Origin
Beatrice, NE
Late night in Beatrice on Wednesday
Local time
2:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Beatrice, NE to Fairbury, NE
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
40m
Distance
28.5 mi
46 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 46m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Beatrice, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Fairbury, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Beatrice, NE to Fairbury, NE covers 28.5 miles and takes about 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Highway 136, West US Highway 136, West Locust Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14.8 miles on Highway 136. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.46 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
14.2 miles from Beatrice, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 20m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 40m highway drive covering 28.5 miles, with most of the trip on Highway 136 and West US Highway 136. The longest continuous stretch is about 14.8 miles on Highway 136.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highway 136 is the longest continuous segment at about 14.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 136 and West US Highway 136. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 40m drive. You will face about 4 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: Navigation decision point; near the start (US 77 / North 6th Street): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 3.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 77 / North 6th Street
Merge onto US 77 / North 6th Street
Merge point - match speed before joining
3
3.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
4
28 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
6th Street
Turn right onto 6th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 136 | 14.8 mi | 19m |
| West US Highway 136 | 6.3 mi | 7m |
| West Locust Road | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| North 6th Street | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| US Highway 77 | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| K Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 6th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 14th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Highway 136
— 14.8 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Beatrice, NE and Fairbury, NE.
1
Start on this road
37 ft
·
4 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
62 ft
·
4 sec
3
Merge onto US 77
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
North 6th Street
4
Continue on US 77
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 77
5
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
6
Turn straight onto West Locust Road
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
West Locust Road
7
Turn straight onto US 136
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
West US Highway 136
8
Continue on US 136
15 mi
·
19 min
·
Highway 136
9
Continue on US 136
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
14th Street
10
Turn left onto N-15
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
K Street
11
Turn right onto 6th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
6th Street
12
Arrive at destination
6th Street
Trip Plan
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 14.2 miles from Beatrice, NE, or about 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.8 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 28.5 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 14.2 miles or 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairbury, 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 28.5 miles and 40m.
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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Highway 136 for about 14.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 14.2 mi from Beatrice, NE · 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
14 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 28.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 14.2 miles from Beatrice, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Fairbury, NE
The final approach into Fairbury, 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 Fairbury, 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
$4.46 one way
$8.91 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.89 | $9.78 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.48 | $10.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.29 | $12.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.99 | $1.37 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.49 | $1.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Fairbury, NE
Late night in Fairbury on Wednesday
Local time
2:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
43°F
Lincoln, NE
14 mi in
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
40m 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 Fairbury, NE covers 28.5 miles and takes about 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 136, West US Highway 136, West Locust Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.2 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 $4.46 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.
This is a straightforward 40m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (US 77 / North 6th Street): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 3.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Beatrice, NE to Fairbury, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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