Origin
Hastings, NE
Late night in Hastings on Tuesday
Local time
4:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hastings, NE to Blair, 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
3h 12m
Distance
174.8 mi
281 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 1m
★
6 AM
3h 12m
8 AM
3h 36m
10 AM
3h 21m
12 PM
3h 18m
3 PM
3h 22m
5 PM
3h 35m
8 PM
3h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hastings, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Blair, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Hastings to Blair is 174.8 miles and takes about 3h 12m via I 80 and US Highway 281, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Nebraska, traversing the familiar Great Plains landscape. With a high percentage of highway driving, it's a straightforward connection between two points. Plan for a single day of travel, making it a convenient option for a quick trip between cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
87.4 miles from Hastings, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 133 mi | 2h 18m |
| State Highway 133 | 11 mi | 12m |
| US Highway 281 | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| Highway 281 | 6.8 mi | 9m |
| I 680 | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| Highway 133 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| North Burlington Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South 19th Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 133 mi, about 2h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hastings, NE and Blair, NE.
1
Start on US 6 Business
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
West 3rd Street
2
Turn right onto US 34; US 281
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Burlington Avenue
3
Continue on US 34; US 281
6.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Highway 281
4
Continue on US 34; US 281
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
US Highway 281
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 80 east
6
Merge onto I 80
133 mi
·
2 hr 18 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 680 North
8
Continue on I 680
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
I 680
Toward I 680 north
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 6
Toward NE 133: Irvington, Blair
10
Turn straight onto N-133
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Blair High Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Continue on N-133
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
State Highway 133
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on N-133
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway 133
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on N-133
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 133
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on N-133
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 133
15
Continue on N-133
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 133
16
Enter roundabout onto US 30
44 ft
·
1 sec
·
South Highway 30
17
Continue on US 30
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Highway 30
18
Continue on US 30
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South 19th Street
19
Turn right onto South Street
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
South Street
20
Turn left onto US 75
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
South 13th Street
21
Turn right onto US 30
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Washington Street
22
Turn left onto North 10th Street
317 ft
·
7 sec
·
North 10th Street
23
Turn right onto Front Street
389 ft
·
17 sec
·
Front Street
24
Arrive at destination
Front Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 12m drive time, leaving Hastings in the morning is ideal, allowing you to arrive in Blair with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. The fuel cost is estimated at $27, so ensure your tank is full before departing Hastings. Keep an eye on your GPS for the turn onto State Highway 133, as this marks a change from the interstate before rejoining US Highway 281.
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 87.4 miles from Hastings, NE, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 133 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 38 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.4 miles or 1h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blair, 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 174.8 miles and 3h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Hastings, 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 133 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 87.4 miles from Hastings, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 133 miles.
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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 174.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 34; US 281 / North Burlington Avenue
Turn right onto US 34; US 281 / North Burlington Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
16.4 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward I 80 east
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 80 east
5
16.8 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
157.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 49m in
Take the exit toward NE 133: Irvington, Blair
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 6
Toward NE 133: Irvington, Blair
5
174.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 11m in
|
North 10th Street
Turn left onto North 10th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.33 one way
$54.66 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $30.01 | $60.01 |
| premium | $4.89 | $33.64 | $67.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.59 | $77.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.4 | 0 | $18.35 | $8.39 |
| Efficient EV | 43.7 | 0 | $15.30 | $6.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.9 | 0 | $24.47 | $11.19 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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
Blair, NE
Late night in Blair on Tuesday
Local time
4:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Waverly, NE
87 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
3h 12m 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?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 97% of the route on major roads. You'll spend the bulk of your time on I 80, covering a continuous stretch of 133 miles. The transition to surface roads occurs later in the trip as you near Blair. Expect mostly rural cruising with occasional exits along the way.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 133 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and State Highway 133. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 34; US 281 / North Burlington Avenue.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 174.8 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 34; US 281 / North Burlington Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 16.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 16.8 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Hastings, NE
Full guide →Hastings is a city in South Central Nebraska.
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 3h 12m. Total distance: 174.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 133 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 0.2 miles (US 34; US 281 / North Burlington Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 16.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 16.8 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Blair, NE, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Blair, NE
Explore more options from Hastings, NE or browse trips ending in Blair, NE.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NE road trips.