Traveling from Kearney to Burwell covers 86.6 miles through the heart of the Great Plains, making for a straightforward journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 44 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $13 on fuel for the trek, keeping the excursion budget-friendly. Transitioning between these two Nebraska towns keeps you firmly within the Great Plains region, ensuring a consistent landscape throughout your travels. Whether you are heading north for business or leisure, this drive offers a reliable connection between the two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.3 miles from Kearney, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 10
38.8 mi
44m
Highway 11
15.2 mi
17m
Highway 70
13.9 mi
16m
Highway 58
10.4 mi
12m
2nd Avenue
5.9 mi
9m
Highway 92
0.7 mi
1m
466 Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
Highway 91
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Highway 10
— 38.8 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kearney, NE and Burwell, NE.
1
Start on Central Avenue
321 ft·10 sec·Central Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 30; I 80 Alt
0.1 mi·29 sec·West 25th Street
3
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue
3.4 mi·6 min·2nd Avenue
4
Enter roundabout onto N-10
192 ft·8 sec·2nd Avenue
5
Continue on N-10
2.5 mi·2 min·2nd Avenue
6
Continue on N-10
27 mi·31 min·Highway 10
7
Continue on N-10
12 mi·13 min·Highway 10
8
Turn left onto N-58; N-92
0.7 mi·1 min·Highway 92
9
Turn right onto N-58
10 mi·12 min·Highway 58
10
Continue on N-70
14 mi·16 min·Highway 70
11
Turn left onto N-11
15 mi·17 min·Highway 11
12
Turn left onto N-91
0.5 mi·36 sec·Highway 91
13
Turn right onto 466 Avenue
0.5 mi·41 sec·466 Avenue
14
Continue on South 8th Avenue
0.3 mi·49 sec·South 8th Avenue
15
At end of road, turn right onto South Grand Avenue
354 ft·11 sec·South Grand Avenue
16
Turn right onto G Street
358 ft·12 sec·G Street
17
Turn right onto South 7th Avenue
155 ft·6 sec·South 7th Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
South 7th Avenue
Trip Plan
Since the trip is under two hours, you have the flexibility to depart at a time that best suits your personal schedule without worrying about complex timing. You won't need to plan for any formal stops along the way, but keeping your gas tank filled before leaving Kearney is a smart move to manage your $13 fuel budget efficiently. Because the route is concentrated on highways, stay alert for changing speed limits as you move between the different state routes. Use the 86.6-mile distance to your advantage by enjoying the simplicity of a drive that doesn't require rigorous pace-setting or multiple rest breaks.
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 43.3 miles from Kearney, NE, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.8 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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.3 miles or 53m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Burwell, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kearney, NE so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kearney, NE
This is one driving day of about 86.6 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Kearney, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Highway 10 for about 38.8 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 86.6 — 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|2nd Avenue
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
3.6 mi into trip|~7m in|N-10 / 2nd Avenue
Enter roundabout onto N-10 / 2nd Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
44.9 mi into trip|~55m in|N-58; N-92 / Highway 92
Turn left onto N-58; N-92 / Highway 92
Navigation decision point
4
45.6 mi into trip|~56m in|N-58 / Highway 58
Turn right onto N-58 / Highway 58
Navigation decision point
5
86.6 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|South 7th Avenue
Turn right onto South 7th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.54 one way
$27.08 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.87
$29.73
premium
$4.89
$16.67
$33.33
diesel
$5.61
$19.12
$38.24
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26
0
$9.09
$4.16
Efficient EV
21.7
0
$7.58
$3.46
EV Truck/SUV
34.6
0
$12.12
$5.54
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Kearney, NE
Night
in Kearney on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Burwell, NE
Night
in Burwell on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Ravenna, NE
43 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 44m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused drive relies on a combination of Highway 10, Highway 11, and Highway 70 to get you to your destination. With 92% of the trip spent on highways, you will find the pace fairly consistent as you navigate the plains. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs early on, covering 38.8 miles on Highway 10. Expect a steady, driving-oriented experience rather than a technical or winding route, as the roads prioritize efficiency. The transition between these specific highways creates a predictable flow that keeps you moving toward Burwell with minimal complexity.
92% 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: 38.8 mi on Highway 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 10 and Highway 11. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near 2nd Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 44m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (2nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.6 miles (N-10 / 2nd Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 44.9 miles (N-58; N-92 / Highway 92): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 86.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 38.8 miles on Highway 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 (2nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.6 miles (N-10 / 2nd Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 44.9 miles (N-58; N-92 / Highway 92): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Burwell, NE before heading back.
