Origin
Kimball, NE
Afternoon in Kimball on Sunday
Local time
4:21 PM
MDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kimball, NE to Omaha, NE
Drive Time
7h 25m
Distance
435.5 mi
701 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$66
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 16m
★
6 AM
7h 26m
8 AM
7h 47m
10 AM
7h 33m
12 PM
7h 31m
3 PM
7h 34m
5 PM
7h 45m
8 PM
7h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kimball, NE
Felix Schickel
Omaha, NE
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Kimball, NE to Omaha, NE covers 435.5 miles and takes about 7h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, Gerald R Ford Expressway, South Highway 71 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 429.6 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $66.15 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
217.8 miles from Kimball, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 42m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 7h 25m highway drive covering 435.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and Gerald R Ford Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 429.6 miles on I 80.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 429.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Gerald R Ford Expressway. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near L-53E / Link 53E.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 435.5 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (L-53E / Link 53E): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.5 miles (N-71 / South Highway 71): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
L-53E / Link 53E
Enter roundabout onto L-53E / Link 53E toward NE 71
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward NE 71
6
1.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
N-71 / South Highway 71
Turn right onto N-71 / South Highway 71
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
2.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
432.7 mi into trip
|
~7h 21m in
|
Gerald R Ford Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto Gerald R Ford Expressway toward I 480 North, US 75 North: Eppley Airfield, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 480 North, US 75 North: Eppley Airfiel...
8
434.7 mi into trip
|
~7h 23m in
Take the exit toward Harney Street, Dodge Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 2A
Toward Harney Street, Dodge Street
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 429.6 mi | 7h 16m |
| Gerald R Ford Expressway | 2 mi | 2m |
| South Highway 71 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| East 3rd Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Harney Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Link 53E | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Chesnut Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 429.6 mi, about 7h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kimball, NE and Omaha, NE.
1
Start on South Chesnut Street
43 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Chesnut Street
2
Turn left onto US 30; I 80 Alt
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
East 3rd Street
3
Turn right onto L-53E
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Link 53E
Toward US 30
4
Enter roundabout onto L-53E
197 ft
·
3 sec
·
Link 53E
Toward NE 71
5
Continue on L-53E
466 ft
·
12 sec
·
Link 53E
Toward NE 71
6
Turn right onto N-71
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Highway 71
Use the right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 80 east
8
Merge onto I 80
430 mi
·
7 hr 16 min
·
I 80
Use the none lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 480 North, US 75: Eppley Airfield, Downtown, Bellevue
10
Keep slight left at fork onto Gerald R Ford Expressway
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Gerald R Ford Expressway
Toward I 480 North, US 75 North: Eppley Airfield, Downtown
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 2A
Toward Harney Street, Dodge Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto Harney Street
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Harney Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Arrive at destination
Harney Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 217.8 miles from Kimball, NE, or about 3h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 429.6 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 96 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 217.8 miles or 3h 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Omaha, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kimball, NE
This is one driving day of about 435.5 miles and 7h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 96 miles from Kimball, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 429.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 217.8 mi from Kimball, NE · 3h 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
218 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 96 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 217.8 miles from Kimball, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 429.6 miles.
Arriving in Omaha, NE
The final approach into Omaha, 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 Omaha, NE.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$66.15 one way
$132.30 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
152 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $72.92 | $145.84 |
| premium | $4.80 | $82.21 | $164.43 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $96.75 | $193.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$66
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$91–$116
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 152.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $46 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 130.7 | 1 | $45.73 | $20.90 |
| Efficient EV | 108.9 | 1 | $38.11 | $17.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 174.2 | 2 | $60.97 | $27.87 |
Gas CO2
152 kg
EV CO2
51 kg (66% 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
Omaha, NE
Evening in Omaha on Sunday
Local time
5:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
78°F
Hastings, NE
218 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
7 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
7h 25m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 Omaha, NE covers 435.5 miles and takes about 7h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, Gerald R Ford Expressway, South Highway 71. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 217.8 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 $66.15 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 435.5 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (L-53E / Link 53E): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.5 miles (N-71 / South Highway 71): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Kimball, NE to Omaha, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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