Valentine

Travel Guide
Valentine featuring a sunset as well as an individual male
Visit this historic ranching town to experience the vast Nebraskan sand hills, fish for prized catches and hike through canyons carved by the Niobrara River.

Channel your inner cowboy at Valentine, a town in the midst of Western Nebraska’s expansive sand hill region. This town began as a tent settlement at the terminus of a railroad in the early 19th century. Come here today to find a vibrant and historic community set amongst landscapes that have inspired artists, poets and ranchers.

Learn about Valentine’s railroad and ranching history at the Cherry County Historical Society Museum, which displays models and photographs of the town’s early days. Stop by Centennial Hall, housed in a school building dating back to 1897, to see more exhibits of Valentine’s storied past.

Explore the fertile Nebraska sand hills, where plains have supported ranchers herding cattle for over a century. This 19,000-square-mile (49,000-square-kilometer) expanse of grass-stabilized dunes is the largest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere.

Camp under the stars at Merritt Reservoir, one of the vital water sources in the region. Swim in cool waters, fish for bass and enjoy the photogenic bluffs and tree-lined beaches that surround the lake. Stop by the Merritt Trading Post for fishing and camping gear.

Follow the Niobrara River downstream from Valentine to hike trails through stunning riverine canyons. Canoe down the river with a guide and see bison and mule deer grazing on the banks. Visit the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge to see huge flocks of ducks nesting.

Experience the life of a cowboy at Arthur Bowring Ranch, where you’ll see authentic barns and dwellings of 19th-century ranchers. Take a pleasant horseback tour through the Cottonwood Lake State Recreation Area and see stunning waterfalls in the Smith Falls State Park.

Valentine is located in western Nebraska, about 5 hours’ drive from the state capital, Lincoln. Get around town and its surrounding attractions by car.

Follow the footsteps of pre-industrial ranchers along the cowboy trail, a limestone pathway that leads southeast of Valentine. Hike to the Niobrara gorge to a particularly spectacular wooden bridge spanning the 148-foot valley.

Trade Winds Motel
Trade Winds Motel
2.5 out of 5
1009 E. Hwy 20, Valentine, NE
The price is HK$548 per night from 7 Apr to 8 Apr
HK$548
per night
7 Apr - 8 Apr
Stay at this business-friendly motel in Valentine. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (950 reviews)
"I don’t select a motel because they have a great breakfast but their free breakfast leaves a little to be desired, but to be fair they really don’t have the space for much more."

Reviewed on 11 Mar 2024

Trade Winds Motel
Comfort Inn Valentine
Comfort Inn Valentine
2.5 out of 5
101 S Main St, Valentine, NE
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is HK$853 per night from 31 Mar to 1 Apr
HK$853
per night
31 Mar - 1 Apr
Stay at this hotel in Valentine. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Popular attractions Trailhead Park and Niobrara National Scenic River Headquarters ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (343 reviews)
"The beds are very comfortable. A dirty towel was left in the bathroom on the hook behind the door, would be my only complaint, but other than that it was a pleasant stay."

Reviewed on 3 Dec 2023

Comfort Inn Valentine
The Niobrara Lodge
The Niobrara Lodge
2.5 out of 5
803 East Highway #20, Valentine, NE
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is HK$853 per night from 31 Mar to 1 Apr
HK$853
per night
31 Mar - 1 Apr
Stay at this spa hotel in Valentine. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Popular attractions Bryan Bridge and Cherry County Historical Society ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (493 reviews)
Safe harbor in middle of storm
"After driving all day in a blizzard it felt great to arrive at hotel in one piece! The bad part was leaving the hotel the next day with the blizzard still going. The room was warm and thankful for a great bed after long difficult drive."

Reviewed on 26 Mar 2024

The Niobrara Lodge
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Valentine Vacation Rental w/ Modern Interior!
Valentine Vacation Rental w/ Modern Interior!
Valentine
Stay at this vacation home in Valentine. Enjoy WiFi, onsite parking, and gas grills. Popular attractions Cherry County Historical Society Museum and Trailhead ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (5 reviews)
Great Stay
"We had a great time in Valentine with our group of friends."

Reviewed on 26 Aug 2023

Valentine Vacation Rental w/ Modern Interior!
Valentine Vacation Rental w/ Modern Interior!
Valentine Vacation Rental w/ Modern Interior!
3.5 out of 5
Valentine
Stay at this 3.5-star cottage in Valentine. Enjoy free parking, a TV, and 2 bathrooms. Popular attractions Cherry County Historical Society Museum and Trailhead ...
Valentine Vacation Rental w/ Modern Interior!
God's Country - Ainsworth / Long Pine, NE
God's Country - Ainsworth / Long Pine, NE
Ainsworth
Stay at this family-friendly vacation home in Ainsworth. Enjoy free WiFi, a fitness center, and onsite parking. Popular attraction Sellers Barton Museum is located ...
God's Country - Ainsworth / Long Pine, NE
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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