Columbus, Nebraska Travel Guide
Introducing Columbus, Nebraska! Located in eastern Nebraska, Columbus is home to around 24,000 residents. This community has plenty of history, shopping, and steakhouses to explore! Located near Lincoln, NE (1hr 15min, 75 miles), Omaha, NE (1hr 30min, 90 miles), and Sioux City, IA (2hrs, 120 miles), Columbus is a great day trip or weekend getaway. Read the travel guide below to see all this town has to offer!
Start your trip to Columbus by learning about the local history! Visit the Platte County Historical Society to learn about the area, and the Andrew Jackson Higgins National Memorial to learn about the Columbus native, whose boat innovations turned the tides of World War II. Need something for the kids? Spend some time at the Columbus Area Children’s Museum.
Columbus has lots of fun shops to check out. Head to Unique Farm Boutique and The Valencia Boutique for some new clothes and accessories. Find antiques at Cottonwood Antique Mall and Colonial Antiques. Find some thrifty clothes at Fabulous Forever or pick up your next great read from Terrace Books.
For something outside, head to Lake Esther and walk the trails or paddle in the water. Be sure to check out Pawnee Plunge Water Park while you’re here. This popular spot is perfect to make a splash and cool off in the summer.
Columbus has many great places to eat, many of which involve steak! Start your day with coffee from The Broken Mug and breakfast favorites from Picket Fence Cafe. For lunch, grab a burger from Reeders 11th Street Grub & Pub or bar favorites from Big 10 Sports Bar & Grill. Looking for more history? Stop by Glur’s Tavern for tavern food, an establishment heavily frequented by Buffalo Bill. Consider a nice break in the day with a local brew from HWY 14 Brewing Company. For dinner, have a nice steak meal at Husker Steak House, Reg’s 7 Mile Steakhouse, and Prime 10 Steakhouse & Venue. Not craving steak? Other great options include Dusters for upscale American and Tokyo Japanese Cuisine for sushi and hibachi.
Need a place to stay during your trip to Columbus? Consider booking a room at The Wild Plum Beyond Bed & Breakfast, Columbus Inn, or Platte Valley Inn. Want a whole rental to yourself? Consider booking a Vrbo. Here are some of our favorites: Lakeside Cottage for 4 and Renovated Church Home for 6.
Want to visit Columbus but not sure when? Consider coming during the Columbus Days Festival, a yearly festival to celebrate the town. Whatever you’re into, Columbus, Nebraska has something worth seeing. We hope this travel guide gives you a glimpse into life in Nebraska that can inspire a future visit. To find more travel guides near you, check out our map!
Happy Travels!
The Modern Travel Guide
