Origin
Omaha, NE
Evening in Omaha on Wednesday
Local time
6:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Omaha, NE to Fairbury, NE
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
2h 29m
Distance
128.1 mi
206 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 19m
★
6 AM
2h 30m
8 AM
2h 50m
10 AM
2h 37m
12 PM
2h 35m
3 PM
2h 38m
5 PM
2h 49m
8 PM
2h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Omaha, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Fairbury, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Omaha, NE to Fairbury, NE covers 128.1 miles and takes about 2h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, Highway 15, Highway 6 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 72.9 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.03 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
64.1 miles from Omaha, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 2h 29m highway drive covering 128.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and Highway 15. The longest continuous stretch is about 72.9 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 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 72.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Highway 15. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 18th Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 29m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 13 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.
6
76.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward NE 15: Seward, Fairbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 379
Toward NE 15: Seward, Fairbury
5
76.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NE 15 South: Fairbury
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward NE 15 South: Fairbury
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 72.9 mi | 1h 19m |
| Highway 15 | 34.2 mi | 41m |
| Highway 6 | 6.3 mi | 7m |
| 294th Road | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| 280th Road | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| Gerald R Ford Expressway | 2 mi | 2m |
| K Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Saint Mary's Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 72.9 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Omaha, NE and Fairbury, 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
73 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 379
Toward NE 15: Seward, Fairbury
10
Keep slight left at fork
170 ft
·
5 sec
Toward NE 15 South: Fairbury
11
Turn left onto N-15; I 80 Alt
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
280th Road
12
Turn right onto US 6; N-15
0.7 mi
·
47 sec
·
Pioneers Road
13
Continue on US 6; N-15
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
Highway 6
14
Continue on US 6; N-15
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
294th Road
15
Continue on US 6; N-15
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Highway 6
16
Turn left onto N-15
34 mi
·
41 min
·
Highway 15
17
Continue on N-15
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
K Street
18
Turn right onto 6th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
6th Street
19
Arrive at destination
6th Street
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 64.1 miles from Omaha, NE, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.9 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 28 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.1 miles or 1h 12m 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
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 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 128.1 miles and 2h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Omaha, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 72.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 64.1 mi from Omaha, NE · 1h 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 64.1 miles from Omaha, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 72.9 miles.
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
$20.03 one way
$40.05 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $21.99 | $43.98 |
| premium | $4.89 | $24.65 | $49.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.28 | $56.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.4 | 0 | $13.45 | $6.15 |
| Efficient EV | 32 | 0 | $11.21 | $5.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.2 | 0 | $17.93 | $8.20 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Fairbury, NE
Evening in Fairbury on Wednesday
Local time
6:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Lincoln, NE
64 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
23 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
2h 29m 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 Fairbury, NE covers 128.1 miles and takes about 2h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, Highway 15, Highway 6. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 64.1 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 $20.03 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 2h 29m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 Fairbury, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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