Fremont to Sutherland is 294 miles and takes about 5h 9m via I 80 and US 77, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Nebraska, traversing the Great Plains region. The route is primarily highway driving, making it a straightforward option for a single day. It's a good choice if you're looking for a direct way to cover ground across the state without extensive planning.
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
147 miles from Fremont, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
215.2 mi
3h 35m
US 77
37.5 mi
43m
County Road 18
12.6 mi
13m
Highway 77
12.3 mi
14m
County Road 11
11.5 mi
13m
N-25
1.7 mi
2m
North Broad Street
1.6 mi
3m
US 30
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 215.2 mi, about 3h 35m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 108 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~873 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,264
Quietest
2 AM
~118 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Fremont, NE and Sutherland, NE.
1
Start on this road
143 ft·12 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto West 4th Street
188 ft·15 sec·West 4th Street
3
Turn left onto North Broad Street
1.6 mi·3 min·North Broad Street
4
Enter roundabout onto US 77
18 ft·0 sec·Highway 77
5
Continue on US 77
0.6 mi·43 sec·Highway 77
6
Continue on US 77
11 mi·13 min·County Road 11
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 77
5.2 mi·6 min·US 77
8
Enter roundabout onto US 77; N-92
154 ft·1 sec·Highway 77;Wahoo Expressway
9
Continue on US 77; N-92
12 mi·13 min·Highway 77;Wahoo Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on US 77
1.8 mi·1 min·County Road 18
11
Continue on US 77
0.5 mi·44 sec·North Highway 77
12
Continue on US 77
11 mi·11 min·County Road 18
13
Take the exit onto US 77
32 mi·37 min·US 77
Toward I 80 west
14
Continue on I 80
215 mi·3 hr 35 min·I 80
Use the slight right lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward NE 25: Sutherland, Wallace
16
Turn right onto N-25; I 80 Alt
1.7 mi·2 min·N-25; I 80 Alt
17
At end of road, turn left onto US 30; I 80 Alt
0.7 mi·1 min·US 30; I 80 Alt
18
Arrive at destination
US 30; I 80 Alt
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration, leaving Fremont in the morning will get you to Sutherland with plenty of daylight to spare. The $46 fuel estimate is helpful for budgeting, and with only one recommended stop, you can choose a convenient point along I 80. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the end of the interstate segment, as services might be less frequent on County Road 18.
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 147 miles from Fremont, NE, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 215.2 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 65 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 147 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sutherland, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fremont, 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 Fremont, NE
This is one driving day of about 294 miles and 5h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Fremont, 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 215.2 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 291.3 — 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 4th Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North Broad Street
Turn left onto North Broad Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.7 mi into trip|~3m in|US 77 / Highway 77
Enter roundabout onto US 77 / Highway 77
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
19 mi into trip|~24m in|US 77; N-92 / Highway 77;Wahoo Expressway
Enter roundabout onto US 77; N-92 / Highway 77;Wahoo Expressway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
291.3 mi into trip|~5h 4m in
Take the exit toward NE 25: Sutherland, Wallace
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NE 25: Sutherland, Wallace
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.93 one way
$79.87 round trip
$3.45/gal25.4 MPG avg103 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.85
$44.56
$89.13
premium
$4.15
$48.04
$96.07
diesel
$3.75
$43.41
$86.81
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: 102.9 kg one way.
EV Charging Along Route
3 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: fair
ChargePoint Charging Station
Wahoo, Nebraska
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Fremont, Nebraska
EV Connect
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Wahoo, Nebraska
EV Connect
1 DCFC
EV Connect: 2
ChargePoint: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.2
1
$30.87
$14.11
Efficient EV
73.5
0
$25.73
$11.76
EV Truck/SUV
117.6
1
$41.16
$18.82
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Fremont, NE
Morning
in Fremont on Monday
Local time
6:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Sutherland, NE
Morning
in Sutherland on Monday
Local time
6:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Partly Cloudy
NNE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
57°F
Parkview, NE
147 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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 9m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 91% of your time on highways, with the longest continuous stretch on I 80 covering 215.2 miles. After leaving the interstate, you'll transition to US 77 and then County Road 18, which will feel like a significant change in pace. Expect a more rural cruising experience on these final legs of the trip.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 215.2 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US 77. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 4th Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 9m drive. You will face about 10 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 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 77 / Highway 77): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Sutherland is a small town in Lincoln County, Nebraska. The 2005 population was 1,223, and Sutherland has been named the fastest growing community in Nebraska outside of the Omaha/Lincoln metro area.
The longest stretch is about 215.2 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 24 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 77 / Highway 77): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sutherland, NE before the return drive.
