Supplemental Guarantor / Non-Guarantor Financial Information Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Revenues [Abstract]
Affiliates	$ 71,832	$ 61,512
Third parties	15,172	12,786
Total revenues	87,004	74,298
Operating costs and expenses [Abstract]
Operations (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	22,812	25,865
Depreciation and amortization	15,588	14,154
General and administrative	3,151	3,232
Total operating costs and expenses	41,551	43,251
Operating income (loss)	45,453	31,047
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	0	0
Equity in earnings of SLC Pipeline	522	657
Interest expense	(10,454)	(12,484)
Interest Income	3	103
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Assets		2,022
Other Income (Expense)	8	0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(7,677)	0
Total other income (expense)	(17,598)	(9,702)
Income before income taxes	27,855	21,345
State income tax expense	(75)	(56)
Net income	27,780	21,289
Allocation of Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(3,637)	(2,890)
Net income attributable to Holly Energy Partners	24,143	18,399
Other comprehensive income (loss)	95	1,411
Comprehensive income	24,238	19,810
SLC Pipeline [Member]
Operating costs and expenses [Abstract]
Equity in earnings of SLC Pipeline	522	657
Parent [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Affiliates	0	0
Third parties	0	0
Total revenues	0	0
Operating costs and expenses [Abstract]
Operations (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
General and administrative	1,058	808
Total operating costs and expenses	1,058	808
Operating income (loss)	(1,058)	(808)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	40,564	27,459
Interest expense	7,686	8,252
Interest Income	0	0
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Assets		0
Other Income (Expense)	0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(7,677)
Total other income (expense)	25,201	19,207
Income before income taxes	24,143	18,399
State income tax expense	0	0
Net income	24,143	18,399
Allocation of Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	0
Net income attributable to Holly Energy Partners	24,143	18,399
Other comprehensive income (loss)	95	1,411
Comprehensive income	24,238	19,810
Parent [Member] | SLC Pipeline [Member]
Operating costs and expenses [Abstract]
Equity in earnings of SLC Pipeline	0	0
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Affiliates	61,615	54,412
Third parties	11,081	8,407
Total revenues	72,696	62,819
Operating costs and expenses [Abstract]
Operations (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	20,151	23,366
Depreciation and amortization	11,993	10,570
General and administrative	2,093	2,424
Total operating costs and expenses	34,237	36,360
Operating income (loss)	38,459	26,459
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	6,039	4,124
Interest expense	2,768	4,232
Interest Income	3	0
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Assets		2,022
Other Income (Expense)	8
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0
Total other income (expense)	3,804	2,571
Income before income taxes	42,263	29,030
State income tax expense	(75)	(56)
Net income	42,188	28,974
Allocation of Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	0
Net income attributable to Holly Energy Partners	42,188	28,974
Other comprehensive income (loss)	95	1,411
Comprehensive income	42,283	30,385
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | SLC Pipeline [Member]
Operating costs and expenses [Abstract]
Equity in earnings of SLC Pipeline	522	657
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Affiliates	10,524	7,402
Third parties	4,091	4,379
Total revenues	14,615	11,781
Operating costs and expenses [Abstract]
Operations (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	2,968	2,801
Depreciation and amortization	3,595	3,584
General and administrative	0	0
Total operating costs and expenses	6,563	6,385
Operating income (loss)	8,052	5,396
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	0	0
Interest expense	0	0
Interest Income	0	103
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Assets		0
Other Income (Expense)	0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0
Total other income (expense)	0	103
Income before income taxes	8,052	5,499
State income tax expense	0	0
Net income	8,052	5,499
Allocation of Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	0
Net income attributable to Holly Energy Partners	8,052	5,499
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0
Comprehensive income	8,052	5,499
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | SLC Pipeline [Member]
Operating costs and expenses [Abstract]
Equity in earnings of SLC Pipeline	0	0
Eliminations [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Affiliates	(307)	(302)
Third parties	0	0
Total revenues	(307)	(302)
Operating costs and expenses [Abstract]
Operations (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	(307)	(302)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
General and administrative	0	0
Total operating costs and expenses	(307)	(302)
Operating income (loss)	0	0
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(46,603)	(31,583)
Interest expense	0	0
Interest Income	0	0
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Assets		0
Other Income (Expense)	0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0
Total other income (expense)	(46,603)	(31,583)
Income before income taxes	(46,603)	(31,583)
State income tax expense	0	0
Net income	(46,603)	(31,583)
Allocation of Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(3,637)	(2,890)
Net income attributable to Holly Energy Partners	(50,240)	(34,473)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(95)	(1,411)
Comprehensive income	(50,335)	(35,884)
Eliminations [Member] | SLC Pipeline [Member]
Operating costs and expenses [Abstract]
Equity in earnings of SLC Pipeline	$ 0	$ 0