North Platte, NE to Tekamah, NE is 310.9 miles and takes about 5h 29m via I 80 and State Highway 133, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across Nebraska. With 98% of the trip on highways, you can expect a consistent pace for most of the journey. Given the manageable distance and duration, this trip is well-suited for a single day of driving.
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
155.5 miles from North Platte, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
267.8 mi
4h 33m
State Highway 133
11 mi
12m
US Highway 75
9 mi
10m
I 680
6.8 mi
7m
Highway 75
5.7 mi
8m
Highway 133
3.6 mi
4m
South 19th Street
1.2 mi
2m
South Jeffers Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 267.8 mi, about 4h 33m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 66 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,370 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,772
Quietest
2 AM
~132 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 North Platte, NE and Tekamah, NE.
1
Start on this road
156 ft·13 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto West William Avenue
400 ft·19 sec·West William Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 83R
1.0 mi·1 min·South Jeffers Street
4
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 80 East
5
Merge onto I 80
268 mi·4 hr 33 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·37 sec
Toward I 680 North
7
Continue on I 680
6.8 mi·7 min·I 680
Toward I 680 northUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 6Toward NE 133: Irvington, Blair
9
Turn straight onto N-133
0.2 mi·29 sec·Blair High Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Continue on N-133
0.4 mi·40 sec·State Highway 133
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on N-133
2.2 mi·2 min·Highway 133
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on N-133
1.2 mi·1 min·State Highway 133
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on N-133
1.4 mi·1 min·Highway 133
14
Continue on N-133
9.4 mi·10 min·State Highway 133
15
Enter roundabout onto US 30
44 ft·1 sec·South Highway 30
16
Continue on US 30
0.6 mi·1 min·South Highway 30
17
Continue on US 30
1.2 mi·2 min·South 19th Street
18
Continue on US 75
0.5 mi·49 sec·North 19th Street
19
Continue on US 75
0.7 mi·1 min·Herman Boulevard
20
Continue on US 75
8.0 mi·9 min·US Highway 75
21
Continue on US 75
0.9 mi·1 min·Main Street
22
Continue on US 75
0.9 mi·1 min·US Highway 75
23
Continue on US 75
5.7 mi·8 min·Highway 75
24
Continue on US 75
0.8 mi·1 min·South 13th Street
25
Arrive at destination
US 75
Trip Plan
Plan to depart North Platte in the morning to take advantage of the full daylight for your 5h 29m drive to Tekamah. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 267.8 miles on I 80, so consider your fuel and rest needs before embarking on that segment. With a total estimated fuel cost of $55, it's wise to fill up before leaving North Platte. This is a manageable one-day drive, so you have flexibility with your timing and can make spontaneous stops if needed.
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 155.5 miles from North Platte, NE, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 267.8 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 68 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 155.5 miles or 2h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tekamah, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving North Platte, 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 North Platte, NE
This is one driving day of about 310.9 miles and 5h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from North Platte, 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 267.8 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 276.6 — 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 William Avenue
Turn right onto West William Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 83R / South Jeffers Street
Turn right onto US 83R / South Jeffers Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 80 East
5
1.7 mi into trip|~3m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
276.6 mi into trip|~4h 45m in
Take the exit toward NE 133: Irvington, Blair
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 6
Toward NE 133: Irvington, Blair
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.69 one way
$103.38 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg109 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$56.30
$112.61
premium
$5.18
$63.44
$126.88
diesel
$5.35
$65.48
$130.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
93.3
1
$32.64
$14.92
Efficient EV
77.7
0
$27.20
$12.44
EV Truck/SUV
124.4
1
$43.53
$19.90
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jun 2, 2026
Origin
North Platte, NE
Afternoon
in North Platte on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Mostly Sunny
SSE 15 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued June 2 at 2:44PM CDT until June 2 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS North Platte NE
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued June 2 at 1:41PM MDT until June 2 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY
Destination
Tekamah, NE
Afternoon
in Tekamah on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Partly Sunny
ESE 14 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued June 2 at 2:44PM CDT until June 2 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS North Platte NE
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued June 2 at 1:41PM MDT until June 2 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY
66°F
Dwight, NE
155 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
5h 29m 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 drive is predominantly highway cruising, with 98% of the 310.9 miles on major roads like I 80. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on I 80, experiencing a continuous stretch of 267.8 miles. Surface roads, including State Highway 133 and US Highway 75, will primarily come into play during the final segments of the trip. Expect a rural cruising feel for most of the drive, with exits spaced further apart than in urban areas.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 267.8 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and State Highway 133. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West William Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 310.9 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West William Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 83R / South Jeffers Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,803 ft1,052 ft
Total Climb
234 ft
Total Descent
1,985 ft
Highest Point
2,803 ft
Elevation Range
1,751 ft
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 North Platte, NE to Tekamah, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Blair along the way.
Blair
276.6 mi in|~4h 45m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
North Platte is a city in Nebraska. With a population of over 23,000 (2020), North Platte is the largest community in Lincoln County, located in west central Nebraska.
Top landmarks
•Neville Center for the Performing Arts — theater and former movie theater in North Platte, Nebraska, United States
•Hotel Yancey — historic building in North Platte, Nebraska, United States
•Lincoln County Courthouse — county courthouse in North Platte, Nebraska
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 29m. Total distance: 310.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 267.8 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 32 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 32 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 William Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 83R / South Jeffers Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Tekamah, NE before the return drive.
