Origin
Hastings, NE
Late night in Hastings on Saturday
Local time
1:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hastings, NE to Sutherland, NE
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 57m
Distance
164.9 mi
265 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 46m
★
6 AM
2h 58m
8 AM
3h 20m
10 AM
3h 5m
12 PM
3h 3m
3 PM
3h 7m
5 PM
3h 19m
8 PM
2h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hastings, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Sutherland, NE
cottonbro studio
Trip Overview
The drive from Hastings, NE to Sutherland, NE covers 164.9 miles and takes about 2h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, West Highway 6, 40 Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 127.1 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.57 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
82.4 miles from Hastings, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 33m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 127.1 mi | 2h 7m |
| West Highway 6 | 16 mi | 18m |
| 40 Road | 6 mi | 8m |
| Senator Carl T. Curtis Drive | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| Lowell Road | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| W Road | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| N-25 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| West 2nd Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 127.1 mi, about 2h 7m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 52 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~700 veh/hr typical · worst 1,051
Quietest
3 AM
~102 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Hastings, NE and Sutherland, NE.
1
Start on US 6 Business
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
West 3rd Street
2
Turn left onto US 34; US 281; US 6 Business
333 ft
·
15 sec
·
North Burlington Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 6 Business
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West 2nd Street
4
Turn left onto South Marian Road
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Marian Road
5
Turn right onto US 6; US 34
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Highway 6
6
Enter roundabout onto US 6; US 34
134 ft
·
1 sec
·
West Highway 6
7
Continue on US 6; US 34
14 mi
·
16 min
·
West Highway 6
8
Continue on US 6; US 34
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Senator Carl T. Curtis Drive
9
Turn right onto Q Road
136 ft
·
6 sec
·
Q Road
10
Continue on Q Road
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
Q Road
11
Turn right onto 40 Road
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
40 Road
12
Turn left onto W Road
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
W Road
13
Turn right onto Lowell Road
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Lowell Road
14
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
15
Merge onto I 80
127 mi
·
2 hr 7 min
·
I 80
Use the slight right lane.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward NE 25: Sutherland, Wallace
17
Turn right onto N-25; I 80 Alt
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
N-25; I 80 Alt
18
At end of road, turn left onto US 30; I 80 Alt
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 30; I 80 Alt
19
Arrive at destination
US 30; I 80 Alt
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 82.4 miles from Hastings, NE, or about 1h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 127.1 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 36 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.4 miles or 1h 33m 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 26m
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 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 164.9 miles and 2h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 127.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
82 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 82.4 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 127.1 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 162.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 34; US 281; US 6 Business / North Burlington Avenue
Turn left onto US 34; US 281; US 6 Business / North Burlington Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 6 Business / West 2nd Street
Turn right onto US 6 Business / West 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
4
3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 6; US 34 / West Highway 6
Turn right onto US 6; US 34 / West Highway 6
Navigation decision point
5
35.1 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
162.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 53m 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
$25.57 one way
$51.13 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
58 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $28.03 | $56.07 |
| premium | $4.93 | $31.99 | $63.99 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $36.35 | $72.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.5 | 0 | $17.31 | $7.92 |
| Efficient EV | 41.2 | 0 | $14.43 | $6.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 66 | 0 | $23.09 | $10.55 |
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Sutherland, NE
Late night in Sutherland on Saturday
Local time
1:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
63°F
Lexington, NE
82 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
5 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 57m 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?
164.9 mi in 2h 57m, mostly highway — 127.1 mi of that is on I 80.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 127.1 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and West Highway 6. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 34; US 281; US 6 Business / North Burlington Avenue.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Hastings, NE to Sutherland, NE is easy. At 2h 57m with 87% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 34; US 281; US 6 Business / North Burlington Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 6 Business / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (US 6; US 34 / West Highway 6): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,961 ft
1,924 ft
Total Climb
1,072 ft
Total Descent
35 ft
Highest Point
2,961 ft
~164.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,037 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Hastings, NE
Full guide →Hastings is a city in South Central Nebraska.
Top landmarks
- • Hastings — Amtrak station
- • Hastings College — college in Hastings, Nebraska
- • Chautauqua Pavilion — pavilion in Chautauqua Park in Hastings, Nebraska
Arriving in Sutherland, NE
Full guide →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.
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 57m. Total distance: 164.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 127.1 miles on I 80. 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 0.2 miles (US 34; US 281; US 6 Business / North Burlington Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 6 Business / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (US 6; US 34 / West Highway 6): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Sutherland, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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