Origin
Beatrice, NE
Evening in Beatrice on Sunday
Local time
5:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Beatrice, NE to Kearney, NE
Drive Time
2h 59m
Distance
160.6 mi
259 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 48m
★
6 AM
3h 0m
8 AM
3h 22m
10 AM
3h 8m
12 PM
3h 5m
3 PM
3h 9m
5 PM
3h 21m
8 PM
2h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Beatrice, NE
Jean-Paul Wettstein
Kearney, NE
Jean-Rene Chazottes
Trip Overview
Spanning 160.6 miles across Nebraska’s Great Plains, this trip connects Beatrice to Kearney in approximately 2 hours and 59 minutes. Because the total travel time is under three hours, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. You should budget roughly $24 for fuel to complete the journey comfortably. Navigating through the heart of the state, you will rely primarily on a combination of I-80, Highway 103, and Highway 33. It is a straightforward, practical connection that moves you efficiently between these two regional hubs without unnecessary complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
80.3 miles from Beatrice, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 91% of your trip takes place on major thoroughfares. The journey settles into a rhythm quickly, highlighted by a significant 95.9-mile uninterrupted stretch along I-80. While the initial segments utilize Highway 103 and Highway 33, the transition to the interstate defines the latter half of the drive. The personality of the route is defined by consistency and speed rather than technical turns or winding backroads. Staying alert during the long interstate portion is essential, as the expansive landscape of the Great Plains provides a steady, predictable backdrop for your drive.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 95.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Highway 103. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 77 / North 6th Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 59m drive. You will face about 16 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 77 / North 6th Street): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 0.1 miles (US 136 Truck; N-4 Truck / Ella Street): Navigation decision point; at 33.7 miles (N-33 / Highway 33): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 77 / North 6th Street
Merge onto US 77 / North 6th Street
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 136 Truck; N-4 Truck / Ella Street
Turn right onto US 136 Truck; N-4 Truck / Ella Street
Navigation decision point
5
33.7 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
N-33 / Highway 33
At end of road, turn left onto N-33 / Highway 33
Navigation decision point
5
62 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 west
Navigation decision point
Toward I 80 west
5
158.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 54m in
Take the exit toward NE 44: Kearney, Archway Monument
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NE 44: Kearney, Archway Monument
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 95.9 mi | 1h 35m |
| Highway 103 | 22.4 mi | 26m |
| Highway 33 | 10 mi | 11m |
| 420th Road | 8.7 mi | 10m |
| West Highway 4 | 8.5 mi | 11m |
| Highway 6 | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| Highway 80E | 3 mi | 3m |
| 2nd Avenue | 2 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 95.9 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Beatrice, NE and Kearney, NE.
1
Start on this road
37 ft
·
4 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
62 ft
·
4 sec
3
Merge onto US 77
432 ft
·
18 sec
·
North 6th Street
4
Turn right onto US 136 Truck; N-4 Truck
0.3 mi
·
57 sec
·
Ella Street
5
Turn left onto North 2nd Street
376 ft
·
9 sec
·
North 2nd Street
6
Turn right onto US 136; N-4
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Court Street
7
Turn right onto N-4
8.5 mi
·
11 min
·
West Highway 4
8
Turn right onto N-103
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Highway 103
9
Continue on N-103
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
10
Continue on N-103
9.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Highway 103
11
At end of road, turn left onto N-33
10.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Highway 33
12
At end of road, turn left onto US 6; N-15
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Highway 6
13
Continue on US 6
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Street
14
Turn right onto L-80E
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 80E
15
Continue on L-80E
8.7 mi
·
10 min
·
420th Road
16
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 80 west
17
Merge onto I 80
96 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
·
I 80
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward NE 44: Kearney, Archway Monument
19
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
2nd Avenue
20
Turn right onto West 24th Street
0.1 mi
·
37 sec
·
West 24th Street
21
Turn left onto Central Avenue
51 ft
·
1 sec
·
Central Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Trip Plan
Since the entire trip takes less than three hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your personal schedule. You only need to account for one planned stop to break up the monotony of the long interstate stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the longer highway segments to ensure you stay within your $24 budget. Because the longest leg covers nearly 100 miles, use that single stop strategically to stretch your legs and refresh before finishing the final push into Kearney. Being prepared for the high percentage of highway driving will help you maintain a steady, stress-free pace throughout the day.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 80.3 miles from Beatrice, NE, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.3 miles or 1h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kearney, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Beatrice, NE so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Beatrice, NE
This is one driving day of about 160.6 miles and 2h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Beatrice, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 95.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 80.3 mi from Beatrice, NE · 1h 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 80.3 miles from Beatrice, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 95.9 miles.
Arriving in Kearney, NE
The final approach into Kearney, NE usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Kearney, NE.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.39 one way
$48.79 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $26.89 | $53.78 |
| premium | $4.80 | $30.32 | $60.64 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $35.68 | $71.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.2 | 0 | $16.86 | $7.71 |
| Efficient EV | 40.2 | 0 | $14.05 | $6.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64.2 | 0 | $22.48 | $10.28 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Kearney, NE
Evening in Kearney on Sunday
Local time
5:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
29 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 59m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Beatrice, NE to Kearney, NE covers 160.6 miles and takes about 2h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, Highway 103, Highway 33. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 80.3 miles from Beatrice, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.39 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 2h 59m drive. You will face about 16 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 77 / North 6th Street): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 0.1 miles (US 136 Truck; N-4 Truck / Ella Street): Navigation decision point; at 33.7 miles (N-33 / Highway 33): Navigation decision point.
The route from Beatrice, NE to Kearney, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Kearney, NE
More from Beatrice, NE
More trips to Kearney, NE
Explore more options from Beatrice, NE or browse trips ending in Kearney, NE.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NE road trips.
Explore maps for Beatrice, NE or Kearney, NE on MapSof.net.