South Sioux City, NE to Holdrege, NE is 259.2 miles and takes about 5h 7m via Highway 35 and Highway 30, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day journey keeps you within the familiar Great Plains region, traversing Nebraska's heartland. Expect a straightforward drive primarily on state highways, making it a practical option for a quick trip. This route is ideal if you're looking for a no-fuss transit between these two points, focusing on getting there efficiently.
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
129.6 miles from South Sioux City, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 35
64.4 mi
1h 17m
Highway 30
43.8 mi
52m
I 80
40.8 mi
40m
South 13th Street
38.7 mi
41m
2nd Avenue
12.9 mi
15m
US Highway 6 & 34
9.6 mi
11m
370th Avenue
8.9 mi
10m
State Highway 22
7.8 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
Highway 35
— 64.4 mi, about 1h 17m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~782 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,132
Quietest
3 AM
~98 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 42 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 South Sioux City, NE and Holdrege, 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
1.3 mi·2 min·Highway 77
4
Take the exit
0.5 mi·40 sec
Toward US 20 West
5
Merge onto I 129; US 20
2.1 mi·2 min·I 129; US 20
6
Turn left onto N-110
2.3 mi·2 min·Highway 110
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto N-35
24 mi·29 min·Highway 35
8
Continue on N-35
1.6 mi·1 min·Highway 35
9
Continue on N-35
0.6 mi·51 sec·Oak Street
10
Continue on N-35
1.8 mi·2 min·Highway 35
11
Continue on N-35
6.9 mi·8 min·Highway 35
12
Continue on N-35
2.1 mi·4 min·East 7th Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on N-35
7.0 mi·8 min·Highway 35
14
Continue on N-35
22 mi·26 min·Highway 35
15
Enter roundabout onto N-35
304 ft·5 sec·Highway 35
16
Continue on N-35
1.1 mi·1 min·Highway 35
17
Turn right onto US 275
2.3 mi·2 min·East Omaha Avenue
18
Turn left onto US 81
39 mi·41 min·South 13th Street
19
Turn right onto N-22
7.8 mi·9 min·State Highway 22
20
Continue on N-22
0.5 mi·1 min·Columbus Avenue
21
Turn left onto Gleason Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·Gleason Street
22
Continue on 370th Avenue
8.9 mi·10 min·370th Avenue
23
Turn right onto US 30
26 mi·31 min·Highway 30
24
Continue on US 30
0.6 mi·1 min·16th Street
25
Continue on US 30
0.9 mi·1 min·G Street
26
Continue on US 30
18 mi·21 min·Highway 30
27
Turn left onto North Gunbarrel Road
4.1 mi·5 min·North Gunbarrel Road
28
Continue on Husker Highway
0.7 mi·1 min·Husker Highway
29
Turn right onto US 34; N-2; I 80 Alt
2.4 mi·3 min·Highway 34
30
Turn left onto South Locust Street
4.1 mi·5 min·South Locust Street
31
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
32
Merge onto I 80
41 mi·40 min·I 80
33
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Toward NE 44: Kearney, Archway Monument
34
Turn left onto N-44; I 80 Alt
13 mi·15 min·2nd Avenue
35
Turn right onto US 6; US 34; N-44
5.1 mi·6 min·Highway 6
36
Continue on US 6; US 34
9.6 mi·11 min·US Highway 6 & 34
37
Continue on US 6; US 34
0.7 mi·1 min·4th Avenue
38
Turn right onto East Avenue
0.2 mi·16 sec·East Avenue
39
Arrive at destination
East Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration, starting your drive in South Sioux City, NE, after breakfast will allow you to reach Holdrege, NE, with plenty of daylight to spare. While only one stop is noted, it's wise to plan for brief breaks every couple of hours to stay refreshed, especially during the 64.4-mile segment on Highway 35. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services can be spread out between towns in this part of Nebraska. Don't hesitate to pull over if you see a particularly open stretch of farmland; the Great Plains offers a unique, expansive beauty.
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 129.6 miles from South Sioux City, NE, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.4 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 57 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.6 miles or 2h 35m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Holdrege, 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 259.2 miles and 5h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 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 35 for about 64.4 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 230.4 — 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
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit toward US 20 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 20 West
5
4.8 mi into trip|~7m in|N-110 / Highway 110
Turn left onto N-110 / Highway 110
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
7.1 mi into trip|~10m in|N-35 / Highway 35
Turn right onto N-35 / Highway 35
Navigation decision point
5
230.4 mi into trip|~4h 31m in
Take the exit toward NE 44: Kearney, Archway Monument
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NE 44: Kearney, Archway Monument
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.28 one way
$76.56 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$42.26
$84.52
premium
$4.72
$48.13
$96.25
diesel
$4.80
$48.94
$97.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.8
0
$27.22
$12.44
Efficient EV
64.8
0
$22.68
$10.37
EV Truck/SUV
103.7
1
$36.29
$16.59
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
South Sioux City, NE
Late night
in South Sioux City on Sunday
Local time
2:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Clear
SSE 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:09AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS North Platte NE
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:09AM CDT until July 20 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS North Platte NE
Destination
Holdrege, NE
Late night
in Holdrege on Sunday
Local time
2:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Clear
S 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:09AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS North Platte NE
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:09AM CDT until July 20 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS North Platte NE
93°F
Columbus, NE
130 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 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 7m 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-focused, with 69% of the journey on major roadways. You'll experience a 64.4-mile stretch on Highway 35 without significant breaks, offering a consistent pace. The route transitions from Highway 35 to Highway 30, providing a mix of two-lane and potentially some faster-paced sections as you head west. The character is largely utilitarian, designed for efficient travel across the flat terrain of the Great Plains.
69% 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: 64.4 mi on Highway 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 35 and Highway 30. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near West 21st Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 7m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (West 21st Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 4.8 miles (N-110 / Highway 110): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,331 ft1,102 ft
Total Climb
1,447 ft
Total Descent
219 ft
Highest Point
2,331 ft
~259.2 mi in
Elevation Range
1,228 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 South Sioux City, NE to Holdrege, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Archway Monument along the way.
The longest stretch is about 64.4 miles on Highway 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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 7 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: at 0.3 miles (West 21st Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 4.8 miles (N-110 / Highway 110): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Holdrege, NE before the return drive.
