Origin
Kearney, NE
Night in Kearney on Friday
Local time
10:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kearney, NE to Arlington, NE
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 27m
Distance
189.1 mi
304 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 15m
★
6 AM
3h 27m
8 AM
3h 52m
10 AM
3h 36m
12 PM
3h 33m
3 PM
3h 37m
5 PM
3h 50m
8 PM
3h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kearney, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington, NE
Dominik Gryzbon
Trip Overview
The drive from Kearney, NE to Arlington, NE covers 189.1 miles and takes about 3h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West 24th Street, 2nd Avenue, I 80 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.56 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
94.5 miles from Kearney, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 43m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 27m. Total distance: 189.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 27m drive with frequent turns across 189.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West 24th Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Kearney, NE to Arlington, NE is easy. At 3h 27m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Kearney, NE to Arlington, NE is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 24th Street | — | — |
| 2nd Avenue | — | — |
| I 80 East | — | — |
| US 77 North | — | — |
| North 56th Street | — | — |
| Highway 77 | — | — |
| County Road 18 | — | — |
| County Road M | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West 24th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kearney, NE and Arlington, NE.
1
Start on Central Avenue
52 ft
·
4 sec
·
Central Avenue
2
Turn right onto West 24th Street
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
West 24th Street
3
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
2nd Avenue
4
Turn left onto I 80 East
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
I 80 East
5
Merge slight left
132 mi
·
2 hr 17 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward US 77 North: Fremont, Wahoo
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
US 77 North: Fremont, Wahoo
7
Turn left onto North 56th Street
11 mi
·
12 min
·
North 56th Street
8
Continue on South Highway 77
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
South Highway 77
9
Continue on County Road 18
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 18
10
Continue on Highway 77
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Highway 77
11
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward County Road M
217 ft
·
3 sec
·
County Road M
12
Exit the roundabout onto County Road M
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
County Road M
13
Turn left onto County Road 11
12 mi
·
13 min
·
County Road 11
14
Continue on Highway 77
0.6 mi
·
43 sec
·
Highway 77
15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Highway 77
184 ft
·
2 sec
·
Highway 77
16
Exit the roundabout onto Highway 77
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 77
17
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Highway 77
164 ft
·
2 sec
·
Highway 77
18
Exit the roundabout onto Highway 77
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 77
19
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward US 275 West, US 77 North
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
US 275 West, US 77 North
20
Exit the roundabout onto US 275 West, US 77 North
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
US 275 West, US 77 North
21
Take the exit slight right
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
22
Keep slight right
154 ft
·
6 sec
23
Merge slight left onto East 23rd Street
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
East 23rd Street
24
Continue on Highway 30
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 30
25
Continue on US Highway 30
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 30
26
Continue on West Elkhorn Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Elkhorn Drive
27
Turn left onto North 3rd Street
443 ft
·
25 sec
·
North 3rd Street
28
Turn left onto West Eagle Street
43 ft
·
2 sec
·
West Eagle Street
29
Arrive at your 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 94.5 miles from Kearney, NE, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
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 42 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.5 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arlington, 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 189.1 miles and 3h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 94.5 mi from Kearney, NE · 1h 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
95 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 94.5 miles from Kearney, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Arlington, NE
The final approach into Arlington, 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 Arlington, 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
$29.56 one way
$59.13 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
66 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $32.46 | $64.92 |
| premium | $4.89 | $36.39 | $72.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $41.75 | $83.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56.7 | 0 | $19.86 | $9.08 |
| Efficient EV | 47.3 | 0 | $16.55 | $7.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 75.6 | 0 | $26.47 | $12.10 |
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Arlington, NE
Night in Arlington on Friday
Local time
10:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Lincoln, NE
95 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
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 27m 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 Arlington, NE covers 189.1 miles and takes about 3h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West 24th Street, 2nd Avenue, I 80 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 94.5 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 $29.56 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 Arlington, NE is easy. At 3h 27m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Kearney, NE to Arlington, NE is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Kearney, NE to Arlington, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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