Origin
Scottsbluff, NE
Morning in Scottsbluff on Thursday
Local time
9:40 AM
MDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Scottsbluff, NE to Fairbury, NE
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
7h 35m
Distance
418.6 mi
674 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$65
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 26m
★
6 AM
7h 36m
8 AM
7h 55m
10 AM
7h 43m
12 PM
7h 41m
3 PM
7h 44m
5 PM
7h 54m
8 PM
7h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Scottsbluff, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Fairbury, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Scottsbluff, NE to Fairbury, NE covers 418.6 miles and takes about 7h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West 20th Street, East 20th Street, Highway 26 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $65.44 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
209.3 miles from Scottsbluff, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 47m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 35m. Total distance: 418.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 35m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 7h 35m drive with frequent turns across 418.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West 20th 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 35m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Scottsbluff, NE to Fairbury, NE is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 20th Street | — | — |
| East 20th Street | — | — |
| Highway 26 | — | — |
| Highway L79E | — | — |
| Highway 92 | — | — |
| Main Street | — | — |
| North Spruce Street | — | — |
| I 80 east | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West 20th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scottsbluff, NE and Fairbury, NE.
1
Start on Avenue C
56 ft
·
8 sec
·
Avenue C
2
Turn left onto West 20th Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
West 20th Street
3
Continue on East 20th Street
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
East 20th Street
4
Turn right onto Highway 26
7.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Highway 26
5
Turn right onto Highway L79E
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway L79E
6
Turn left onto Highway 92
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Highway 92
7
Continue on US Highway 26
13 mi
·
15 min
·
US Highway 26
8
Turn left onto Main Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
9
Continue straight
84 mi
·
1 hr 39 min
10
Turn right onto North Spruce Street
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
North Spruce Street
11
Turn left
305 ft
·
8 sec
12
Turn right onto South Highway 26/61
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Highway 26/61
13
Turn left onto I 80 east
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
I 80 east
14
Merge slight left
226 mi
·
3 hr 45 min
15
Take the exit slight right toward US 81: York, Geneva
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
US 81: York, Geneva
16
Turn right onto South Lincoln Avenue
47 mi
·
51 min
·
South Lincoln Avenue
17
Turn left onto Highway 136
20 mi
·
23 min
·
Highway 136
18
Continue on West 14th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West 14th Street
19
Turn right onto E Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
E Street
20
Turn right onto 6th Street
187 ft
·
8 sec
·
6th Street
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 209.3 miles from Scottsbluff, NE, or about 3h 47m 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 92 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 209.3 miles or 3h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 30m
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 Scottsbluff, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Scottsbluff, NE
This is one driving day of about 418.6 miles and 7h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 92 miles from Scottsbluff, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 209.3 mi from Scottsbluff, NE · 3h 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
209 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 92 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 209.3 miles from Scottsbluff, 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
$65.44 one way
$130.89 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
147 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $71.85 | $143.71 |
| premium | $4.89 | $80.56 | $161.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $92.42 | $184.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$65
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$90–$115
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 146.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 125.6 | 1 | $43.95 | $20.09 |
| Efficient EV | 104.7 | 1 | $36.63 | $16.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 167.4 | 2 | $58.60 | $26.79 |
Gas CO2
146 kg
EV CO2
49 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Morning in Fairbury on Thursday
Local time
10:40 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
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
7h 35m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Scottsbluff, NE to Fairbury, NE covers 418.6 miles and takes about 7h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West 20th Street, East 20th Street, Highway 26. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 209.3 miles from Scottsbluff, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $65.44 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 35m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Scottsbluff, NE to Fairbury, NE is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Scottsbluff, NE to Fairbury, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Fairbury, NE
More from Scottsbluff, NE
More trips to Fairbury, NE
Explore more options from Scottsbluff, NE or browse trips ending in Fairbury, NE.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NE road trips.
Explore maps for Scottsbluff, NE or Fairbury, NE on MapSof.net.