Origin
Kimball, NE
Morning in Kimball on Monday
Local time
9:53 AM
MDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kimball, NE to Grand Island, NE
Drive Time
4h 22m
Distance
301.6 mi
485 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 9m
★
6 AM
4h 22m
8 AM
4h 49m
10 AM
4h 32m
12 PM
4h 29m
3 PM
4h 33m
5 PM
4h 48m
8 PM
4h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kimball, NE
Felix Schickel
Grand Island, NE
Ahmet Arıkaya
Trip Overview
The drive from Kimball, NE to Grand Island, NE covers 301.6 miles and takes about 4h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East 3rd Street, Link 53E, Highway 71 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.81 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
150.8 miles from Kimball, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 11m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 22m drive with frequent turns across 301.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East 3rd Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 22m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Kimball, NE to Grand Island, NE is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East 3rd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Link 53E | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 71 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 80 east | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Grand Island | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Locust Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Walnut Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West 3rd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East 3rd Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kimball, NE and Grand Island, NE.
1
Start on South Chesnut Street
43 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Chesnut Street
2
Turn left onto East 3rd Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
East 3rd Street
3
Turn right onto Link 53E
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Link 53E
4
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Link 53E
197 ft
·
3 sec
·
Link 53E
5
Exit the roundabout onto Link 53E
466 ft
·
12 sec
·
Link 53E
6
Turn right onto South Highway 71
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Highway 71
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 east
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
I 80 east
8
Merge slight left
291 mi
·
4 hr 50 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward Grand Island
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Island
10
Turn left onto South Locust Street
6.6 mi
·
10 min
·
South Locust Street
11
Continue on South Locust Street
249 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Locust Street
12
Continue on South Walnut Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
South Walnut Street
13
Turn right onto West 3rd Street
400 ft
·
18 sec
·
West 3rd Street
14
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 150.8 miles from Kimball, NE, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.8 miles or 2h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Grand Island, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kimball, 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 Kimball, NE
This is one driving day of about 301.6 miles and 4h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Kimball, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 150.8 mi from Kimball, NE · 2h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
151 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 150.8 miles from Kimball, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Grand Island, NE
The final approach into Grand Island, 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 Grand Island, NE.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.81 one way
$91.62 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
106 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $50.50 | $101.00 |
| premium | $4.80 | $56.94 | $113.87 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $67.01 | $134.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 90.5 | 1 | $31.67 | $14.48 |
| Efficient EV | 75.4 | 0 | $26.39 | $12.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 120.6 | 1 | $42.22 | $19.30 |
Gas CO2
106 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Grand Island, NE
Morning in Grand Island on Monday
Local time
10:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
42°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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 22m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Kimball, NE to Grand Island, NE covers 301.6 miles and takes about 4h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East 3rd Street, Link 53E, Highway 71. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 150.8 miles from Kimball, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.81 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 22m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Kimball, NE to Grand Island, NE is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Kimball, NE to Grand Island, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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