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Trip from Grand Island, NE to Fairbury, NE

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 9m

Distance

114.8 mi

185 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
2h 0m ★
6 AM
2h 9m
8 AM
2h 27m
10 AM
2h 16m
12 PM
2h 14m
3 PM
2h 16m
5 PM
2h 26m
8 PM
2h 4m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in and county seat of Hall County, Nebraska, United States

Grand Island, NE

Wikimedia Commons

city in Jefferson County, Nebraska, United States

Fairbury, NE

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Spanning 114.8 miles across the Great Plains, this route from Grand Island to Fairbury is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 9 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $16 on fuel for the trek, making it an affordable regional connection. You will navigate primarily through local roads, including North Walnut Street, South Locust Street, and East Fonner Park Road, rather than relying on major interstates. If you are looking for a practical, no-nonsense drive through the Nebraska landscape, this path offers a reliable way to get from point A to point B.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

57.4 miles from Grand Island, NE

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Lincoln Avenue 47.5 mi 51m
I 80 34.3 mi 34m
Highway 136 20.1 mi 23m
Highway 34 3.6 mi 4m
Highway 2 3.6 mi 4m
South Stuhr Road 1.5 mi 2m
East Fonner Park Road 1 mi 1m
South Locust Street 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: South Lincoln Avenue — 47.5 mi, about 51m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Grand Island, NE and Fairbury, NE.

1

Start on West 3rd Street

401 ft · 24 sec · West 3rd Street
2

Turn left onto North Walnut Street

0.3 mi · 35 sec · North Walnut Street
3

Continue on N-2 Business

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Locust Street
4

Turn left onto East Fonner Park Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · East Fonner Park Road
5

At end of road, turn right onto South Stuhr Road

1.5 mi · 2 min · South Stuhr Road
6

Turn left onto US 34; N-2; I 80 Alt

3.6 mi · 4 min · Highway 34
7

Turn right onto N-2; I 80 Alt

3.6 mi · 4 min · Highway 2
8

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Toward I 80 east
9

Merge onto I 80

34 mi · 34 min · I 80
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward US 81: York, Geneva
11

Turn right onto US 81

47 mi · 51 min · South Lincoln Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
12

Turn left onto US 136

20 mi · 23 min · Highway 136
13

Continue on US 136

0.7 mi · 1 min · West 14th Street
14

Turn right onto E Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · E Street
15

Turn right onto 6th Street

186 ft · 8 sec · 6th Street
16

Arrive at destination

6th Street

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short 2-hour and 9-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Aim to leave during daylight hours to ensure you can easily navigate the various turns on local roads like North Walnut Street and East Fonner Park Road. While the $16 fuel estimate is modest, it is wise to fill your tank in Grand Island before heading out to avoid searching for stations in more remote sections. Because there are no designated stops on this route, plan your own rest breaks ahead of time to keep your energy up. Most importantly, keep your GPS handy, as the reliance on local roads means you will encounter frequent turns that require careful navigation.

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 57.4 miles from Grand Island, NE, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.5 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 25 miles or 30m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 57.4 miles or 1h 3m 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 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairbury, NE than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Grand Island, 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 Grand Island, NE

This is one driving day of about 114.8 miles and 2h 9m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Grand Island, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South Lincoln Avenue for about 47.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown McCool Junction, NE, NE

Mid-route town

Meal stop

McCool Junction, NE

57 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Aurora, NE

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

McCool Junction, NE

Meal break

The midpoint is around 57.4 miles from Grand Island, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Pioneers Inn Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 98.4

Gilead, Nebraska

Hours: 8 am–8:30 pm

+14027687409

Visit website

Edgerton Explorit Center

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 24.6

Aurora, Nebraska

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+14026944032

Visit website

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 0.1 and 45.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | North Walnut Street

Turn left onto North Walnut Street

Navigation decision point

5
2.2 mi into trip | ~4m in | South Stuhr Road

At end of road, turn right onto South Stuhr Road

Navigation decision point

5
10.9 mi into trip | ~15m in

Take the ramp toward I 80 east

Navigation decision point

Toward I 80 east
5
45.6 mi into trip | ~50m 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
5
45.9 mi into trip | ~51m in | US 81 / South Lincoln Avenue

Turn right onto US 81 / South Lincoln Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.95 one way

$35.90 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 40 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $19.71 $39.41
premium $4.89 $22.09 $44.18
diesel $5.61 $25.35 $50.69

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 40.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 34.4 0 $12.05 $5.51
Efficient EV 28.7 0 $10.05 $4.59
EV Truck/SUV 45.9 0 $16.07 $7.35

Gas CO2

40 kg

EV CO2

13 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 15, 2026

Origin

Grand Island, NE

Night in Grand Island on Saturday

Local time

11:41 PM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fairbury, NE

Night in Fairbury on Saturday

Local time

11:41 PM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

2h 9m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Homestead National Historical Park

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...

21 mi from route ~53 min detour Free near mile 114.8
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as this route maintains a 0% highway share throughout the 114.8-mile journey. You will spend the entire time navigating local roads, which requires your full attention at intersections compared to the steady pace of a highway. The path demands consistent engagement as you transition between the specified local streets, keeping the driving experience varied and active. Because you are avoiding major thoroughfares, the character of the road is defined by local traffic patterns and rural navigation. Be prepared for a steady, hands-on drive that keeps you connected to the regional landscape of Nebraska.

54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.5 mi on South Lincoln Avenue.

How Hard Is This Drive?

2/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Walnut Street.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Grand Island, NE to Fairbury, NE is easy. At 2h 9m with 54% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (South Stuhr Road): Navigation decision point; at 10.9 miles: Navigation decision point.

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 Grand Island, NE to Fairbury, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Geneva along the way.

Geneva

45.6 mi in | ~50m

About the Cities

Starting in Grand Island, NE

Full guide →

Grand Island is a city of 51,000 people (2019) in South Central Nebraska. Grand Island has been given the All-America City Award three times (1955, 1967, and 1981–82) by the National Civic League.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 114.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (54%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 47.5 miles on South Lincoln Avenue. 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: at 0.1 miles (North Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (South Stuhr Road): Navigation decision point; at 10.9 miles: 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 Fairbury, 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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