Origin
Kearney, NE
Evening in Kearney on Wednesday
Local time
6:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kearney, NE to Hickman, NE
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 36m
Distance
145.3 mi
234 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 26m
★
6 AM
2h 37m
8 AM
2h 57m
10 AM
2h 44m
12 PM
2h 42m
3 PM
2h 45m
5 PM
2h 56m
8 PM
2h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kearney, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Hickman, NE
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Trip Overview
The drive from Kearney, NE to Hickman, NE covers 145.3 miles and takes about 2h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, US Highway 77, Homestead Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 124 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.53 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
72.7 miles from Kearney, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 124 mi | 2h 7m |
| US Highway 77 | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| Homestead Expressway | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| Hickman Road | 4 mi | 5m |
| South 12th Street | 3.5 mi | 3m |
| 2nd Avenue | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Chestnut Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West 24th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 124 mi, about 2h 7m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 72 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~999 veh/hr typical · worst 1,420
Quietest
2 AM
~126 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 98 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 Kearney, NE and Hickman, NE.
1
Start on Central Avenue
51 ft
·
3 sec
·
Central Avenue
2
Turn right onto West 24th Street
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
West 24th Street
3
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
2nd Avenue
4
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 80 East
5
Merge onto I 80
124 mi
·
2 hr 7 min
·
I 80
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 397
Toward US 77 South, To NE 2: Beatrice, Nebraska City
7
Continue on US 77
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Homestead Expressway
8
Continue on US 77
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
US Highway 77
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 77
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 77
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Continue on US 77
3.5 mi
·
3 min
·
South 12th Street
11
Turn left onto S-55G
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Hickman Road
12
Enter roundabout onto Chestnut Street
12 ft
·
0 sec
·
Chestnut Street
13
Continue on Chestnut Street
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Chestnut Street
14
Turn left onto East 2nd Street
45 ft
·
1 sec
·
East 2nd Street
15
Arrive at destination
East 2nd Street
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 72.7 miles from Kearney, NE, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 124 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 32 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.7 miles or 1h 17m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hickman, 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.
+
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 Kearney, NE
This is one driving day of about 145.3 miles and 2h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Kearney, 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 124 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
73 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 72.7 miles from Kearney, 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 124 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 141 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West 24th Street
Turn right onto West 24th Street
Navigation decision point
4
2.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Turn left toward I 80 East
Navigation decision point
Toward I 80 East
6
126.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 13m in
Take the exit toward US 77 South, To NE 2: Beatrice, Nebraska City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 397
Toward US 77 South, To NE 2: Beatrice, Nebraska...
6
136 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m in
|
US 77 / US Highway 77
Keep slight right at fork onto US 77 / US Highway 77
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
4
141 mi into trip
|
~2h 30m in
|
S-55G / Hickman Road
Turn left onto S-55G / Hickman Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.53 one way
$45.05 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
51 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $24.70 | $49.40 |
| premium | $4.93 | $28.19 | $56.38 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $32.03 | $64.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43.6 | 0 | $15.26 | $6.97 |
| Efficient EV | 36.3 | 0 | $12.71 | $5.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 58.1 | 0 | $20.34 | $9.30 |
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Hickman, NE
Evening in Hickman on Wednesday
Local time
6:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
York, NE
73 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
6 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 36m 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...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 140.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
145.3 mi in 2h 36m, mostly highway — 124 mi of that is on I 80.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 124 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US Highway 77. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 24th Street.
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 36m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 24th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 126.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
2,151 ft
1,193 ft
Total Climb
76 ft
Total Descent
959 ft
Highest Point
2,151 ft
Elevation Range
959 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Kearney, NE and Hickman, NE, road signs point toward To Ne 2: Beatrice and Nebraska City.
To Ne 2: Beatrice
126.7 mi in
|
~2h 13m
Nebraska City
126.7 mi in
|
~2h 13m
About the Cities
Starting in Kearney, NE
Full guide →Kearney is a city of 34,000 people (2020) in South Central Nebraska.
Top landmarks
- • Museum of Nebraska Art — art museum in Kearney, Nebraska
- • World Theatre — movie theater in Kearney, Nebraska, United States
- • Fort Theatre — former movie theater in Kearney, Nebraska, United States
Arriving in Hickman, NE
Full guide →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 36m. Total distance: 145.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 124 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: near the start (West 24th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 126.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Hickman, 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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