Origin
Fairbury, NE
Night in Fairbury on Saturday
Local time
11:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairbury, NE to Beatrice, NE
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
40m
Distance
28.1 mi
45 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairbury, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Beatrice, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion across the Great Plains, the 28.1-mile journey from Fairbury to Beatrice is an efficient choice. You can easily complete this drive in about 40 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of approximately $4, it is a very budget-friendly transit between these two Nebraska communities. The route follows a straightforward path primarily via Highway 136, keeping your travel time minimal. Because the distance is so short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your schedule around your actual destination rather than the road itself. Whether you are commuting or just exploring the local region, this straightforward connection offers a reliable way to get from point A to point B.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 136 | 14.8 mi | 19m |
| West US Highway 136 | 9.1 mi | 11m |
| West Court Street | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| South Reed Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| K Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 6th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North 5th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 14th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Highway 136
— 14.8 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairbury, NE and Beatrice, NE.
1
Start on 6th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
6th Street
2
Turn left onto N-15
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
K Street
3
Turn right onto US 136
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
14th Street
4
Continue on US 136
15 mi
·
19 min
·
Highway 136
5
Continue on US 136
9.1 mi
·
11 min
·
West US Highway 136
6
Continue on US 136
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Reed Street
7
Continue on US 136
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
West Court Street
8
Turn left onto North 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
North 5th Street
9
Turn right
58 ft
·
6 sec
10
Turn right
348 ft
·
25 sec
11
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 28 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
N-15 / K Street
Turn left onto N-15 / K Street
Navigation decision point
3
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 136 / 14th Street
Turn right onto US 136 / 14th Street
Navigation decision point
4
27.8 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
North 5th Street
Turn left onto North 5th Street
Navigation decision point
4
28 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
28 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.39 one way
$8.79 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.82 | $9.65 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.41 | $10.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.20 | $12.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.95 | $1.35 |
| Efficient EV | 7 | 0 | $2.46 | $1.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.93 | $1.80 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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.
Destination
Beatrice, NE
Night in Beatrice on Saturday
Local time
11:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
40m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a focused, highway-heavy experience as you navigate this 28.1-mile stretch. With roughly 85 percent of your trip spent on highways, you will find yourself moving along at a steady pace for most of the drive. The road is defined by its efficiency, featuring a notable 14.8-mile uninterrupted segment along Highway 136 that allows for consistent driving. As you transition from the highway onto West Court Street, the environment shifts slightly toward your destination. You won't encounter the monotony of a long-haul interstate, nor will you have to worry about complex technical roads, making this a comfortable drive for any skill level.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.8 mi on Highway 136.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 136 and West US Highway 136. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near N-15 / K Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Fairbury, NE to Beatrice, NE is easy. At 40m with 85% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (N-15 / K Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 136 / 14th Street): Navigation decision point; at 27.8 miles (North 5th Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 40m. Total distance: 28.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.8 miles on Highway 136. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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: at 0.5 miles (N-15 / K Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 136 / 14th Street): Navigation decision point; at 27.8 miles (North 5th Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Homestead National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Beatrice, NE before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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