• The Agate Fossil Hills where mammal fossils were excavated in the early 1900's

    Agate Fossil Beds

    National Monument Nebraska

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  • Visitor Center Hours

    The visitor center at Agate Fossil Beds will be open the following hours: Memorial Day till Labor Day Open Daily 9 am - 5 pm; Labor Day till Memorial Day Open Daily 8 am - 4 pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.

Directions

If you get lost ...
Photo by Jonathan S. Garcia

Plane
Nearest air service is available through Western Nebraska Regional Airport in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, approximately 50 miles southeast of the monument.

Car
Access to region by automobile is possible via Interstates 80, 90 and 25, and various state highways and county roads.

Visitors traveling east-west on U.S. Highway 26, turn North on State Highway 29 at Mitchell, Nebraska. The park is 34 miles from Mitchell. Turn east on River Road (paved) and follow the National Park Service signs for three miles.

Visitors traveling on U.S. Highway 20, turn South on State Highway 29 at Harrison, Nebraska. The park is 22 miles from Harrison. Turn east on River Road (paved) and follow the National Park Service signs for three miles.

The park is also accessible via an unpaved 25 mile county road (River Road) from Marsland on Nebraska Highway 2. NOTE: Due to the drought in the region, travel on the 25 mile unpaved portion of River Road is not recommended for motorcycle travel and even vehicle travel on this road may want to be reconsidered. The lack of rain makes it hard for the counties maintaining these roads as both soft sandy places and washboards are beaten out by traffic. Please consider the use of Highway 29 north of Mitchell or south of Harrison to access the park.

Aside from River Road and the designated parking areas, visitors are not allowed to drive vehicles within the park boundaries. Vehicles driven by staff, adjacent landowners, and other individuals performing official business are allowed to drive inside the park on non-developed roads.

Public Transportation
No public transportation is available at the park.

  • James Cook riding James Cook riding

    Early residents spent many hours traveling on a horse.

  • Team and buggy Team and buggy

    While visiting the neighbors, the team would wait patiently.

  • Ready for a road trip Ready for a road trip

    These folks are ready for at trip to the fossil hills.

  • Crossing the Niobrara River Crossing the Niobrara River

    Before bridges were built this was how to cross the Niobrara River.

Did You Know?

Eastern Cottontail Rabbits are plentiful around the visitor center and on the rocky hills.

The Niobrara River flowing through the park is the reason that Agate Fossil Beds is home to many different animals. Both prairie animals and river animals live here. Early settlers lived in the valley as well due to water accessibility, and many original homesteads are the sites of current ranches. More...