Origin
Superior, NE
Late night in Superior on Tuesday
Local time
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Superior, NE to Kearney, NE
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 4m
Distance
101 mi
163 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 55m
★
6 AM
2h 4m
8 AM
2h 22m
10 AM
2h 10m
12 PM
2h 9m
3 PM
2h 11m
5 PM
2h 21m
8 PM
1h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Superior, NE
Ahmet ÇÖTÜR
Kearney, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Superior, NE to Kearney, NE is 101 miles and takes about 2h 4m via Highway 10 and N-4, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward connection between two Nebraska towns. You'll primarily be on state highways for this drive, making it a good option if you're looking for a relatively quick and uncomplicated transit. Plan for a single day of travel, as the 101-mile distance is easily covered with plenty of daylight to spare.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.5 miles from Superior, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 10 | 24 mi | 29m |
| N-4 | 23.2 mi | 26m |
| N-78 | 14 mi | 17m |
| Highway 136 | 13.9 mi | 16m |
| L-50A | 7 mi | 8m |
| Highway 4 | 6.2 mi | 7m |
| N-44 | 4 mi | 6m |
| Highway 14 | 3.7 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Highway 10
— 24 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Superior, NE and Kearney, NE.
1
Start on North Commercial Avenue
31 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Commercial Avenue
2
Turn right onto East 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
East 5th Street
3
Turn left onto N-14
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Idaho Street
4
Continue on N-14
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Highway 14
5
Turn left onto US 136
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Highway 136
6
Turn right onto N-78
14 mi
·
17 min
·
N-78
7
Turn left onto N-4
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Highway 4
8
At end of road, turn left onto US 281; N-4
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
US 281; N-4
9
Turn slight right onto N-4
23 mi
·
26 min
·
N-4
10
Turn right onto N-10
24 mi
·
29 min
·
Highway 10
11
Turn left onto L-50A; I 80 Alt
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
L-50A; I 80 Alt
12
Turn right onto N-44; I 80 Alt
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
N-44; I 80 Alt
13
Turn right onto West 24th Street
0.1 mi
·
37 sec
·
West 24th Street
14
Turn left onto Central Avenue
51 ft
·
1 sec
·
Central Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just over two hours, this route is best tackled in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize your daylight hours and avoid any potential delays. Given the relatively short distance and modest fuel cost of $16, you won't need to worry about extensive fuel stops, but it's always wise to top off before leaving Superior. The longest continuous stretch is 24 miles on Highway 10, so you'll have opportunities to break up the drive if needed.
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 50.5 miles from Superior, NE, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24 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 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.5 miles or 1h 1m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kearney, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Superior, 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 Superior, NE
This is one driving day of about 101 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Superior, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Highway 10 for about 24 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 50.5 miles from Superior, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 101 — 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
|
East 5th Street
Turn right onto East 5th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
N-14 / Idaho Street
Turn left onto N-14 / Idaho Street
Navigation decision point
4
4.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
US 136 / Highway 136
Turn left onto US 136 / Highway 136
Navigation decision point
5
39.1 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
US 281; N-4
At end of road, turn left onto US 281; N-4
Navigation decision point
5
101 mi into trip
|
~2h 4m in
|
Central Avenue
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.79 one way
$31.58 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.34 | $34.67 |
| premium | $4.89 | $19.44 | $38.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.30 | $44.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.3 | 0 | $10.60 | $4.85 |
| Efficient EV | 25.3 | 0 | $8.84 | $4.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40.4 | 0 | $14.14 | $6.46 |
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.
Destination
Kearney, NE
Late night in Kearney on Tuesday
Local time
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 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
2h 4m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is a mix of highway and surface roads, with 51% of the drive on highways. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 24 miles on Highway 10 before transitioning to other roads. Expect a more rural cruising feel for much of the 101 miles, with fewer exits and a less congested environment compared to major interstates.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24 mi on Highway 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East 5th Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 4m drive. You will face about 11 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 (East 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (N-14 / Idaho Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.9 miles (US 136 / Highway 136): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
2,179 ft
1,760 ft
Total Climb
465 ft
Total Descent
74 ft
Highest Point
2,179 ft
~79.4 mi in
Elevation Range
419 ft
About the Cities
Arriving in Kearney, NE
Full guide →Kearney is a city of 34,000 people (2020) in South Central Nebraska.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 4m. Total distance: 101 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24 miles on Highway 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (East 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (N-14 / Idaho Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.9 miles (US 136 / Highway 136): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kearney, NE before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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