Trip from Seward, NE to Beatrice, NE

Data updated 5 hours ago

Drive Time

1h 17m

Distance

60.1 mi

97 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min

4 AM

1h 11m ★

6 AM

1h 17m

8 AM

1h 29m

10 AM

1h 21m

12 PM

1h 20m

3 PM

1h 22m

5 PM

1h 29m

8 PM

1h 14m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Seward, NE

Radoslaw Sikorski

city in and the county seat of Gage County, Nebraska, United States

Beatrice, NE

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Seward, NE to Beatrice, NE covers 60.1 miles and takes about 1h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Highway 103, West Highway 4, 280th Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 22.4 miles on Highway 103. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.40 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

30.1 miles from Seward, NE

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 37m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 1h 17m highway drive covering 60.1 miles, with most of the trip on Highway 103 and West Highway 4. The longest continuous stretch is about 22.4 miles on Highway 103.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Highway 103 is the longest continuous segment at about 22.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 103 and West Highway 4. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near N-15; I 80 Alt / South 6th Street.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 1h 17m drive. You will face about 9 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 (N-15; I 80 Alt / South 6th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.4 miles (N-103 / Highway 103): Navigation decision point; at 49.9 miles (N-4 / West Highway 4): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | N-15; I 80 Alt / South 6th Street

Turn left onto N-15; I 80 Alt / South 6th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

26.4 mi into trip | ~32m in | N-103 / Highway 103

Turn right onto N-103 / Highway 103

Navigation decision point

49.9 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in | N-4 / West Highway 4

At end of road, turn left onto N-4 / West Highway 4

Navigation decision point

59.9 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in | North 5th Street

Turn left onto North 5th Street

Navigation decision point

60.1 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Highway 103	22.4 mi	26m
West Highway 4	8.6 mi	11m
280th Road	8.1 mi	9m
Highway 33	7.5 mi	8m
294th Road	4.7 mi	5m
Highway 6	3.1 mi	3m
West Court Street	1.4 mi	3m
North Main Street	1.1 mi	2m

Longest stretch: Highway 103 — 22.4 mi, about 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Seward, NE and Beatrice, NE.

Start on US 34; I 80 Alt

48 ft · 8 sec · Main Street

Turn left onto N-15; I 80 Alt

0.4 mi · 47 sec · South 6th Street

Use the left lane.

Continue on N-15; I 80 Alt

0.9 mi · 1 min · South Highway 15

Continue on N-15; I 80 Alt

8.1 mi · 9 min · 280th Road

Turn right onto US 6; N-15

0.7 mi · 47 sec · Pioneers Road

Continue on US 6; N-15

0.4 mi · 28 sec · Highway 6

Continue on US 6; N-15

4.7 mi · 5 min · 294th Road

Continue on US 6; N-15

2.7 mi · 3 min · Highway 6

Turn left onto L-76E

0.4 mi · 46 sec · Highway 76E

Continue on L-76E

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Line Road

Turn left onto N-33

7.5 mi · 8 min · Highway 33

Turn right onto N-103

9.5 mi · 11 min · Highway 103

Continue on N-103

1.1 mi · 2 min · North Main Street

Continue on N-103

13 mi · 15 min · Highway 103

At end of road, turn left onto N-4

8.6 mi · 11 min · West Highway 4

Turn left onto US 136; N-4

1.4 mi · 3 min · West Court Street

Turn left onto North 5th Street

0.2 mi · 33 sec · North 5th Street

Turn right

58 ft · 6 sec

Turn right

348 ft · 25 sec

Arrive at destination

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 30.1 miles from Seward, NE, or about 37m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22.4 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 60.1 miles or 1h 17m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 30.1 miles or 37m 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 2m

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 Seward, 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 Seward, NE

This is one driving day of about 60.1 miles and 1h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Seward, 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 Highway 103 for about 22.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 30.1 mi from Seward, NE · 37m into the drive

city in Jefferson County, Nebraska, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fairbury, NE

30 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.

Popular next leg

Fairbury, NE to Beatrice, NE

28.1 mi · 40m

Pacing Suggestions

Fairbury, NE

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 60.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lincoln, NE

Meal break

The midpoint is around 30.1 miles from Seward, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Homestead National Historical Park

National Historical Park

The Homestead Act of 1862 transformed the world. Millions were invited to file claims including families, women, immigrants, and formerly enslaved people. Over 10 percent of the United States was home...

1 mi from route ~2 min detour Free near mile 53.9

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.40 one way

$18.79 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$10.32	$20.63
premium	$4.89	$11.57	$23.13
diesel	$5.61	$13.27	$26.54

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$34–$59

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 21 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	18	$6.31	$2.88
Efficient EV	15	$5.26	$2.40
EV Truck/SUV	24	$8.41	$3.85

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 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.

Forecast data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Seward, NE

Night in Seward on Tuesday

Local time

11:19 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Beatrice, NE

Night in Beatrice on Tuesday

Local time

11:19 PM

CDT

Current temp

48°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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

1 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 17m 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 Seward, NE to Beatrice, NE covers 60.1 miles and takes about 1h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Highway 103, West Highway 4, 280th Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 30.1 miles from Seward, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.40 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 1h 17m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The route from Seward, NE to Beatrice, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Trip from Seward, NE to Beatrice, NE

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Beatrice, NE

National Parks Near This Route

Homestead National Historical Park

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Seward, NE

Beatrice, NE

Same local time

1 degrees warmer at arrival

1h 17m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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