La Vista to Wakefield is 108.6 miles and takes about 2h 15m via Highway 275, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Nebraska, moving from the Great Plains region to another part of the Great Plains. It's a straightforward drive primarily on highways, making it a good option if you're looking for a simple trip without many complexities. Expect a consistent driving experience with minimal need for extensive planning, suitable for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.3 miles from La Vista, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 275
23.4 mi
25m
US 275
19.7 mi
21m
Highway 9
17.1 mi
25m
Highway 16
15.8 mi
18m
West Dodge Road
10.4 mi
12m
Highway 77
7.6 mi
8m
South 84th Street
2.5 mi
4m
Highway 35
1.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Highway 275
— 23.4 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Vista, NE and Wakefield, NE.
1
Start on Lillian Avenue
0.2 mi·55 sec·Lillian Avenue
2
At end of road, turn right onto Park View Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·Park View Boulevard
3
Turn right onto N-85
2.5 mi·4 min·South 84th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward I 80 West
5
Merge onto I 80
1.7 mi·1 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 446Toward I 680 NorthUse the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 680
1.1 mi·1 min·I 680
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit (new value)Toward Pacific Street
9
Continue on this road
403 ft·9 sec·this road
Exit 2Toward Pacific Street
10
Keep slight left at fork
161 ft·6 sec
Exit 2Toward Pacific Street west
11
Turn left onto Pacific Street
0.9 mi·1 min·Pacific Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto South 120th Street
1.0 mi·1 min·South 120th Street
13
Take the ramp onto West Dodge Road
0.4 mi·44 sec·West Dodge Road
Toward US 6 West
14
Merge onto US 6
10 mi·11 min·West Dodge Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on US 275
20 mi·21 min·US 275
16
Take the exit onto US 77; US 275
0.2 mi·35 sec·US 77; US 275
17
Keep slight left at fork
469 ft·14 sec
18
Turn right onto Highway 77
7.6 mi·8 min·Highway 77
19
Continue on US 275; N-91
23 mi·24 min·Highway 275
20
Continue on US 275
1.8 mi·2 min·South Lincoln Street
21
Continue on US 275
0.4 mi·28 sec·Highway 275
22
Turn right onto N-9
17 mi·25 min·Highway 9
23
Continue on N-9; N-16
0.9 mi·1 min·4th Street
24
Continue on N-9; N-16
0.2 mi·22 sec·Highway 9
25
Turn left onto N-16
16 mi·18 min·Highway 16
26
Continue on N-35
1.8 mi·2 min·Highway 35
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
27
Continue on N-35
0.5 mi·50 sec·Oak Street
28
Turn left onto 3rd Street
0.1 mi·34 sec·3rd Street
29
Arrive at destination
3rd Street
Trip Plan
Given this drive is only about 2 hours and 15 minutes, you have plenty of flexibility for when you want to leave. Aiming for a mid-morning departure would allow you to avoid any potential rush hour in La Vista and still arrive in Wakefield with ample daylight. Since the longest stretch on a single highway is under 25 miles, you won't need to worry about extensive periods without services. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you get closer to Wakefield, as services might become less frequent on the latter part of Highway 9.
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 54.3 miles from La Vista, NE, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23.4 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 24 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.3 miles or 1h 6m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wakefield, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving La Vista, 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 La Vista, NE
This is one driving day of about 108.6 miles and 2h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from La Vista, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Highway 275 for about 23.4 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 7.4 — 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|Park View Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto Park View Boulevard
Navigation decision point
6
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|N-85 / South 84th Street
Turn right onto N-85 / South 84th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
3.6 mi into trip|~7m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
5.3 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit toward I 680 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 446
Toward I 680 North
7
7.4 mi into trip|~12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Pacific Street west
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 2
Toward Pacific Street west
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.98 one way
$33.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.64
$37.28
premium
$4.89
$20.90
$41.80
diesel
$5.61
$23.98
$47.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.6
0
$11.40
$5.21
Efficient EV
27.2
0
$9.50
$4.34
EV Truck/SUV
43.4
0
$15.20
$6.95
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
La Vista, NE
Morning
in La Vista on Sunday
Local time
9:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Wakefield, NE
Morning
in Wakefield on Sunday
Local time
9:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Fremont, NE
54 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
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
2h 15m 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?
You'll spend most of your time on highways, with 81% of the drive on these types of roads. The longest continuous stretch without a major change in road type is 23.4 miles on Highway 275. After that, you'll transition to other highways like Highway 9. Expect a fairly rural cruising feel for much of this trip.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.4 mi on Highway 275.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 275 and US 275. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Park View Boulevard.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 108.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Park View Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (N-85 / South 84th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from La Vista, NE to Wakefield, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Pacific Street West along the way.
Pacific Street West
7.4 mi in|~12m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 15m. Total distance: 108.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.4 miles on Highway 275. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Wakefield, NE before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 (Park View Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (N-85 / South 84th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wakefield, NE before heading back.
