Origin
Lexington, NE
Afternoon in Lexington on Wednesday
Local time
2:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lexington, NE to Ralston, NE
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
3h 44m
Distance
213.8 mi
344 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 32m
★
6 AM
3h 45m
8 AM
4h 10m
10 AM
3h 53m
12 PM
3h 51m
3 PM
3h 55m
5 PM
4h 9m
8 PM
3h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lexington, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Ralston, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lexington, NE to Ralston, NE covers 213.8 miles and takes about 3h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, Plum Creek Parkway, L Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 206.9 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.43 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
106.9 miles from Lexington, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 52m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 3h 44m highway drive covering 213.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and Plum Creek Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 206.9 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 12 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 206.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Plum Creek Parkway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East 6th Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 213.8 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.1 miles (East 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (North Jackson Street): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East 6th Street
Turn left onto East 6th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Jackson Street
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
Navigation decision point
6
3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Turn left toward I 80 East: Kearney
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 80 East: Kearney
8
210.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 38m in
Take the exit toward US 275, NE 92
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 445
Toward US 275, NE 92
6
210.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 38m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 275 East, NE 92 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 275 East, NE 92 East
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 206.9 mi | 3h 32m |
| Plum Creek Parkway | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| L Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| South 84th Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Jackson Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East 6th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Washington Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Q Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 206.9 mi, about 3h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lexington, NE and Ralston, NE.
1
Start on North Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
North Washington Street
2
Turn left onto East 6th Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
East 6th Street
3
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
North Jackson Street
4
Continue on US 283
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Plum Creek Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 80 East: Kearney
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 80
207 mi
·
3 hr 32 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 445
Toward US 275, NE 92
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
Toward US 275 East, NE 92 East
9
Turn straight onto US 275; N-92
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
L Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Turn right onto N-85
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
South 84th Street
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto Q Street
193 ft
·
10 sec
·
Q Street
12
Arrive at destination
Q Street
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 106.9 miles from Lexington, NE, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 206.9 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 80 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.9 miles or 1h 52m 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 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ralston, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lexington, 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 Lexington, NE
This is one driving day of about 213.8 miles and 3h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lexington, 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 I 80 for about 206.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 106.9 mi from Lexington, NE · 1h 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
107 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 106.9 miles from Lexington, 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 206.9 miles.
Arriving in Ralston, NE
The final approach into Ralston, 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 Ralston, 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
$33.43 one way
$66.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
75 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $36.70 | $73.40 |
| premium | $4.89 | $41.14 | $82.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $47.20 | $94.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 64.1 | 0 | $22.45 | $10.26 |
| Efficient EV | 53.5 | 0 | $18.71 | $8.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 85.5 | 1 | $29.93 | $13.68 |
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Destination
Ralston, NE
Afternoon in Ralston on Wednesday
Local time
2:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Aurora, NE
107 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
9 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
3h 44m 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 Lexington, NE to Ralston, NE covers 213.8 miles and takes about 3h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, Plum Creek Parkway, L Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 106.9 miles from Lexington, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.43 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 213.8 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.1 miles (East 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (North Jackson Street): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Lexington, NE to Ralston, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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