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Trip from Grand Island, NE to Arlington, NE

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 33m

Distance

120.6 mi

194 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Fair

2 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 23m ★
6 AM
2h 34m
8 AM
2h 54m
10 AM
2h 41m
12 PM
2h 39m
3 PM
2h 42m
5 PM
2h 53m
8 PM
2h 28m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in and county seat of Hall County, Nebraska, United States

Grand Island, NE

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Arlington, NE, NE

Arlington, NE

Dominik Gryzbon

Trip Overview

The drive from Grand Island, NE to Arlington, NE covers 120.6 miles and takes about 2h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Highway 30, Road D, US Highway 30 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 70 miles on Highway 30. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.85 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

60.3 miles from Grand Island, NE

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 15m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 33m. Total distance: 120.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (69%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 33m highway drive covering 120.6 miles, with most of the trip on Highway 30 and Road D. The longest continuous stretch is about 70 miles on Highway 30.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highway 30 is the longest continuous segment at about 70 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 30 and Road D. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North Sycamore 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 33m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (North Sycamore Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 30 / East 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 89 miles (County Road 19): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | North Sycamore Street

Turn right onto North Sycamore Street

Navigation decision point

4
0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | US 30 / East 1st Street

Turn left onto US 30 / East 1st Street

Navigation decision point

4
89 mi into trip | ~1h 50m in | County Road 19

Turn left onto County Road 19

Navigation decision point

4
90 mi into trip | ~1h 52m in | Road S

Turn right onto Road S

Navigation decision point

5
120.6 mi into trip | ~2h 33m in | West Eagle Street

Turn left onto West Eagle Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Highway 30 70 mi 1h 22m
Road D 18.8 mi 20m
US Highway 30 11.7 mi 13m
23rd Street 4 mi 5m
Road S 4 mi 9m
South 9th Street 2.8 mi 3m
8th Street 2 mi 3m
US 30 1.4 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Highway 30 — 70 mi, about 1h 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Grand Island, NE and Arlington, NE.

1

Start on West 3rd Street

0.2 mi · 51 sec · West 3rd Street
2

Turn right onto North Sycamore Street

0.1 mi · 21 sec · North Sycamore Street
3

Turn left onto US 30

0.7 mi · 1 min · East 1st Street
4

Continue on US 30

20 mi · 24 min · Highway 30
5

Continue on US 30

0.9 mi · 1 min · G Street
6

Continue on US 30

0.6 mi · 1 min · 16th Street
7

Continue on US 30

26 mi · 31 min · Highway 30
8

Continue on US 30

10 mi · 12 min · US Highway 30
9

Continue on US 30

2.8 mi · 3 min · South 9th Street
10

Turn left onto US 30; US 81

1.0 mi · 1 min · US 30; US 81
11

Turn right onto 8th Street

2.0 mi · 3 min · 8th Street
12

Turn left onto 3rd Avenue

1.0 mi · 1 min · 3rd Avenue
13

Turn right onto US 30

4.0 mi · 5 min · 23rd Street
14

Continue on US 30

19 mi · 20 min · Road D
Use the left lane.
15

Turn left onto County Road 19

1.0 mi · 2 min · County Road 19
16

Turn right onto Road S

4.0 mi · 9 min · Road S
17

Turn right onto Road 5

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Road 5
18

Turn left onto US 30

21 mi · 22 min · Highway 30
19

Take the exit onto US 30

0.4 mi · 36 sec · US 30
20

Turn slight left onto US 30

0.5 mi · 53 sec · East 23rd Street
Use the straight lane.
21

Continue on US 30

2.7 mi · 3 min · Highway 30
22

Continue on US 30

1.3 mi · 1 min · US Highway 30
23

Continue on US 30

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Elkhorn Drive
24

Turn left onto North 3rd Street

441 ft · 24 sec · North 3rd Street
25

Turn left onto West Eagle Street

42 ft · 1 sec · West Eagle Street
26

Arrive at destination

West Eagle Street

Trip Plan

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 60.3 miles from Grand Island, NE, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70 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 27 miles or 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 60.3 miles or 1h 15m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 8m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arlington, NE than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Grand Island, 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 Grand Island, NE

This is one driving day of about 120.6 miles and 2h 33m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Grand Island, 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 30 for about 70 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 60.3 mi from Grand Island, NE · 1h 15m into the drive

city in and county seat of Platte County, Nebraska, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Columbus, NE

60 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

Central City, NE

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Columbus, NE

Meal break

The midpoint is around 60.3 miles from Grand Island, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Highway 30 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70 miles.

Arriving in Arlington, NE

The final approach into Arlington, NE usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Arlington, NE.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Anthony Leon's Mexican Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Fremont, Nebraska

Near the end, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 112

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+14022536363

Apple Barrel Restaurant

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 68.9

Columbus, Nebraska

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+14025648268

Visit website

Anthony Leon's Mexican Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 112

Fremont, Nebraska

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+14022536363

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 94.8

North Bend, Nebraska

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 112

Fremont, Nebraska

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18668167584

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$18.85 one way

$37.71 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 42 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $20.70 $41.40
premium $4.89 $23.21 $46.42
diesel $5.61 $26.63 $53.25

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 42.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 36.2 0 $12.66 $5.79
Efficient EV 30.2 0 $10.55 $4.82
EV Truck/SUV 48.2 0 $16.88 $7.72

Gas CO2

42 kg

EV CO2

14 kg (67% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Grand Island, NE

Evening in Grand Island on Friday

Local time

8:33 PM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Arlington, NE

Evening in Arlington on Friday

Local time

8:33 PM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

78°F

Columbus, NE

60 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

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 33m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Grand Island, NE to Arlington, NE covers 120.6 miles and takes about 2h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Highway 30, Road D, US Highway 30. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 60.3 miles from Grand Island, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.85 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a straightforward 2h 33m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (North Sycamore Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 30 / East 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 89 miles (County Road 19): Navigation decision point.

The route from Grand Island, NE to Arlington, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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