Is there anything better than scoring a really great bargain? Summer and fall in Nebraska are chock full of garage sales, yard sales, jumble sales, flea markets, and all kinds of ways for some of us to part with our unwanted stuff while others snap it up for a great price. The mother of all of these sales is Junk Jaunt in Nebraska, a massive annual flea market that spans more than 300 miles of central Nebraska and features more than 500 registered vendors for a huge three-day event.

The official Junk Jaunt route is a loop with two little tails, but you don't have to stay on the highway - there are tons of other shopping opportunities in the towns inside and around the loop.

A big part of the Junk Jaunt fun is visiting all of the little towns in central Nebraska that you might otherwise never get around to visiting.

The harshest reality of Junk Jaunt is that you probably won't be able to get to every single sale in just three days.

Sorry, hardcore junkers. But it sure is fun seeing how many stops you can squeeze in!

The term "junk" is used very loosely here, of course.

One person's "junk" is another person's must-have piece of nostalgia, fix-up project, or delightful decor.

There's more than just individual yard sales on the Junk Jaunt route.

Entire communities come together to sell their stuff, and you can find all kinds of food and beverages, souvenirs, and historic sites to explore.

In fact, many people make a vacation of the Junk Jaunt.

The huge flea market has been held every year since 2004, and for plenty of sellers and buyers it has become a beloved tradition. For some shoppers, this is their yearly vacation, and they spend it doing what they love most: hunting for treasures and meeting new people.

It's not just about the junk - it's also about getting out to see Nebraska.

The Junk Jaunt was originally a tourism project to bring people to the Loup Rivers Scenic Byway. It and the Sandhills Journey Byway form the route that will take you to all of the towns and all of the sales.

This is one of the best ways to see central Nebraska while you support local economies.

All of the towns on and around the Junk Jaunt route benefit from the influx of tourists who eat at the restaurants, stay at the hotels, and frequent the businesses there. (If you need a good justification for taking a three-day vacation to go to hundreds of yard sales, that's a pretty good one!)

For more information about the towns on the Junk Jaunt, be sure to visit the official website. And mark your calendars: this year, the Junk Jaunt celebrates its 21st anniversary Sept. 27-29th, 2024. Don't forget to pack some great road trip snacks.

Curious about what to expect at this Nebraska flea market? Check out this YouTube video c/o Nebraska Public Media:

If you can't make it to this year's Junk Jaunt, don't worry - it's held on the last weekend of September every year. But you can get your fix of antiques and other treasures any time of the year at these 40 antique stores in Nebraska.