How far is Plattsmouth, NE from Kearney, NE?

The driving distance from Plattsmouth, NE to Kearney, NE is about 186.8 miles (300.7 km), with a travel time of about 02h 57m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 168.6 miles (271.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 54m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CST.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
186.85 mi
02h 57m
Flight
168.57 mi
271.28 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Plattsmouth.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
168.57 mi
Kilometers
271.28 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
186.85 mi
Kilometers
300.71 km
Drive Time
02h 57m

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 02h 57m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Kearney
Wed, Nov 11, 4:17 AM CST
Return by in Plattsmouth
Wed, Nov 11, 7:15 AM CST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Plattsmouth
2026-11-11T01:20
Arrive Kearney
Wed, Nov 11, 4:17 AM CST
Route Timing
02h 57m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CST
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:57 AM to 12:57 PM CST

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
12:36 PM CST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Plattsmouth
9:30 PM CST
Morning start is best

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
Waco
NE

Village in Nebraska, United States

From Plattsmouth
90.4 mi
01h 28m
To Kearney
96.4 mi
01h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
56ยฐF
Veterans Day

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Nov 11 6:00 AM CST
Wind
10 to 16 mph NW
Destination
60ยฐF
Veterans Day

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Nov 11 6:00 AM CST
Wind
10 to 15 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Plattsmouth and Kearney.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Plattsmouth and Kearney.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    25 m ยท 8 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1188 ft ยท 31 sec ยท Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto South 6th Street

    117 m ยท 10 sec ยท South 6th Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto 1st Avenue

    101 m ยท 7 sec ยท 1st Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn slight left onto Chicago Avenue

    1.1 km ยท 1 min ยท Chicago Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn right onto 8th Avenue

    3136 ft ยท 1 min ยท 8th Avenue

  7. 7

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Old Highway 34

    31 m ยท 2 sec ยท Old Highway 34

  8. 8

    Exit the roundabout onto Old Highway 34

    711 ft ยท 16 sec ยท Old Highway 34

  9. 9

    Continue on Highway 66

    12.8 mi ยท 15 min ยท Highway 66

  10. 10

    Continue on Koop Anvenue

    726 ft ยท 14 sec ยท Koop Anvenue

  11. 11

    Continue on Koop Avenue

    955 ft ยท 32 sec ยท Koop Avenue

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Maple Street

    129 m ยท 21 sec ยท Maple Street

  13. 13

    Turn right onto East 6th Street

    970 ft ยท 45 sec ยท East 6th Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Main Street

    129 m ยท 24 sec ยท Main Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto West 5th Street

    1791 ft ยท 40 sec ยท West 5th Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Highway 50

    1.4 mi ยท 2 min ยท Highway 50

  17. 17

    Turn right onto East Park Highway

    8.7 mi ยท 11 min ยท East Park Highway

  18. 18

    Take the ramp left toward I 80 west

    2647 ft ยท 1 min

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    152.6 mi ยท 2 hr 37 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward NE 44: Kearney, Archway Monument

    1748 ft ยท 34 sec

  21. 21

    Turn right onto 2nd Avenue

    2 mi ยท 4 min ยท 2nd Avenue

  22. 22

    Turn right onto West 24th Street

    730 ft ยท 37 sec ยท West 24th Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Central Avenue

    16 m ยท 1 sec ยท Central Avenue

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m ยท 1 sec ยท Central Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Plattsmouth and Kearney.

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
24 steps
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 west
153 mi ยท 82%
Highway 66
12.8 mi ยท 7%
East Park Highway
8.72 mi ยท 5%
2nd Avenue
1.96 mi ยท 1%
Highway 50
1.36 mi ยท 1%
Chicago Avenue
0.66 mi
Longest Stretch

I 80 west

Merge slight left

153 mi ยท 02h 37m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 57m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18.2 mi
168.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Waco
01h 28m from Plattsmouth
Leave By
12:36 PM CST
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Plattsmouth and Sunny near Kearney.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Plattsmouth to Kearney?

The road trip is about 186.8 miles (300.7 km) and usually takes 02h 57m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Waco is a useful midpoint, sitting about 90.4 miles from Plattsmouth and 96.4 miles from Kearney.

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

The direct path is about 168.6 miles (271.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.2 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:36 PM CST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.37 one way or $52.75 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 58.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Plattsmouth and Sunny near Kearney.

Stop Ideas Near Waco

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Waco, 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 Waco.

RAIL

Lincoln

64 mi away
201 North 7th St.
RAIL

Hastings

85 mi away
501 West First St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Plattsmouth and Kearney. Straight-line distance: 168.57 mi (271.28 km).

Plattsmouth

#1 Plattsmouth

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

Population6,416
Coordinates41.0113900, -95.8822300
Altitude299
CountryUnited States
Kearney

#2 Kearney

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

Population34,235
Coordinates40.6994600, -99.0814800
Altitude656
CountryUnited States
Start: Main Street (-95.882227, 41.011204)
End: Central Avenue (-99.081657, 40.699462)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 301 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 44m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 40m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.59 gal
24.96 L ยท about $26.37
Round trip
$52.75
13.18 gal ยท 49.92 L
Estimated CO2
58.6 kg one way
Round trip: 117.1 kg / 258 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.00 $26.37 $52.75
Mid-grade $4.26 $28.08 $56.16
Premium $4.80 $31.61 $63.22
Diesel $5.94 $39.13 $78.26

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 ยท Nov 10, 2026

There is no time difference between Plattsmouth and Kearney. The current time is 01:20:16.

Distance to Other Cities

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