Spanning 105.9 miles across the Nebraska Great Plains, this route from Burwell to Hastings is a straightforward journey that typically takes about two hours to complete. Since the entire trip is easily manageable in a single day, you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations unless you prefer a leisurely pace. Budgeting approximately $16 for fuel should cover your needs for the duration of the drive. Navigating this path requires you to transition through local roads including G Street, South 1st Avenue, and Highway 11. It is an ideal choice for travelers looking for a direct connection between these two plains communities without the complexity of a multi-day itinerary.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.9 miles from Burwell, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 11
50.4 mi
59m
2nd Street
19.7 mi
22m
US Highway 281
13.1 mi
14m
Highway 281
13 mi
18m
Highway 92
5.5 mi
6m
L Street
0.9 mi
1m
North Burlington Avenue
0.9 mi
2m
1st Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Highway 11
— 50.4 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burwell, NE and Hastings, NE.
1
Start on South 7th Avenue
155 ft·8 sec·South 7th Avenue
2
Turn right onto G Street
0.4 mi·59 sec·G Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto N-11; N-91
0.4 mi·37 sec·South 1st Avenue
4
Continue on N-11; N-91
16 mi·18 min·Highway 11
5
Turn left onto N-11; N-70
0.9 mi·1 min·L Street
6
Turn right onto N-11
0.4 mi·43 sec·South 14th Street
7
Continue on N-11
12 mi·13 min·Highway 11
8
Continue on N-11
0.7 mi·1 min·1st Street
9
Continue on N-11
23 mi·26 min·Highway 11
10
Turn left onto N-92
5.5 mi·6 min·Highway 92
11
Turn right onto US 281; N-92
20 mi·22 min·2nd Street
12
Continue on US 281
6.2 mi·9 min·Highway 281
13
Continue on US 34; US 281; I 80 Alt
13 mi·14 min·US Highway 281
14
Continue on US 34; US 281
6.8 mi·8 min·Highway 281
15
Continue on US 34; US 281
0.9 mi·2 min·North Burlington Avenue
16
Turn left onto West 7th Street
0.3 mi·29 sec·West 7th Street
17
Turn right onto North Saint Joseph Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·North Saint Joseph Avenue
18
Turn right onto US 6 Business
223 ft·4 sec·West 3rd Street
19
Arrive at destination
US 6 Business
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short two-hour trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever it suits your schedule without needing to worry about rigid, pre-planned stopovers. With no mandatory stops built into the itinerary, you can easily pace the drive according to your own preference for breaks. Keep in mind that because you are traveling on local roads like Highway 11 rather than major interstates, you should account for potential variations in speed and local traffic flow. Be sure to fuel up before you leave or keep your $16 budget in mind for a mid-trip fill-up if your vehicle’s range is limited. A helpful tip is to double-check your navigation for the turns on G Street and South 1st Avenue before you head out, as these local connections are key to staying on track.
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 52.9 miles from Burwell, NE, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.4 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 23 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.9 miles or 1h 4m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hastings, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Burwell, 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 Burwell, NE
This is one driving day of about 105.8 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Burwell, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Highway 11 for about 50.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 105.8 — 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|G Street
Turn right onto G Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|N-11; N-91 / South 1st Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto N-11; N-91 / South 1st Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
16.5 mi into trip|~20m in|N-11; N-70 / L Street
Turn left onto N-11; N-70 / L Street
Navigation decision point
5
105.5 mi into trip|~2h 9m in|North Saint Joseph Avenue
Turn right onto North Saint Joseph Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
105.8 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|US 6 Business / West 3rd Street
Turn right onto US 6 Business / West 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.54 one way
$33.08 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.16
$36.32
premium
$4.89
$20.36
$40.72
diesel
$5.61
$23.36
$46.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.7
0
$11.11
$5.08
Efficient EV
26.5
0
$9.26
$4.23
EV Truck/SUV
42.3
0
$14.81
$6.77
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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 as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Burwell, NE
Late night
in Burwell on Sunday
Local time
1:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hastings, NE
Late night
in Hastings on Sunday
Local time
1:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Saint Paul, NE
53 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
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
2h 10m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Because there is zero percent highway share on this route, you will spend the entire 105.9 miles navigating local roads and smaller thoroughfares. The path lacks long, uninterrupted stretches, meaning you should prepare for a varied driving experience that requires your full attention. As you transition from Burwell toward Hastings, the road surface and traffic patterns will shift, reflecting the rural character of this Great Plains region. This is a hands-on driving experience where the journey is defined by its local road connectivity.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.4 mi on Highway 11.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 11 and 2nd Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near G Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Burwell, NE to Hastings, NE is easy. At 2h 10m with 77% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (G Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (N-11; N-91 / South 1st Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 16.5 miles (N-11; N-70 / L Street): Navigation decision point.
The longest stretch is about 50.4 miles on Highway 11. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (G Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (N-11; N-91 / South 1st Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 16.5 miles (N-11; N-70 / L Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hastings, NE before heading back.
