Origin
Hastings, NE
Morning in Hastings on Monday
Local time
6:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hastings, NE to Bennington, NE
Drive Time
3h
Distance
164.8 mi
265 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 49m
★
6 AM
3h 1m
8 AM
3h 23m
10 AM
3h 9m
12 PM
3h 6m
3 PM
3h 10m
5 PM
3h 22m
8 PM
2h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hastings, NE
Angel Smith
Trip Overview
The drive from Hastings, NE to Bennington, NE covers 164.8 miles and takes about 3h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, US Highway 281, Highway 281 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 133 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.03 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
82.4 miles from Hastings, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 3h highway drive covering 164.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and US Highway 281. The longest continuous stretch is about 133 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 19 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 133 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US Highway 281. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 16.4 miles in.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 164.8 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 16.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 16.8 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 157.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
16.4 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward I 80 east
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 80 east
5
16.8 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
157.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 49m in
Take the exit toward NE 133: Irvington, Blair
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 6
Toward NE 133: Irvington, Blair
6
160.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 54m in
|
N-36 / Bennington Road
Turn left onto N-36 / Bennington Road toward Bennington, Fremont
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Bennington, Fremont
5
164.8 mi into trip
|
~3h in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 133 mi | 2h 18m |
| US Highway 281 | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| Highway 281 | 6.8 mi | 9m |
| I 680 | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| Highway 36 | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| Highway 133 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| North Burlington Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| State Highway 133 | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 133 mi, about 2h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hastings, NE and Bennington, NE.
1
Start on US 6 Business
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
West 3rd Street
2
Turn right onto US 34; US 281
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Burlington Avenue
3
Continue on US 34; US 281
6.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Highway 281
4
Continue on US 34; US 281
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
US Highway 281
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 80 east
6
Merge onto I 80
133 mi
·
2 hr 18 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 680 North
8
Continue on I 680
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
I 680
Toward I 680 north
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 6
Toward NE 133: Irvington, Blair
10
Turn straight onto N-133
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Blair High Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Continue on N-133
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
State Highway 133
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on N-133
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway 133
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on N-133
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
State Highway 133
14
Turn left onto N-36
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Bennington Road
Toward Bennington, Fremont
Use the left lane.
15
Turn straight onto N-36
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Highway 36
16
Turn left onto North 156th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North 156th Street
17
Turn left onto 1st Street
187 ft
·
10 sec
·
1st Street
18
Turn left
42 ft
·
3 sec
19
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 82.4 miles from Hastings, NE, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 133 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 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.4 miles or 1h 30m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bennington, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hastings, 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 Hastings, NE
This is one driving day of about 164.8 miles and 3h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Hastings, 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 133 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 82.4 mi from Hastings, NE · 1h 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
82 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 82.4 miles from Hastings, 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 133 miles.
Arriving in Bennington, NE
The final approach into Bennington, 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 Bennington, NE.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.03 one way
$50.06 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
58 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $27.59 | $55.19 |
| premium | $4.80 | $31.11 | $62.22 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $36.61 | $73.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.4 | 0 | $17.30 | $7.91 |
| Efficient EV | 41.2 | 0 | $14.42 | $6.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65.9 | 0 | $23.07 | $10.55 |
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% 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
Bennington, NE
Morning in Bennington on Monday
Local time
6:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
43°F
Lincoln, NE
82 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
35 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 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 Hastings, NE to Bennington, NE covers 164.8 miles and takes about 3h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, US Highway 281, Highway 281. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 82.4 miles from Hastings, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.03 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 164.8 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 16.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 16.8 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 157.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Hastings, NE to Bennington, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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