Macy, NE to Hastings, NE is 193 miles and takes about 4h 2m via Highway 30 and Highway 77, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route primarily travels through the Great Plains region of Nebraska, offering a straightforward, highway-focused journey. You'll experience a consistent driving environment for most of the trip. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a manageable drive for those looking to cover ground efficiently within the state. Consider this trip if you prefer a direct path without extensive detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
96.5 miles from Macy, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 30
60.7 mi
1h 10m
Highway 77
36.2 mi
41m
Road F
18.8 mi
20m
US Highway 281
13.1 mi
15m
US Highway 30
10.4 mi
12m
US 77
8.3 mi
9m
Highway 281
6.8 mi
8m
Highway 94
4.6 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Highway 30
— 60.7 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Macy, NE and Hastings, NE.
1
Start on Skunk Hollow Drive
39 ft·7 sec·Skunk Hollow Drive
2
Turn left onto Main Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 75
2.7 mi·3 min·Highway 75
4
Turn left onto N-94
4.6 mi·5 min·Highway 94
5
Turn left onto US 77
21 mi·24 min·Highway 77
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 77
1.6 mi·3 min·North Charde Avenue
7
Enter roundabout onto US 77
177 ft·3 sec·Highway 77
8
Continue on US 77
6.3 mi·7 min·Highway 77
9
Continue on US 77
0.6 mi·57 sec·Oak Street
10
Continue on US 77
8.2 mi·9 min·Highway 77
11
Continue on US 77
0.3 mi·22 sec·Highway US 77
12
Continue on US 77
0.7 mi·46 sec·Highway 77
13
Take the ramp onto US 77
8.3 mi·9 min·US 77
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
15
Merge onto US 30
17 mi·18 min·Highway 30
16
Turn right onto Road 5
0.2 mi·36 sec·Road 5
17
Turn left onto Road S
4.0 mi·9 min·Road S
18
Turn left onto County Road 19
1.0 mi·2 min·County Road 19
19
Turn right onto US 30
19 mi·20 min·Road F
20
Continue on US 30
4.5 mi·6 min·23rd Street East
21
Turn left onto 10th Avenue
0.5 mi·54 sec·10th Avenue
22
Continue on 15th Street
0.1 mi·16 sec·15th Street
23
Turn left onto 12th Avenue
0.5 mi·56 sec·12th Avenue
24
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·8th Street
25
Turn left onto US 30; US 81
0.9 mi·1 min·33rd Avenue
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
27
Merge onto US 30
2.7 mi·3 min·South 9th Street
28
Continue on US 30
10 mi·12 min·US Highway 30
29
Continue on US 30
26 mi·31 min·Highway 30
30
Continue on US 30
0.6 mi·1 min·16th Street
31
Continue on US 30
0.9 mi·1 min·G Street
32
Continue on US 30
18 mi·21 min·Highway 30
33
Turn left onto North Gunbarrel Road
4.1 mi·5 min·North Gunbarrel Road
34
Continue on Husker Highway
0.7 mi·1 min·Husker Highway
35
Turn right onto US 34; N-2; I 80 Alt
4.4 mi·6 min·Highway 34
36
Turn left onto US 34; US 281; I 80 Alt
13 mi·15 min·US Highway 281
37
Continue on US 34; US 281
6.8 mi·8 min·Highway 281
38
Continue on US 34; US 281
0.9 mi·2 min·North Burlington Avenue
39
Turn left onto West 7th Street
0.3 mi·29 sec·West 7th Street
40
Turn right onto North Saint Joseph Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·North Saint Joseph Avenue
41
Turn right onto US 6 Business
223 ft·4 sec·West 3rd Street
42
Arrive at destination
US 6 Business
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 2m duration, departing in the morning from Macy, NE, allows ample time to reach Hastings, NE, before evening. While the drive is only 193 miles, the longest stretch on Highway 30 is over 60 miles, so plan your fuel stop accordingly before you get too far into that segment. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility to choose when and where you'd like to briefly stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before entering that longer, uninterrupted section of Highway 30, to ensure a smooth journey.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 96.5 miles from Macy, NE, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.7 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 42 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.5 miles or 1h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hastings, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Macy, 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 Macy, NE
This is one driving day of about 193 miles and 4h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Macy, 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 Highway 30 for about 60.7 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 and 192.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
7.8 mi into trip|~10m in|US 77 / Highway 77
Turn left onto US 77 / Highway 77
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
30.3 mi into trip|~37m in|US 77 / Highway 77
Enter roundabout onto US 77 / Highway 77
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
192.7 mi into trip|~4h 1m in|North Saint Joseph Avenue
Turn right onto North Saint Joseph Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
192.9 mi into trip|~4h 2m in|US 6 Business / West 3rd Street
Turn right onto US 6 Business / West 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.17 one way
$60.35 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$33.13
$66.26
premium
$4.89
$37.14
$74.28
diesel
$5.61
$42.61
$85.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.9
0
$20.26
$9.26
Efficient EV
48.3
0
$16.89
$7.72
EV Truck/SUV
77.2
0
$27.02
$12.35
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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
Macy, NE
Evening
in Macy on Saturday
Local time
8:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hastings, NE
Evening
in Hastings on Saturday
Local time
8:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Columbus, NE
97 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
4 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
4h 2m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 is a highway-focused drive with 76% of the route utilizing major highways like Highway 30 and Highway 77. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 60.7 miles on Highway 30, providing a consistent pace for a significant portion of your journey. While mostly highway, the inclusion of Road F suggests some transition to local roads, though the overall character remains geared towards efficient travel. Expect a driving experience that prioritizes covering distance over varied scenery, typical of a Great Plains highway corridor.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
42 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.7 mi on Highway 30.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 30 and Highway 77. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 2m drive. You will face about 19 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 (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.8 miles (US 77 / Highway 77): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.3 miles (US 77 / Highway 77): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 2m. Total distance: 193 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 60.7 miles on Highway 30. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.8 miles (US 77 / Highway 77): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.3 miles (US 77 / Highway 77): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Hastings, NE, but most travelers stay overnight.
