How far is Kearney, NE from South Sioux City, NE?

The driving distance from Kearney, NE to South Sioux City, NE is about 224.9 miles (362 km), with a travel time of about 04h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 184.5 miles (296.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 10m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
224.91 mi
04h 05m
Flight
184.48 mi
296.89 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Kearney.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
184.48 mi
Kilometers
296.89 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
224.91 mi
Kilometers
361.96 km
Drive Time
04h 05m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in South Sioux City
Sat, May 2, 4:47 AM CDT
Return by in Kearney
Sat, May 2, 8:52 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Kearney
2026-05-02T00:42
Arrive South Sioux City
Sat, May 2, 4:47 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 05m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:05 AM to 12:05 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:50 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Kearney
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Oconee
NE

Township in Platte County, Nebraska

From Kearney
116.7 mi
02h 02m
To South Sioux City
108.2 mi
02h 02m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 2 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SSW
Destination
66°F
Saturday

Areas Of Frost then Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 2 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Kearney and South Sioux City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kearney and South Sioux City.

  1. 1

    Start on Central Avenue

    16 m · 4 sec · Central Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West 24th Street

    730 ft · 32 sec · West 24th Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto 2nd Avenue

    2.2 mi · 5 min · 2nd Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn left onto I 80 East

    1626 ft · 42 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    40.8 mi · 41 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward Grand Island

    2525 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Turn left onto South Locust Street

    4.4 mi · 5 min · South Locust Street

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Highway 34

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Highway 34

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Husker Highway

    1.2 km · 59 sec · Husker Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on South Gunbarrel Road

    4 mi · 6 min · South Gunbarrel Road

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Highway 30

    17.8 mi · 21 min · Highway 30

  12. 12

    Continue on G Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · G Street

  13. 13

    Continue on 16th Street

    1 km · 1 min · 16th Street

  14. 14

    Continue on Highway 30

    26 mi · 31 min · Highway 30

  15. 15

    Turn left onto 370th Avenue

    8.9 mi · 11 min · 370th Avenue

  16. 16

    Continue on Gleason Street

    1138 ft · 33 sec · Gleason Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Columbus Avenue

    2779 ft · 55 sec · Columbus Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on State Highway 22

    7.8 mi · 9 min · State Highway 22

  19. 19

    At the end of the road, turn left

    38.7 mi · 42 min

  20. 20

    Turn right onto West Omaha Avenue

    2.3 mi · 3 min · West Omaha Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Highway 35

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Highway 35

  22. 22

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Highway 35

    6 m · 1 sec · Highway 35

  23. 23

    Exit the roundabout onto Highway 35

    21.7 mi · 27 min · Highway 35

  24. 24

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Highway 35

    7 mi · 8 min · Highway 35

  25. 25

    Continue on West 7th Street

    2.1 mi · 5 min · West 7th Street

  26. 26

    Continue on East Highway 35

    6.9 mi · 8 min · East Highway 35

  27. 27

    Continue on Highway 35

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Highway 35

  28. 28

    Continue on Oak Street

    2956 ft · 52 sec · Oak Street

  29. 29

    Continue on Highway 35

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Highway 35

  30. 30

    Continue on Highway 35

    26.8 mi · 32 min · Highway 35

  31. 31

    Turn left onto Highway 77

    3.9 mi · 6 min · Highway 77

  32. 32

    Turn right onto West 21st Street

    1 km · 1 min · West 21st Street

  33. 33

    Turn left onto Dakota Avenue

    1499 ft · 51 sec · Dakota Avenue

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Dakota Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Kearney and South Sioux City.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
34 steps
18 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Highway 35
60 mi · 27%
Highway 30
43.8 mi · 19%
I 80 East
41.1 mi · 18%
370th Avenue
8.92 mi · 4%
State Highway 22
7.76 mi · 3%
East Highway 35
6.92 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 80 East

Merge slight left

40.8 mi · 00h 41m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 05m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+40.4 mi
184.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Oconee
02h 02m from Kearney
Leave By
8:50 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Kearney and Areas Of Frost then Sunny near South Sioux City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Kearney to South Sioux City?

The road trip is about 224.9 miles (362 km) and usually takes 04h 05m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Oconee is a useful midpoint, sitting about 116.7 miles from Kearney and 108.2 miles from South Sioux City.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 184.5 miles (296.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 40.4 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:50 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.94 one way or $59.88 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 70.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Kearney and Areas Of Frost then Sunny near South Sioux City.

Stop Ideas Near Oconee

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Oconee, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Oconee.

RAIL

Lincoln

99 mi away
201 North 7th St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Kearney and South Sioux City. Straight-line distance: 184.48 mi (296.89 km).

Kearney

#1 Kearney

City in and county seat of Buffalo County, Nebraska, United States

Population34,235
Coordinates40.6994600, -99.0814800
Altitude656
CountryUnited States
South Sioux City

#2 South Sioux City

City in Dakota County, Nebraska, United States

Population12,809
Coordinates42.4738800, -96.4136400
Altitude337
CountryUnited States
Start: Central Avenue (-99.081657, 40.699462)
End: Dakota Avenue (-96.413706, 42.473915)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 362 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 37m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 29m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 44m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 48m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.94 gal
30.04 L · about $29.94
Round trip
$59.88
15.88 gal · 60.08 L
Estimated CO2
70.6 kg one way
Round trip: 141.1 kg / 311 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $29.94 $59.88
Mid-grade $4.25 $33.77 $67.54
Premium $4.65 $36.95 $73.91
Diesel $5.30 $42.11 $84.23

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Nebraska · May 02, 2026

There is no time difference between Kearney and South Sioux City. The current time is 00:42:18.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.