Origin
Kearney, NE
Night in Kearney on Saturday
Local time
11:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kearney, NE to Holdrege, NE
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
39m
Distance
30.6 mi
49 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 36m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 46m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 46m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kearney, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Holdrege, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion through the Nebraska Great Plains, the 30.6-mile journey from Kearney to Holdrege is a straightforward trip that covers the distance in just 39 minutes. This short route is perfect for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $5 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your travel plans. Navigating via N-44 and US Highway 6 & 34, you will stay entirely within the familiar landscapes of the state. Because the total drive time is under an hour, you have maximum flexibility to depart whenever it suits your schedule best. Whether you are running errands or heading out for a brief change of scenery, this efficient connection between the two towns offers a simple, no-fuss transit experience.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| N-44 | 10.9 mi | 12m |
| US Highway 6 & 34 | 9.6 mi | 11m |
| Highway 6 | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| 2nd Avenue | 4 mi | 6m |
| 4th Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West 24th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Central Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
N-44
— 10.9 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kearney, NE and Holdrege, 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
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
2nd Avenue
4
Continue on N-44; I 80 Alt
11 mi
·
12 min
·
N-44; I 80 Alt
5
Turn right onto US 6; US 34; N-44
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Highway 6
6
Continue on US 6; US 34
9.6 mi
·
11 min
·
US Highway 6 & 34
7
Continue on US 6; US 34
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
4th Avenue
8
Turn right onto East Avenue
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
East Avenue
9
Arrive at destination
East Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
3 of 33 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 30.4 — 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
15 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
US 6; US 34; N-44 / Highway 6
Turn right onto US 6; US 34; N-44 / Highway 6
Navigation decision point
4
30.4 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
East Avenue
Turn right onto East Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.78 one way
$9.57 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.25 | $10.51 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.89 | $11.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.76 | $13.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.21 | $1.47 |
| Efficient EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.68 | $1.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.28 | $1.96 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Holdrege, NE
Night in Holdrege on Saturday
Local time
11:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
39m 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 39-minute transit offers a mixed driving experience, balancing local roads with regional highway travel. You will spend about 48% of your time on highways, providing a steady pace as you move across the Great Plains. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 10.9-mile segment on N-44, which allows for a consistent rhythm behind the wheel. Transitioning between N-44 and the combined US Highway 6 & 34 keeps the drive from feeling overly repetitive. Expect a functional, practical road environment that prioritizes direct movement between Kearney and Holdrege rather than high-intensity technical maneuvers.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.9 mi on N-44.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 24th Street.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Kearney, NE to Holdrege, NE is easy. At 39m with 48% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 24th Street): Navigation decision point; at 15 miles (US 6; US 34; N-44 / Highway 6): Navigation decision point; at 30.4 miles (East Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 39m. Total distance: 30.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.9 miles on N-44. 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: near the start (West 24th Street): Navigation decision point; at 15 miles (US 6; US 34; N-44 / Highway 6): Navigation decision point; at 30.4 miles (East Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Holdrege, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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