The drive from Cozad, NE to Beatrice, NE covers 209.8 miles and takes about 3h 48m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, Highway 103, Highway 33 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 146 miles on I 80.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.80 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
104.9 miles from Cozad, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 48m. Total distance: 209.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 3h 48m highway drive covering 209.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and Highway 103. The longest continuous stretch is about 146 miles on I 80.
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 146 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 West 8th Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 48m drive. You will face about 14 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 (West 8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (N-21 / E Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West 8th Street
Turn left onto West 8th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|N-21 / E Street
Turn right onto N-21 / E Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 East: Kearney
Navigation decision point
Toward I 80 East: Kearney
4
147.8 mi into trip|~2h 29m in
Take the exit toward NE 80E Link: Beaver Crossing
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward NE 80E Link: Beaver Crossing
5
209.8 mi into trip|~3h 48m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
146 mi
2h 26m
Highway 103
22.4 mi
26m
Highway 33
10 mi
11m
West Highway 4
8.6 mi
11m
420th Road
8.4 mi
9m
Highway 6
5.6 mi
6m
Highway 80E
3 mi
3m
West Court Street
1.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 146 mi, about 2h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cozad, NE and Beatrice, NE.
1
Start on H Street
67 ft·8 sec·H Street
2
Turn left onto West 8th Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·West 8th Street
3
Turn right onto N-21
433 ft·14 sec·E Street
4
Continue on N-21
0.3 mi·38 sec·State Highway 21
5
Continue on N-21
0.9 mi·1 min·Meridian Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 80 East: Kearney
7
Merge onto I 80
146 mi·2 hr 26 min·I 80
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward NE 80E Link: Beaver Crossing
9
Turn right onto L-80E
8.4 mi·9 min·420th Road
10
Continue on L-80E
3.0 mi·3 min·Highway 80E
11
Turn left onto US 6
1.0 mi·1 min·1st Street
12
Continue on US 6
5.6 mi·6 min·Highway 6
13
Turn right onto N-33
10.0 mi·11 min·Highway 33
14
Turn right onto N-103
9.5 mi·11 min·Highway 103
15
Continue on N-103
1.1 mi·2 min·North Main Street
16
Continue on N-103
13 mi·15 min·Highway 103
17
At end of road, turn left onto N-4
8.6 mi·11 min·West Highway 4
18
Turn left onto US 136; N-4
1.4 mi·3 min·West Court Street
19
Turn left onto North 5th Street
0.2 mi·33 sec·North 5th Street
20
Turn right
58 ft·6 sec
21
Turn right
348 ft·25 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 104.9 miles from Cozad, NE, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 146 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 46 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.9 miles or 1h 47m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Beatrice, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cozad, 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 Cozad, NE
This is one driving day of about 209.8 miles and 3h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Cozad, 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 146 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 104.9 mi from Cozad, NE
· 1h 47m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Homestead National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The Homestead Act of 1862 transformed the world. Millions were invited to file claims including families, women, immigrants, and formerly enslaved people. Over 10 percent of the United States was home...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 202.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.80 one way
$65.60 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$36.01
$72.03
premium
$4.89
$40.37
$80.75
diesel
$5.61
$46.32
$92.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.9
0
$22.03
$10.07
Efficient EV
52.5
0
$18.36
$8.39
EV Truck/SUV
83.9
1
$29.37
$13.43
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Cozad, NE
Afternoon
in Cozad on Friday
Local time
2:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Beatrice, NE
Afternoon
in Beatrice on Friday
Local time
2:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°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
6 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 48m 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 Cozad, NE to Beatrice, NE covers 209.8 miles and takes about 3h 48m 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 104.9 miles from Cozad, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.80 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 3h 48m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (N-21 / E Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Cozad, NE to Beatrice, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Homestead National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
