If you are planning a trip from Omaha to Beatrice, expect a straightforward 98.7-mile journey through the heart of the Great Plains. This drive typically takes about 1 hour and 52 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $15 for fuel to cover the distance. Because both cities are firmly within the Great Plains, you will experience a consistent landscape throughout the entire trip. It is a highly practical route for travelers who value efficiency over complex navigation. Since the trip is under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility to explore your destination upon arrival.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.3 miles from Omaha, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
54.6 mi
57m
Highway 77
16.3 mi
17m
US 77
9.7 mi
11m
South 12th Street
6.8 mi
7m
US Highway 77
5.2 mi
5m
North 6th Street
2.8 mi
5m
Gerald R Ford Expressway
2 mi
2m
Saint Mary's Avenue
0.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 54.6 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Omaha, NE and Beatrice, NE.
1
Start on Harney Street
176 ft·10 sec·Harney Street
2
Turn right onto South 18th Street
0.1 mi·29 sec·South 18th Street
3
Turn right onto Saint Mary's Avenue
0.8 mi·2 min·Saint Mary's Avenue
4
Turn left onto South 29th Street
450 ft·10 sec·South 29th Street
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward I 480 South, US 75 South
6
Merge onto I 480; US 75
1.2 mi·1 min·Gerald R Ford Expressway
7
Take the exit onto I 480
0.8 mi·55 sec·Gerald R Ford Expressway
8
Merge onto I 80
55 mi·57 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto US 77; I 80 Alt
0.5 mi·55 sec·US 77; I 80 Alt
Exit 397Toward US 77 South: Beatrice
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 77
9.1 mi·11 min·US 77
Exit 397Toward US 77 South: Beatrice
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 77
1.5 mi·1 min·US Highway 77
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Continue on US 77
6.8 mi·7 min·South 12th Street
13
Continue on US 77
3.8 mi·4 min·US Highway 77
14
Continue on US 77
16 mi·17 min·Highway 77
15
Continue on US 77
2.8 mi·5 min·North 6th Street
16
Turn slight right
92 ft·13 sec
17
Turn left
81 ft·6 sec
18
Turn right
37 ft·2 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip with zero mandatory stops, you have the freedom to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Aim to fuel up before leaving Omaha so you can complete the 98.7-mile trek without needing to pull over for gas. Since the majority of your time is spent on I-80 and US 77, stay alert for typical highway traffic patterns that could impact your 1 hour and 52 minute arrival time. Taking advantage of the route's simplicity means you can easily plan your day around your arrival in Beatrice rather than obsessing over road fatigue. Keep a steady pace to maintain your $15 fuel budget throughout the drive.
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 49.3 miles from Omaha, NE, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.6 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 22 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.3 miles or 54m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Beatrice, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Omaha, NE so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Omaha, NE
This is one driving day of about 98.7 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Omaha, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 54.6 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 67.4 — 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|South 18th Street
Turn right onto South 18th Street
Navigation decision point
5
1 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 480 South, US 75 South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 480 South, US 75 South
5
3.2 mi into trip|~5m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
58.3 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|US 77
Keep slight left at fork onto US 77 toward US 77 South: Beatrice
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 397
Toward US 77 South: Beatrice
6
67.4 mi into trip|~1h 15m 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.43 one way
$30.86 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.94
$33.88
premium
$4.89
$18.99
$37.99
diesel
$5.61
$21.79
$43.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.6
0
$10.36
$4.74
Efficient EV
24.7
0
$8.64
$3.95
EV Truck/SUV
39.5
0
$13.82
$6.32
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Omaha, NE
Night
in Omaha on Saturday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Beatrice, NE
Night
in Beatrice on Saturday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Lincoln, NE
49 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
24 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
1h 52m 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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 98.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused drive relies heavily on major thoroughfares, with 89% of the trip spent on high-speed roads. You will navigate a mix of I-80, Highway 77, and US 77 to reach your destination. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs early on, covering 54.6 miles on I-80 before you transition to other highways. While the drive is efficient, you should be prepared for the steady, consistent pace characteristic of interstate travel. It is a functional route designed to get you from point A to point B with minimal technical demands on your vehicle or driving focus.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.6 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Highway 77. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 18th Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 98.7 miles you will encounter 12 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 (South 18th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Omaha is the largest city in the US state of Nebraska, with about 486,000 residents in 2020. Tourist attractions in Omaha include history, sports, outdoors and cultural experiences. Its principal tourist attractions are the Henry Doorly Zoo and the Men's College World Series. The Old Market in Downtown Omaha is another major attraction and is important to the city's retail economy.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 98.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.6 miles on I 80. 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 Beatrice, NE before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 (South 18th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Beatrice, NE before heading back.
