Alliance, NE to Kearney, NE is 271.8 miles and takes about 4h 59m via I 80 and US 26, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Nebraska, traversing the Great Plains region for its entirety. Expect a straightforward drive predominantly on major roadways, making it a practical choice for a single-day transit. Given its relatively short duration and high highway percentage, it’s an efficient way to cover ground between these two points.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
135.9 miles from Alliance, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
145.2 mi
2h 25m
US 26
84 mi
1h 39m
US Highway 385
26.8 mi
29m
South Highway 385
7.3 mi
8m
North Spruce Street
2.7 mi
4m
South 2nd Avenue
2.2 mi
4m
West 3rd Street
1.1 mi
1m
South Highway 26/61
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 145.2 mi, about 2h 25m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~612 veh/hr typical
· worst 975
Quietest
3 AM
~94 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alliance, NE and Kearney, NE.
1
Start on Laramie Avenue
184 ft·13 sec·Laramie Avenue
2
Turn left onto West 8th Street
0.3 mi·48 sec·West 8th Street
3
Turn left onto Emerson Avenue
0.3 mi·53 sec·Emerson Avenue
4
At end of road, turn right onto N-2
1.1 mi·1 min·West 3rd Street
5
Turn left onto US 385
7.3 mi·8 min·South Highway 385
6
Continue on US 385
27 mi·29 min·US Highway 385
7
Continue on US 26
84 mi·1 hr 39 min·US 26
8
Turn right onto North Spruce Street
2.7 mi·4 min·North Spruce Street
9
Turn left onto US 26; US 30; N-61; I 80 Alt
305 ft·7 sec·US 26; US 30; N-61; I 80 Alt
10
Turn right onto US 26; N-61
0.9 mi·1 min·South Highway 26/61
11
Turn left
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 80 east
12
Merge onto I 80
145 mi·2 hr 25 min·I 80
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·33 sec
Exit 272Toward NE 44: Kearney, Archway Monument
14
Turn left onto N-44; I 80 Alt
2.2 mi·4 min·South 2nd Avenue
15
Turn right onto West 24th Street
0.1 mi·37 sec·West 24th Street
16
Turn left onto Central Avenue
51 ft·1 sec·Central Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 4h 59m drive, leaving Alliance, NE in the morning is ideal, allowing ample daylight to reach Kearney, NE. With only one recommended stop and a high highway share, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without feeling rushed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 145.2-mile stretch on I 80, as services might be less frequent than in more populated areas. Planning to refuel before you begin this longer segment is a good idea.
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 135.9 miles from Alliance, NE, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.2 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 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.9 miles or 2h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kearney, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alliance, 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 Alliance, NE
This is one driving day of about 271.8 miles and 4h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Alliance, 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 I 80 for about 145.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway reset
3.9 mi from route
~10 min detour
$10 to $20
Ogallala, Nebraska
Hours: 11 am–8 pm
+13082840899
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 271.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West 8th Street
Turn left onto West 8th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|Emerson Avenue
Turn left onto Emerson Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|N-2 / West 3rd Street
At end of road, turn right onto N-2 / West 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
6
269.1 mi into trip|~4h 53m in
Take the exit toward NE 44: Kearney, Archway Monument
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 272
Toward NE 44: Kearney, Archway Monument
5
271.8 mi into trip|~4h 59m in|Central Avenue
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.14 one way
$80.28 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$44.31
$88.62
premium
$4.72
$50.46
$100.93
diesel
$4.80
$51.32
$102.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.5
1
$28.54
$13.05
Efficient EV
68
0
$23.78
$10.87
EV Truck/SUV
108.7
1
$38.05
$17.40
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 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.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Alliance, NE
Night
in Alliance on Saturday
Local time
9:25 PM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 5 to 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 9:50PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:12PM MDT until July 20 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY
Destination
Kearney, NE
Night
in Kearney on Saturday
Local time
10:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Clear
SSW 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 9:50PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:12PM MDT until July 20 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY
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
3 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
4h 59m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Scotts Bluff National Monument
National Monument
Towering 800 feet above the North Platte River, Scotts Bluff has served as a landmark for peoples from Native Americans to emigrants on the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails to modern travelers. Ri...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
Free
near mile 28.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 97% of this 271.8-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch on I 80 covers 145.2 miles, so you'll experience extended periods of cruising. The transition to surface roads will occur later in the drive, as you approach your destination. Expect a steady flow of traffic typical of major interstate travel.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 145.2 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US 26. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 8th Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 59m drive. You will face about 11 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 (West 8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Emerson Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (N-2 / West 3rd Street): Navigation decision point.
The longest stretch is about 145.2 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through NE can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Emerson Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (N-2 / West 3rd Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Scotts Bluff National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 10.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Kearney, NE, but most travelers stay overnight.
