Origin
Lexington, NE
Evening in Lexington on Sunday
Local time
6:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lexington, NE to Holdrege, NE
Drive Time
48m
Distance
40.5 mi
65 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lexington, NE
Felix Schickel
Holdrege, NE
Felix Schickel
Trip Overview
The drive from Lexington, NE to Holdrege, NE covers 40.5 miles and takes about 48m 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 183, Plum Creek Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.2 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.15 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
20.3 miles from Lexington, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 22m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 48m highway drive covering 40.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and US Highway 183. The longest continuous stretch is about 19.2 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 14 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 19.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US Highway 183. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East 6th Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 48m drive. You will face about 8 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 (East 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (North Jackson Street): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 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
|
East 6th Street
Turn left onto East 6th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Jackson Street
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
Navigation decision point
6
3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Turn left toward I 80 East: Kearney
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 80 East: Kearney
6
22.5 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward US 183: Holdrege, Elm Creek
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 257
Toward US 183: Holdrege, Elm Creek
4
39.6 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
11th Avenue
Turn left onto 11th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Lexington, NE to Holdrege, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Elm Creek along the way.
Elm Creek
22.5 mi in
|
~25m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 19.2 mi | 19m |
| US Highway 183 | 13.9 mi | 16m |
| Plum Creek Parkway | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Highway 183 | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| Burlington Street | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| 11th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North Jackson Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 19.2 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lexington, NE and Holdrege, NE.
1
Start on North Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
North Washington Street
2
Turn left onto East 6th Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
East 6th Street
3
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
North Jackson Street
4
Continue on US 283
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Plum Creek Parkway
Use the none lane.
5
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 80 East: Kearney
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 80
19 mi
·
19 min
·
I 80
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 257
Toward US 183: Holdrege, Elm Creek
8
Turn right onto US 183
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 183
9
Continue on US 183
14 mi
·
16 min
·
US Highway 183
10
Continue on US 183
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Burlington Street
11
Turn left onto 11th Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
11th Avenue
12
Turn right onto East Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Avenue
13
Continue on East Avenue
109 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
East Avenue
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 20.3 miles from Lexington, NE, or about 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.2 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 40.5 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 20.3 miles or 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Holdrege, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lexington, 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 Lexington, NE
This is one driving day of about 40.5 miles and 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lexington, 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 I 80 for about 19.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.3 mi from Lexington, NE · 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.3 miles from Lexington, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Holdrege, NE
The final approach into Holdrege, 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 Holdrege, 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
$6.15 one way
$12.30 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $6.78 | $13.56 |
| premium | $4.80 | $7.65 | $15.29 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $9.00 | $18.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.25 | $1.94 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.54 | $1.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.67 | $2.59 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Holdrege, NE
Evening in Holdrege on Sunday
Local time
6:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
78°F
Hastings, NE
20 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
48m 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 Lexington, NE to Holdrege, NE covers 40.5 miles and takes about 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, US Highway 183, Plum Creek Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.3 miles from Lexington, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.15 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 48m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (North Jackson Street): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Lexington, NE to Holdrege, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Elm Creek along the way.
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