Origin
Kearney, NE
Afternoon in Kearney on Monday
Local time
1:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kearney, NE to Imperial, NE
Drive Time
3h 25m
Distance
164.7 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
3h 14m
★
6 AM
3h 26m
8 AM
3h 50m
10 AM
3h 34m
12 PM
3h 32m
3 PM
3h 35m
5 PM
3h 49m
8 PM
3h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kearney, NE
Jean-Rene Chazottes
Trip Overview
The drive from Kearney, NE to Imperial, NE covers 164.7 miles and takes about 3h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Highway 6 & 34, Highway 6, US Highway 6 & 34 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 57 miles on Highway 6 & 34. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.02 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 Kearney, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 43m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 3h 25m highway drive covering 164.7 miles, with most of the trip on Highway 6 & 34 and Highway 6. The longest continuous stretch is about 57 miles on Highway 6 & 34.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highway 6 & 34 is the longest continuous segment at about 57 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 6 & 34 and Highway 6. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 24th Street.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Kearney, NE to Imperial, NE is easy. At 3h 25m with 82% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 24th Street): Navigation decision point; at 15 miles (US 6; US 34; N-44 / Highway 6): Navigation decision point; at 118 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 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
|
West 24th Street
Turn right onto West 24th Street
Navigation decision point
4
15 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
US 6; US 34; N-44 / Highway 6
Turn right onto US 6; US 34; N-44 / Highway 6
Navigation decision point
4
118 mi into trip
|
~2h 30m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
164.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 24m in
|
US 6 / Broadway Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 6 / Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
5
164.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 25m in
|
West 6th Street
Turn left onto West 6th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 6 & 34 | 57 mi | 1h 7m |
| Highway 6 | 45.3 mi | 53m |
| US Highway 6 & 34 | 18.9 mi | 22m |
| N-44 | 10.9 mi | 12m |
| Highway 34 | 6.8 mi | 8m |
| West Highway 6 & 34 | 6.4 mi | 7m |
| 2nd Avenue | 4 mi | 6m |
| 736 Road | 3 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Highway 6 & 34
— 57 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kearney, NE and Imperial, NE.
1
Start on Central Avenue
51 ft
·
3 sec
·
Central Avenue
2
Turn right onto West 24th Street
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
West 24th Street
3
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
2nd Avenue
4
Continue on N-44; I 80 Alt
11 mi
·
12 min
·
N-44; I 80 Alt
5
Turn right onto US 6; US 34; N-44
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Highway 6
6
Continue on US 6; US 34
9.6 mi
·
11 min
·
US Highway 6 & 34
7
Continue on US 6; US 34
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
4th Avenue
8
Continue on US 6; US 34
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
West 4th Avenue
9
Continue on US 6; US 34
9.2 mi
·
11 min
·
US Highway 6 & 34
10
Continue on US 6; US 34
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Highway 6 & 34
11
Continue on US 6; US 34
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Chestnut Street
12
Continue on US 6; US 34
5.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Highway 6 & 34
13
Continue on US 6; US 34
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
6 & 34 Highway Street
14
Continue on US 6; US 34
15 mi
·
19 min
·
Highway 6 & 34
15
Continue on US 6; US 34
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Maple Street
16
Continue on US 6; US 34
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Highway 6 & 34
17
Continue on US 6; US 34
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
D Street
18
Continue on US 6; US 34
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Highway 6 & 34
19
Continue on US 6; US 34
2.3 mi
·
6 min
·
East B Street
20
Continue on US 6; US 34
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
West Highway 6 & 34
21
Continue on US 6; US 34
6.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Highway 34
22
Turn slight right
339 ft
·
4 sec
Toward US 6
23
Continue on this road
0.8 mi
·
54 sec
·
this road
Toward US 6
24
Keep slight right at fork
441 ft
·
5 sec
25
Turn straight onto US 6
38 mi
·
43 min
·
Highway 6
26
Continue on US 6; N-61
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
338 Avenue
27
Continue on US 6; N-61
0.5 mi
·
34 sec
·
Highway 6
28
Continue on US 6; N-61
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
736 Road
29
Continue on US 6; N-61
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway 6
30
Continue on US 6
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East 1st Street
31
At end of road, turn right onto US 6
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
Broadway Street
32
Turn left onto West 6th Street
34 ft
·
1 sec
·
West 6th Street
33
Arrive at destination
West 6th Street
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 Kearney, NE, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57 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 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.4 miles or 1h 43m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Imperial, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kearney, 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 Kearney, NE
This is one driving day of about 164.7 miles and 3h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Kearney, 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 Highway 6 & 34 for about 57 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 82.4 mi from Kearney, NE · 1h 43m 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 Kearney, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Imperial, NE
The final approach into Imperial, 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 Imperial, 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
$25.02 one way
$50.03 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
58 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $27.58 | $55.16 |
| premium | $4.80 | $31.09 | $62.18 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $36.59 | $73.18 |
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: 57.6 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 | $17.29 | $7.91 |
| Efficient EV | 41.2 | 0 | $14.41 | $6.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65.9 | 0 | $23.06 | $10.54 |
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
Imperial, NE
Afternoon in Imperial on Monday
Local time
12:24 PM
MDT
Current temp
39°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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
38 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 25m 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 Kearney, NE to Imperial, NE covers 164.7 miles and takes about 3h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 6 & 34, Highway 6, US Highway 6 & 34. 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 Kearney, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.02 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.
The drive from Kearney, NE to Imperial, NE is easy. At 3h 25m with 82% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 24th Street): Navigation decision point; at 15 miles (US 6; US 34; N-44 / Highway 6): Navigation decision point; at 118 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Kearney, NE to Imperial, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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