Origin
Hastings, NE
Late night in Hastings on Tuesday
Local time
3:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hastings, NE to Beatrice, NE
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 14m
Distance
106.9 mi
172 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 5m
★
6 AM
2h 15m
8 AM
2h 34m
10 AM
2h 21m
12 PM
2h 20m
3 PM
2h 22m
5 PM
2h 33m
8 PM
2h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hastings, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Beatrice, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Hastings to Beatrice covers 106.9 miles across the Nebraska Great Plains, a journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 14 minutes. Because of the manageable duration, this trip works perfectly as a straightforward day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $15 for fuel to complete the transit. By utilizing a mix of Highway 4, Highway 74, and Highway 6, you will remain within the same regional landscape for the entire duration. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of pace, this route offers a practical connection between these two Nebraska hubs. It is a reliable, no-nonsense drive that gets you where you need to be efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.5 miles from Hastings, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 4 | 34.4 mi | 40m |
| Highway 74 | 24 mi | 30m |
| Highway 6 | 11.9 mi | 13m |
| Highway 14 | 10.2 mi | 12m |
| West Highway 4 | 8.6 mi | 11m |
| US 81 | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| East South Street | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| West Court Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Highway 4
— 34.4 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hastings, NE and Beatrice, NE.
1
Start on US 6 Business
422 ft
·
17 sec
·
West 3rd Street
2
Turn left onto North Hastings Avenue
333 ft
·
22 sec
·
North Hastings Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 6 Business
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West 2nd Street
4
Turn right onto North Pine Avenue
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
North Pine Avenue
5
Turn left onto East South Street
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
East South Street
6
Continue on US 6
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Highway 6
7
Turn right onto N-14
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Highway 14
8
Continue on N-14
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Center Street
9
Continue on N-14
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Highway 14
10
Turn left onto N-74
24 mi
·
30 min
·
Highway 74
11
Turn right onto US 81
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
US 81
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto N-4
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Highway 4
13
Continue on N-4
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Francis Street
14
Continue on N-4
6.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Highway 4
15
Turn right onto N-4; N-15
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 15
16
Turn left onto N-4
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Highway 4
17
Continue on N-4
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
State Highway 4
18
Continue on N-4
8.6 mi
·
11 min
·
West Highway 4
19
Turn left onto US 136; N-4
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
West Court Street
20
Turn left onto North 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
North 5th Street
21
Turn right
58 ft
·
6 sec
22
Turn right
348 ft
·
25 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience without worrying about a complex itinerary. While there are no scheduled stops required for this 2-hour and 14-minute trip, planning for a quick break mid-journey can help keep you refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Hastings to ensure you start with a full tank, as this will easily cover the $15 cost for the duration of the trip. Given that the route relies heavily on highway travel, stay alert for changes in speed limits as you move between the different highway sections. Use the 34.4-mile stretch on Highway 4 to settle into a comfortable cruising rhythm while maintaining your focus on the road.
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 53.5 miles from Hastings, NE, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.4 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 24 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.5 miles or 1h 7m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Beatrice, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hastings, 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 Hastings, NE
This is one driving day of about 106.9 miles and 2h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Hastings, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Highway 4 for about 34.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 53.5 miles from Hastings, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 106.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Hastings Avenue
Turn left onto North Hastings Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 6 Business / West 2nd Street
Turn left onto US 6 Business / West 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North Pine Avenue
Turn right onto North Pine Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
53.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
US 81
Turn right onto US 81
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
106.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 14m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.71 one way
$33.43 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $18.35 | $36.70 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.57 | $41.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.60 | $47.20 |
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: 37.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.1 | 0 | $11.22 | $5.13 |
| Efficient EV | 26.7 | 0 | $9.35 | $4.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.8 | 0 | $14.97 | $6.84 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (65% 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
Late night in Beatrice on Tuesday
Local time
3:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°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
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
2h 14m 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
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...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 99.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused drive is defined by its consistency, with 91% of the journey spent on major routes. You will spend much of your time on Highway 4, which includes the longest uninterrupted stretch of 34.4 miles. Expect a steady, rolling pace as you navigate these regional thoroughfares, which favor functionality over technical complexity. The transition between Highway 6, 74, and 4 keeps the experience moving at a predictable clip. Behind the wheel, you can anticipate a focused driving environment that prioritizes distance coverage across the open plains.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.4 mi on Highway 4.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 4 and Highway 74. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Hastings Avenue.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 14m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Hastings Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 6 Business / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (North Pine Avenue): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Starting in Hastings, NE
Full guide →Hastings is a city in South Central Nebraska.
Arriving in Beatrice, NE
Full guide →Beatrice is a city in Eastern Nebraska. A small city of about 12,000, it serves as the seat of Gage County.
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 14m. Total distance: 106.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.4 miles on Highway 4. 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 Hastings Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 6 Business / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (North Pine Avenue): 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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