Origin
Hastings, NE
Morning in Hastings on Monday
Local time
6:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hastings, NE to Fairbury, NE
Drive Time
1h 55m
Distance
94.2 mi
152 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 47m
★
6 AM
1h 55m
8 AM
2h 12m
10 AM
2h 1m
12 PM
1h 59m
3 PM
2h 2m
5 PM
2h 11m
8 PM
1h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hastings, NE
Angel Smith
Fairbury, NE
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Hastings, NE to Fairbury, NE covers 94.2 miles and takes about 1h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Highway 74, Highway 136, US 81 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24 miles on Highway 74. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.31 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
47.1 miles from Hastings, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 1h 55m highway drive covering 94.2 miles, with most of the trip on Highway 74 and Highway 136. The longest continuous stretch is about 24 miles on Highway 74.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highway 74 is the longest continuous segment at about 24 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 74 and Highway 136. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Hastings Avenue.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 55m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Hastings Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 6 Business / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (North Pine Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Hastings Avenue
Turn left onto North Hastings Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 6 Business / West 2nd Street
Turn left onto US 6 Business / West 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North Pine Avenue
Turn right onto North Pine Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
East South Street
Turn left onto East South Street
Navigation decision point
6
53.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
US 81
Turn right onto US 81
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 74 | 24 mi | 30m |
| Highway 136 | 20.1 mi | 23m |
| US 81 | 19.6 mi | 21m |
| Highway 6 | 11.9 mi | 13m |
| Highway 14 | 10.2 mi | 12m |
| East South Street | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| North Center Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West 14th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Highway 74
— 24 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hastings, NE and Fairbury, NE.
1
Start on US 6 Business
422 ft
·
17 sec
·
West 3rd Street
2
Turn left onto North Hastings Avenue
333 ft
·
22 sec
·
North Hastings Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 6 Business
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West 2nd Street
4
Turn right onto North Pine Avenue
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
North Pine Avenue
5
Turn left onto East South Street
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
East South Street
6
Continue on US 6
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Highway 6
7
Turn right onto N-14
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Highway 14
8
Continue on N-14
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Center Street
9
Continue on N-14
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Highway 14
10
Turn left onto N-74
24 mi
·
30 min
·
Highway 74
11
Turn right onto US 81
20 mi
·
21 min
·
US 81
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto US 136
20 mi
·
23 min
·
Highway 136
13
Continue on US 136
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West 14th Street
14
Turn right onto E Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
E Street
15
Turn right onto 6th Street
186 ft
·
8 sec
·
6th Street
16
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 47.1 miles from Hastings, NE, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24 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 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.1 miles or 1h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 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 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 94.2 miles and 1h 55m.
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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Highway 74 for about 24 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 47.1 mi from Hastings, NE · 1h into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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 47.1 miles from Hastings, 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
$14.31 one way
$28.62 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $15.77 | $31.55 |
| premium | $4.80 | $17.78 | $35.57 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $20.93 | $41.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.3 | 0 | $9.89 | $4.52 |
| Efficient EV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.24 | $3.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.7 | 0 | $13.19 | $6.03 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Fairbury, NE
Morning in Fairbury on Monday
Local time
6:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
41°F
Aurora, NE
47 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
37 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
1h 55m 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 Fairbury, NE covers 94.2 miles and takes about 1h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 74, Highway 136, US 81. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 47.1 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 $14.31 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 1h 55m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Hastings Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 6 Business / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (North Pine Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from Hastings, NE to Fairbury, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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