Origin
Kearney, NE
Morning in Kearney on Thursday
Local time
11:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kearney, NE to Atkinson, NE
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 50m
Distance
142.3 mi
229 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 39m
★
6 AM
2h 50m
8 AM
3h 12m
10 AM
2h 58m
12 PM
2h 56m
3 PM
2h 59m
5 PM
3h 11m
8 PM
2h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kearney, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Kearney, NE to Atkinson, NE covers 142.3 miles and takes about 2h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West 25th Street, 2nd Avenue, Highway 10 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.25 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
71.1 miles from Kearney, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 50m. Total distance: 142.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 50m 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 2h 50m drive with frequent turns across 142.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West 25th 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 Atkinson, NE is easy. At 2h 50m 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 Atkinson, NE is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 25th Street | — | — |
| 2nd Avenue | — | — |
| Highway 10 | — | — |
| Highway 92 | — | — |
| Highway 58 | — | — |
| Highway 70 | — | — |
| Highway 11 | — | — |
| South 1st Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West 25th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kearney, NE and Atkinson, NE.
1
Start on Central Avenue
322 ft
·
11 sec
·
Central Avenue
2
Turn left onto West 25th Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
West 25th Street
3
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
2nd Avenue
4
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 2nd Avenue
194 ft
·
8 sec
·
2nd Avenue
5
Exit the roundabout onto 2nd Avenue
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
2nd Avenue
6
Continue on Highway 10
27 mi
·
31 min
·
Highway 10
7
Continue on Highway 10
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Highway 10
8
Turn left onto Highway 92
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 92
9
Turn right onto Highway 58
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Highway 58
10
Continue on Highway 70
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Highway 70
11
Turn left onto Highway 11
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Highway 11
12
Continue on South 1st Avenue
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
South 1st Avenue
13
Continue on North 1st Avenue
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
North 1st Avenue
14
Continue on Highway 11
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 11
15
Continue on Highway 11
54 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
Highway 11
16
Continue on South Hyde Street
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
South Hyde Street
17
At the end of the road, turn left onto South Hyde Street
299 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Hyde Street
18
Turn left onto East Pearl Street
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
East Pearl Street
19
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
South Main Street
20
Arrive at your destination
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71.1 miles from Kearney, NE, or about 1h 25m 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 31 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.1 miles or 1h 25m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atkinson, 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 142.3 miles and 2h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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 71.1 mi from Kearney, NE · 1h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
71 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 71.1 miles from Kearney, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Atkinson, NE
The final approach into Atkinson, 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 Atkinson, 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
$22.25 one way
$44.49 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
50 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $24.43 | $48.85 |
| premium | $4.89 | $27.38 | $54.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.42 | $62.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.7 | 0 | $14.94 | $6.83 |
| Efficient EV | 35.6 | 0 | $12.45 | $5.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 56.9 | 0 | $19.92 | $9.11 |
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Destination
Atkinson, NE
Morning in Atkinson on Thursday
Local time
11:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
4 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
2h 50m 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 Atkinson, NE covers 142.3 miles and takes about 2h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West 25th Street, 2nd Avenue, Highway 10. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 71.1 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 $22.25 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.
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 Atkinson, NE is easy. At 2h 50m 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 Atkinson, NE is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Kearney, NE to Atkinson, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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