Origin
Omaha, NE
Evening in Omaha on Sunday
Local time
5:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Omaha, NE to Beatrice, NE
Drive Time
1h 52m
Distance
98.7 mi
159 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 44m
★
6 AM
1h 52m
8 AM
2h 9m
10 AM
1h 58m
12 PM
1h 56m
3 PM
1h 59m
5 PM
2h 8m
8 PM
1h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Omaha, NE
Tom Fisk
Beatrice, NE
Jean-Paul Wettstein
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Omaha to Beatrice, expect a straightforward 98.7-mile journey through the heart of the Great Plains. This drive typically takes about 1 hour and 52 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $15 for fuel to cover the distance. Because both cities are firmly within the Great Plains, you will experience a consistent landscape throughout the entire trip. It is a highly practical route for travelers who value efficiency over complex navigation. Since the trip is under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility to explore your destination upon arrival.
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
49.3 miles from Omaha, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
Drive Character
This highway-focused drive relies heavily on major thoroughfares, with 89% of the trip spent on high-speed roads. You will navigate a mix of I-80, Highway 77, and US 77 to reach your destination. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs early on, covering 54.6 miles on I-80 before you transition to other highways. While the drive is efficient, you should be prepared for the steady, consistent pace characteristic of interstate travel. It is a functional route designed to get you from point A to point B with minimal technical demands on your vehicle or driving focus.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 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 54.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Highway 77. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 18th Street.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 98.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 18th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 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
|
South 18th Street
Turn right onto South 18th Street
Navigation decision point
5
1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 480 South, US 75 South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 480 South, US 75 South
5
3.2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
58.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
US 77
Keep slight left at fork onto US 77 toward US 77 South: Beatrice
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Exit 397
Toward US 77 South: Beatrice
6
67.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
US 77 / US Highway 77
Keep slight right at fork onto US 77 / US Highway 77
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 54.6 mi | 57m |
| Highway 77 | 16.3 mi | 17m |
| US 77 | 9.7 mi | 11m |
| South 12th Street | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| US Highway 77 | 5.2 mi | 5m |
| North 6th Street | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| Gerald R Ford Expressway | 2 mi | 2m |
| Saint Mary's Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 54.6 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Omaha, NE and Beatrice, NE.
1
Start on Harney Street
176 ft
·
10 sec
·
Harney Street
2
Turn right onto South 18th Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
South 18th Street
3
Turn right onto Saint Mary's Avenue
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Saint Mary's Avenue
4
Turn left onto South 29th Street
450 ft
·
10 sec
·
South 29th Street
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward I 480 South, US 75 South
6
Merge onto I 480; US 75
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Gerald R Ford Expressway
7
Take the exit onto I 480
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
Gerald R Ford Expressway
8
Merge onto I 80
55 mi
·
57 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto US 77; I 80 Alt
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
US 77; I 80 Alt
Exit 397
Toward US 77 South: Beatrice
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 77
9.1 mi
·
11 min
·
US 77
Exit 397
Toward US 77 South: Beatrice
Use the none lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 77
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 77
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
12
Continue on US 77
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
South 12th Street
13
Continue on US 77
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
US Highway 77
14
Continue on US 77
16 mi
·
17 min
·
Highway 77
15
Continue on US 77
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
North 6th Street
16
Turn slight right
92 ft
·
13 sec
17
Turn left
81 ft
·
6 sec
18
Turn right
37 ft
·
2 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip with zero mandatory stops, you have the freedom to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Aim to fuel up before leaving Omaha so you can complete the 98.7-mile trek without needing to pull over for gas. Since the majority of your time is spent on I-80 and US 77, stay alert for typical highway traffic patterns that could impact your 1 hour and 52 minute arrival time. Taking advantage of the route's simplicity means you can easily plan your day around your arrival in Beatrice rather than obsessing over road fatigue. Keep a steady pace to maintain your $15 fuel budget throughout the drive.
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 49.3 miles from Omaha, NE, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.6 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 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.3 miles or 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Beatrice, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Omaha, 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 Omaha, NE
This is one driving day of about 98.7 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Omaha, 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 54.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 49.3 mi from Omaha, NE · 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 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 49.3 miles from Omaha, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Beatrice, NE
The final approach into Beatrice, 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 Beatrice, 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
$14.99 one way
$29.98 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $16.53 | $33.05 |
| premium | $4.80 | $18.63 | $37.27 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $21.93 | $43.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.6 | 0 | $10.36 | $4.74 |
| Efficient EV | 24.7 | 0 | $8.64 | $3.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.5 | 0 | $13.82 | $6.32 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Beatrice, NE
Evening in Beatrice on Sunday
Local time
5:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
43°F
Lincoln, NE
49 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
4 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 52m 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 Omaha, NE to Beatrice, NE covers 98.7 miles and takes about 1h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, Highway 77, US 77. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 49.3 miles from Omaha, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.99 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 demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 98.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 18th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Omaha, NE to Beatrice, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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