Beatrice, NE to O'Neill, NE is 222.8 miles and takes about 4h 28m via Highway 14 and Highway 275, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across Nebraska. You'll primarily be on well-maintained highways, making it a practical choice for a single-day transit. If you're looking for a simple, direct route with minimal complexity, this option fits the bill.
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
111.4 miles from Beatrice, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 14
32 mi
37m
Highway 275
25.3 mi
29m
Highway 103
22.4 mi
26m
US 34
20.4 mi
24m
Highway 39
18.6 mi
21m
I 80
15.4 mi
15m
Highway 20/275
12.4 mi
14m
State Highway 39
12.1 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
Highway 14
— 32 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Beatrice, NE and O'Neill, NE.
1
Start on this road
37 ft·4 sec·this road
2
Turn right
62 ft·4 sec
3
Merge onto US 77
432 ft·18 sec·North 6th Street
4
Turn right onto US 136 Truck; N-4 Truck
0.3 mi·57 sec·Ella Street
5
Turn left onto North 2nd Street
376 ft·9 sec·North 2nd Street
6
Turn right onto US 136; N-4
1.2 mi·2 min·Court Street
7
Turn right onto N-4
8.5 mi·11 min·West Highway 4
8
Turn right onto N-103
13 mi·14 min·Highway 103
9
Continue on N-103
1.1 mi·2 min·South Main Street
10
Continue on N-103
9.5 mi·11 min·Highway 103
11
At end of road, turn left onto N-33
10.0 mi·11 min·Highway 33
12
At end of road, turn left onto US 6; N-15
5.6 mi·6 min·Highway 6
13
Continue on US 6
1.0 mi·1 min·1st Street
14
Turn right onto L-80E
3.0 mi·3 min·Highway 80E
15
Continue on L-80E
8.7 mi·10 min·420th Road
16
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 80 west
17
Merge onto I 80
15 mi·15 min·I 80
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward US 81: York, Geneva
19
Turn right onto US 81; I 80 Alternate
5.0 mi·6 min·South Lincoln Avenue
20
Continue on US 34; US 81; I 80 Alt
20 mi·24 min·US 34; US 81; I 80 Alt
21
Turn slight left onto N-92
3.0 mi·3 min·County Road 130
22
Turn right onto N-39
8.8 mi·10 min·County Road J
23
Continue on N-39
7.1 mi·8 min·Highway 39
24
Continue on N-39
3.4 mi·3 min·State Highway 39
25
Continue on N-22; N-39
0.5 mi·34 sec·State Highway 22
26
Continue on N-22; N-39
0.7 mi·1 min·South Park Street
27
Turn left onto N-39
0.4 mi·39 sec·Willard Avenue
28
Turn straight onto N-39
8.7 mi·10 min·State Highway 39
29
Continue on N-39
1.5 mi·1 min·Highway 39
30
Continue on N-39
0.9 mi·1 min·Beaver Street
31
Continue on N-39
0.9 mi·1 min·Highway 39
32
Continue on N-39
9.2 mi·10 min·Highway 39
33
Continue on N-14
1.1 mi·1 min·Highway 14
34
Continue on N-14; N-91
0.4 mi·40 sec·West State Street
35
Turn right onto N-14
0.4 mi·39 sec·South 6th Street
36
Continue on N-14
12 mi·14 min·Highway 14
37
Continue on N-14
0.6 mi·1 min·Front Street
38
Continue on N-14
8.2 mi·9 min·Highway 14
39
Continue on N-14
1.0 mi·1 min·South 2nd Street
40
Continue on N-14
11 mi·12 min·Highway 14
41
Continue on N-14
0.3 mi·34 sec·S Street
42
Turn left onto US 275
0.3 mi·33 sec·West 11th Street
43
Continue on US 275
8.1 mi·9 min·Highway 275
44
Continue on US 275
0.5 mi·32 sec·Miles Street
45
Continue on US 275
9.6 mi·11 min·Highway 275
46
Continue on US 275
0.6 mi·38 sec·Front Street
47
Continue on US 275
7.6 mi·8 min·Highway 275
48
Continue on US 20; US 275
12 mi·14 min·Highway 20/275
49
Continue on US 20; US 275
0.6 mi·1 min·East Douglas Street
50
Arrive at destination
US 20; US 275
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 28m estimated drive time, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day. Leaving Beatrice in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach O'Neill. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in planning your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longer highway stretches, as services can be spread out in this region. Plan to refuel before leaving Beatrice or look for opportunities around the halfway point.
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 111.4 miles from Beatrice, NE, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32 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 49 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.4 miles or 2h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near O'Neill, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Beatrice, 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 Beatrice, NE
This is one driving day of about 222.8 miles and 4h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Beatrice, 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 Highway 14 for about 32 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 111.4 miles from Beatrice, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 77.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 77 / North 6th Street
Merge onto US 77 / North 6th Street
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 136 Truck; N-4 Truck / Ella Street
Turn right onto US 136 Truck; N-4 Truck / Ella Street
Navigation decision point
5
33.7 mi into trip|~44m in|N-33 / Highway 33
At end of road, turn left onto N-33 / Highway 33
Navigation decision point
5
62 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 west
Navigation decision point
Toward I 80 west
5
77.7 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward US 81: York, Geneva
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 81: York, Geneva
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.26 one way
$60.52 round trip
$3.45/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.85
$33.77
$67.54
premium
$4.15
$36.40
$72.80
diesel
$3.75
$32.89
$65.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.8
0
$23.39
$10.69
Efficient EV
55.7
0
$19.50
$8.91
EV Truck/SUV
89.1
1
$31.19
$14.26
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Beatrice, NE
Morning
in Beatrice on Sunday
Local time
8:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
SSW 5 to 14 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 3:54AM CDT until October 17 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS North Platte NE
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Destination
O'Neill, NE
Morning
in O'Neill on Sunday
Local time
8:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
SSW 15 to 25 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 3:54AM CDT until October 17 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS North Platte NE
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
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
5 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 28m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 84% of the total mileage on main roads like Highway 14 and Highway 275. You'll experience stretches of rural cruising, including one continuous segment of 32 miles on Highway 14. The transition to non-highway roads will occur later in the trip, offering a change of pace as you approach your destination.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
50 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32 mi on Highway 14.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 14 and Highway 275. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 77 / North 6th 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 28m drive. You will face about 18 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 (US 77 / North 6th Street): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 0.1 miles (US 136 Truck; N-4 Truck / Ella Street): Navigation decision point; at 33.7 miles (N-33 / Highway 33): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,986 ft1,286 ft
Total Climb
929 ft
Total Descent
229 ft
Highest Point
1,986 ft
~222.8 mi in
Elevation Range
700 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Beatrice, NE to O'Neill, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Geneva along the way.
The longest stretch is about 32 miles on Highway 14. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 (US 77 / North 6th Street): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 0.1 miles (US 136 Truck; N-4 Truck / Ella Street): Navigation decision point; at 33.7 miles (N-33 / Highway 33): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Homestead National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at O'Neill, NE, but most travelers stay overnight.
