Origin
Norfolk, NE
Evening in Norfolk on Sunday
Local time
6:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Norfolk, NE to Fairbury, NE
Drive Time
3h
Distance
150.7 mi
243 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 49m
★
6 AM
3h 1m
8 AM
3h 24m
10 AM
3h 9m
12 PM
3h 7m
3 PM
3h 10m
5 PM
3h 22m
8 PM
2h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Norfolk, NE
Francesco Ungaro
Fairbury, NE
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Traveling from Norfolk to Fairbury covers 150.7 miles across the heart of the Great Plains, making for a manageable three-hour journey. Because this is a straightforward, single-day trip, you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations unless you prefer a slower pace. Plan for roughly $20 in fuel costs to complete the trek comfortably. You will navigate via South 13th Street, Highway 15, and 33rd Avenue, moving entirely within Nebraska. It is a practical route that offers a consistent experience of the regional landscape, perfect for those who want to get from point A to point B without a complex itinerary.
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
75.4 miles from Norfolk, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .
Drive Character
This mixed-profile drive offers a blend of local navigation and highway travel, with highways accounting for 38% of your time on the road. You should be prepared for a varied experience behind the wheel, shifting between local stretches and more sustained highway driving. The longest continuous segment you will encounter is a 43.4-mile stretch on South 13th Street, which serves as the primary backbone of the early portion of your trip. While the route isn't a monotonous interstate grind, the transition between different road types keeps the drive engaging as you traverse the Great Plains.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South 13th Street is the longest continuous segment at about 43.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near West Pasewalk Avenue.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Norfolk, NE to Fairbury, NE is easy. At 3h with 38% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (West Pasewalk Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.6 miles (US 81 / South 13th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 44.1 miles (45th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Pasewalk Avenue
Enter roundabout onto West Pasewalk Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 81 / South 13th Street
Turn left onto US 81 / South 13th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
4
44.1 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
45th Avenue
Turn right onto 45th Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
61.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
N-92 / County Road 131
Turn right onto N-92 / County Road 131
Navigation decision point
5
93.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 east
Navigation decision point
Toward I 80 east
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South 13th Street | 43.4 mi | 47m |
| Highway 15 | 34.2 mi | 41m |
| 33rd Avenue | 16.4 mi | 19m |
| Highway 69 | 10 mi | 11m |
| 420th Road | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| County Road U | 7.7 mi | 8m |
| Highway 6 | 5 mi | 5m |
| 462nd Road | 4.7 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
South 13th Street
— 43.4 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Norfolk, NE and Fairbury, NE.
1
Start on South 7th Street
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
South 7th Street
2
Enter roundabout onto West Pasewalk Avenue
33 ft
·
1 sec
·
West Pasewalk Avenue
3
Continue on West Pasewalk Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Pasewalk Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 81
43 mi
·
47 min
·
South 13th Street
Use the none lane.
5
Turn right onto 45th Avenue
203 ft
·
4 sec
·
45th Avenue
6
Continue on Howard Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Howard Boulevard
7
Turn right onto US 30; US 81
16 mi
·
19 min
·
33rd Avenue
8
Turn right onto N-92
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
County Road 131
9
Continue on US 81; N-92
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
East Park Street
10
Turn left onto N-69
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
South Walnut Street
11
Continue on N-69
7.7 mi
·
8 min
·
County Road U
12
Continue on N-69
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
·
County Road 123
13
Continue on N-69
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road V
14
Continue on N-69
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Highway 69
15
Turn left onto US 34; I 80 Alt
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway 34
16
Continue on US 34; I 80 Alt
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
McKelvie Road
17
Turn right onto L-80F; I 80 Alt
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Centennial Avenue
18
Continue on L-80F; I 80 Alt
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
462nd Road
19
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 80 east
20
Merge onto I 80
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
I 80
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward NE 80E Link: Beaver Crossing
22
Turn right onto L-80E
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
420th Road
23
Continue on L-80E
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 80E
24
Turn left onto US 6
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Street
25
Continue on US 6
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Highway 6
26
Turn right onto N-15
34 mi
·
41 min
·
Highway 15
27
Continue on N-15
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
K Street
28
Turn right onto 6th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
6th Street
29
Arrive at destination
6th Street
Trip Plan
Since the trip takes only three hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your own schedule. You only need to factor in one planned stop to keep your energy up throughout the 150.7-mile distance. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge early on, as the $20 budget assumes consistent driving, but local road conditions can sometimes affect consumption. My best tip for this specific route is to prioritize your single stop during the transition between the highway and local segments to ensure you stay refreshed for the final leg of the drive.
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 75.4 miles from Norfolk, NE, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.4 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 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.4 miles or 1h 27m 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 26m
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 Norfolk, 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 Norfolk, NE
This is one driving day of about 150.7 miles and 3h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Norfolk, 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 South 13th Street for about 43.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 75.4 mi from Norfolk, NE · 1h 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
75 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 75.4 miles from Norfolk, 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
$22.89 one way
$45.78 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
53 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $25.23 | $50.47 |
| premium | $4.80 | $28.45 | $56.90 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $33.48 | $66.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.2 | 0 | $15.82 | $7.23 |
| Efficient EV | 37.7 | 0 | $13.19 | $6.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 60.3 | 0 | $21.10 | $9.64 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Fairbury, NE
Evening in Fairbury on Sunday
Local time
6:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
46°F
Columbus, NE
75 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
3h 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 Norfolk, NE to Fairbury, NE covers 150.7 miles and takes about 3h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South 13th Street, Highway 15, 33rd Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 75.4 miles from Norfolk, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.89 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 Norfolk, NE to Fairbury, NE is easy. At 3h with 38% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (West Pasewalk Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.6 miles (US 81 / South 13th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 44.1 miles (45th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from Norfolk, NE to Fairbury, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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