Traveling from South Sioux City to Fairbury covers 196.4 miles across the Nebraska Great Plains. You should plan for about 4 hours of driving time, making this a manageable single-day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Your route primarily utilizes West 21st Street, Highway 77, and North Bluff Street to navigate between these two points. Budgeting approximately $30 for fuel will cover your transit costs comfortably. Since the drive is contained entirely within the state, you can expect a consistent regional feel as you move south. It is a straightforward excursion that allows for a quick change of scenery without the need for extensive travel logistics.
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
98.2 miles from South Sioux City, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 77
71.2 mi
1h 24m
US 77
41.3 mi
48m
Highway 15
34.2 mi
41m
County Road 18
12.6 mi
13m
County Road 11
11.5 mi
13m
Highway 6
6.3 mi
7m
294th Road
4.7 mi
5m
280th Road
3.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Highway 77
— 71.2 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Sioux City, NE and Fairbury, NE.
1
Start on US 20 Business
0.3 mi·55 sec·Dakota Avenue
2
Turn right onto West 21st Street
0.7 mi·1 min·West 21st Street
3
Turn left onto US 77
1.6 mi·2 min·Highway 77
4
Continue on US 75; US 77
15 mi·18 min·Highway 77
Use the straight lane.
5
Enter roundabout onto US 75; US 77
114 ft·4 sec·Highway 77
6
Continue on US 75; US 77
0.2 mi·24 sec·Highway 77
7
Continue on US 75; US 77
0.6 mi·1 min·North Bluff Street
8
Enter roundabout onto US 77
58 ft·2 sec·Highway 77
9
Continue on US 77
27 mi·31 min·Highway 77
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 77
1.6 mi·3 min·North Charde Avenue
11
Enter roundabout onto US 77
177 ft·3 sec·Highway 77
12
Continue on US 77
6.3 mi·7 min·Highway 77
13
Continue on US 77
0.6 mi·57 sec·Oak Street
14
Continue on US 77
8.2 mi·9 min·Highway 77
15
Continue on US 77
0.3 mi·22 sec·Highway US 77
16
Continue on US 77
0.7 mi·46 sec·Highway 77
17
Take the ramp onto US 77
9.7 mi·11 min·US 77
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on North Broad Street
3.4 mi·7 min·North Broad Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Enter roundabout onto US 77
18 ft·0 sec·Highway 77
20
Continue on US 77
0.6 mi·43 sec·Highway 77
21
Continue on US 77
11 mi·13 min·County Road 11
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Take the exit onto US 77
5.2 mi·6 min·US 77
23
Enter roundabout onto US 77; N-92
154 ft·1 sec·Highway 77;Wahoo Expressway
24
Continue on US 77; N-92
12 mi·13 min·Highway 77;Wahoo Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Continue on US 77
1.8 mi·1 min·County Road 18
26
Continue on US 77
0.5 mi·44 sec·North Highway 77
27
Continue on US 77
11 mi·11 min·County Road 18
28
Take the exit onto US 77
26 mi·31 min·US 77
Toward I 80 west
29
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 379Toward NE 15: Seward, Fairbury
30
Keep slight left at fork
170 ft·5 sec
Toward NE 15 South: Fairbury
31
Turn left onto N-15; I 80 Alt
3.7 mi·4 min·280th Road
32
Turn right onto US 6; N-15
0.7 mi·47 sec·Pioneers Road
33
Continue on US 6; N-15
0.4 mi·28 sec·Highway 6
34
Continue on US 6; N-15
4.7 mi·5 min·294th Road
35
Continue on US 6; N-15
5.9 mi·6 min·Highway 6
36
Turn left onto N-15
34 mi·41 min·Highway 15
37
Continue on N-15
1.6 mi·2 min·K Street
38
Turn right onto 6th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·6th Street
39
Arrive at destination
6th Street
Trip Plan
Since this 4-hour trip is relatively short, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Plan for at least one stop to break up the drive, which helps keep you fresh given the turn-heavy nature of the roads. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge early, as the $30 estimate assumes steady driving conditions. Because you are traveling on local roads rather than major interstates, prioritize patience during transition points where speed limits change. A helpful tip for this specific route is to double-check your turn-by-turn navigation before leaving, as the reliance on local streets like North Bluff and West 21st Street requires more frequent course adjustments than a typical highway drive.
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 98.2 miles from South Sioux City, NE, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.2 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 43 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.2 miles or 2h 3m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairbury, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving South Sioux City, 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 South Sioux City, NE
This is one driving day of about 196.4 miles and 4h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from South Sioux City, 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 77 for about 71.2 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 144.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|West 21st Street
Turn right onto West 21st Street
Navigation decision point
4
17.7 mi into trip|~23m in|US 75; US 77 / Highway 77
Enter roundabout onto US 75; US 77 / Highway 77
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
18.5 mi into trip|~24m in|US 77 / Highway 77
Enter roundabout onto US 77 / Highway 77
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
144.4 mi into trip|~2h 56m in
Take the exit toward NE 15: Seward, Fairbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 379
Toward NE 15: Seward, Fairbury
5
144.7 mi into trip|~2h 57m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NE 15 South: Fairbury
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward NE 15 South: Fairbury
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.70 one way
$61.41 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$33.71
$67.43
premium
$4.89
$37.80
$75.59
diesel
$5.61
$43.36
$86.73
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58.9
0
$20.62
$9.43
Efficient EV
49.1
0
$17.19
$7.86
EV Truck/SUV
78.6
0
$27.50
$12.57
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (67% 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
South Sioux City, NE
Evening
in South Sioux City on Saturday
Local time
8:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fairbury, NE
Evening
in Fairbury on Saturday
Local time
8:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Fremont, NE
98 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this 196.4-mile journey. With a 0% highway share, your time behind the wheel will be spent navigating local roads that demand your full attention. The path lacks long, uninterrupted stretches, meaning you will need to stay alert as the road configuration shifts frequently. Because the route relies on local streets and highways like Highway 77, you will experience a more intimate, ground-level view of the landscape. Prepare for a steady, hands-on driving experience that prioritizes navigation through local corridors over high-speed transit.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 71.2 mi on Highway 77.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 77 and US 77. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near West 21st 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 196.4 miles you will encounter 17 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: at 0.3 miles (West 21st Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.7 miles (US 75; US 77 / Highway 77): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 18.5 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. Total distance: 196.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 71.2 miles on Highway 77. 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.
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 Fairbury, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. 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 0.3 miles (West 21st Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.7 miles (US 75; US 77 / Highway 77): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 18.5 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 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Fairbury, NE, but most travelers stay overnight.
