraska’s highest waterfalls, freezes over, creating a perfect opportunity for winter photography.

Stay the night at Lord Ranch Resort, where you can rent a peaceful cabin covered in snow and stay warm while watching the beauty of the season. With clear and dark nights, winter is the perfect time for bonfires and stargazing at Merrit Reservoir.

Minden

Known as "Christmas City," the town of Minden, Nebraska, provides a warm small-town vibe, although there are plenty of places around the area to enjoy the cold weather. A particularly enjoyable experience awaits at Burchell’s White Hill Farmhouse Inn, an adorable bed and breakfast located in the countryside, where you can snuggle up and watch the snow fall.

As part of its annual Christmas City events, visitors can spend the day skating in an outdoor skating rink. Grab a hot cup of coffee, a mocha, or other specialty drinks at the Corner Nook, an inviting coffee shop that also sells boutique and homemade items. Try your luck ice fishing at one of the local ponds, such as the Minden Community Pond, a two-acre pond that in colder weather freezes over.

Gering

The town of Gering, Nebraska, is a place for a winter escape, with stunning landscapes, friendly people, and exciting seasonal events. Spend the day hiking at Scotts Bluff National Monument, with scenic winter views that are sure to captivate anyone who visits.

The nearby Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area offers winter hikes and sledding as well as a homeschool program called Evergreens and Winter Wildlife, where participants learn how animals and plants survive the winter. Every year, the Gering Civic Center holds a Fall-Winter Artists and Crafters Bazaar, where you can buy a wide array of beautiful handmade goods. If it is food you crave, head over to Gering’s Winter Farmers Market, with seasonal fruits, vegetables, and baked goods.

Papillion

Located approximately 10 miles south of Omaha is Papillion, Nebraska. The town is a great place for a winter getaway, hosting a Winter Wonderland event that features lights, local vendors, artists, and entertainment. Visitors can also go on free horse-drawn carriage rides or hayrack rides throughout the downtown area and enjoy a nice cup of hot chocolate.

Throughout the winter, the nearby Heartwood Reserve features an outdoor ice rink as part of its Winterland, offering lessons and skate rentals. About 18 minutes outside of town is the nearby Fontenelle Forest, where you can go snowshoeing or hike the Hidden Lake Trail and view the beauty of nature in the winter.

Seward

Part of the Lincoln, Nebraska, metropolitan area is the town of Seward, surrounded by stunning scenery, farmland, and wide-open spaces. During the winter, snow blankets the area, and visitors are greeted with a peaceful escape. Take a walk around the Town Square and see the beautiful decorations, from festive lights to snowmen.

Strap on some snowshoes or cross-country skis and head over to Plum Creek Trail, where you can explore the great outdoors along this three-mile trail. Learn about Operation Snowbound at the Nebraska National Guard Museum, a life-saving response to a major 1949 state blizzard. If you want to avoid the cold and stay warm, head over to Neutral Grounds and have a delicious cup of coffee.

As one of the Midwestern states of the US, Nebraska offers a blend of open natural landscapes and charming small towns shaped by the Platte and Missouri rivers, where a majority of residents live, leaving a large portion of the state untouched and ready to explore. Whether you are seeking snowy outdoor adventures or the warmth of a hot drink by the fire, the seven Nebraska towns discussed offer a perfect blend of natural beauty, charm, and comfort during the winter months.