Origin
Macy, NE
Evening in Macy on Sunday
Local time
6:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Macy, NE to Grand Island, NE
Drive Time
3h 28m
Distance
166.1 mi
267 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 17m
★
6 AM
3h 29m
8 AM
3h 53m
10 AM
3h 37m
12 PM
3h 35m
3 PM
3h 39m
5 PM
3h 52m
8 PM
3h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Grand Island, NE
Ahmet Arıkaya
Trip Overview
Traveling from Macy to Grand Island covers 166.1 miles through the heart of the Great Plains, making for a straightforward trek across Nebraska. You can expect to spend about 3 hours and 28 minutes behind the wheel, which is easily manageable as a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $25, this route is quite cost-effective for solo travelers or families alike. Because you will be navigating through the consistent landscapes of the Great Plains, you won't need to worry about an overnight split. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that connects two distinct parts of the state efficiently.
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
83 miles from Macy, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 44m into the drive .
Drive Character
This 166.1-mile journey is heavily highway-focused, with 76% of your time spent on major routes like Highway 30 and Highway 77. You will settle into a steady rhythm, particularly during the longest uninterrupted stretch of 63.3 miles along Highway 30. While you will encounter some navigation via Road F, the trip maintains a consistent feel as you transition across the region. Expect a balanced mix of fast highway driving and localized segments that keep the journey moving at a predictable pace. It is the kind of drive where you can settle in, set your cruise control, and watch the plains roll by.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 37 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 63.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 30 and Highway 77. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 28m drive. You will face about 17 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.8 miles (US 77 / Highway 77): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.3 miles (US 77 / Highway 77): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
7.8 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
US 77 / Highway 77
Turn left onto US 77 / Highway 77
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
30.3 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
US 77 / Highway 77
Enter roundabout onto US 77 / Highway 77
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
54.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
6
77.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
|
US 30 / Road F
Turn right onto US 30 / Road F
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 30 | 63.3 mi | 1h 14m |
| Highway 77 | 36.2 mi | 41m |
| Road F | 18.8 mi | 20m |
| US Highway 30 | 10.4 mi | 12m |
| US 77 | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| Highway 94 | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| 23rd Street East | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Road S | 4 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
Highway 30
— 63.3 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Macy, NE and Grand Island, NE.
1
Start on Skunk Hollow Drive
39 ft
·
7 sec
·
Skunk Hollow Drive
2
Turn left onto Main Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 75
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 75
4
Turn left onto N-94
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Highway 94
5
Turn left onto US 77
21 mi
·
24 min
·
Highway 77
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 77
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
North Charde Avenue
7
Enter roundabout onto US 77
177 ft
·
3 sec
·
Highway 77
8
Continue on US 77
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Highway 77
9
Continue on US 77
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
Oak Street
10
Continue on US 77
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Highway 77
11
Continue on US 77
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
Highway US 77
12
Continue on US 77
0.7 mi
·
46 sec
·
Highway 77
13
Take the ramp onto US 77
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
US 77
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
15
Merge onto US 30
17 mi
·
18 min
·
Highway 30
16
Turn right onto Road 5
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Road 5
17
Turn left onto Road S
4.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Road S
18
Turn left onto County Road 19
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 19
19
Turn right onto US 30
19 mi
·
20 min
·
Road F
Use the none lane.
20
Continue on US 30
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
23rd Street East
21
Turn left onto 10th Avenue
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
10th Avenue
22
Continue on 15th Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
15th Street
23
Turn left onto 12th Avenue
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
12th Avenue
24
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
8th Street
25
Turn left onto US 30; US 81
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
33rd Avenue
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
27
Merge onto US 30
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
South 9th Street
28
Continue on US 30
10 mi
·
12 min
·
US Highway 30
29
Continue on US 30
26 mi
·
31 min
·
Highway 30
30
Continue on US 30
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
16th Street
31
Continue on US 30
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
G Street
32
Continue on US 30
20 mi
·
24 min
·
Highway 30
33
Continue on US 30
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
East 1st Street
34
Continue on US 30
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 2nd Street
35
Turn right onto North Sycamore Street
365 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Sycamore Street
36
Turn left onto East 3rd Street
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
East 3rd Street
37
Arrive at destination
West 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a 3-hour and 28-minute drive, plan for at least one well-timed stop to break up the monotony and stretch your legs. I recommend fueling up before you depart Macy, as keeping your $25 budget on track is easier when you aren't searching for stations in a rush. Try to leave early in the morning to avoid the midday sun and ensure you reach Grand Island with plenty of daylight to spare. Given the 63.3-mile stretch on Highway 30, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge and hydration levels during that specific leg. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so feel free to adjust your pace if the road conditions change.
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 83 miles from Macy, NE, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.3 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 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83 miles or 1h 44m 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 50m
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 Macy, 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 Macy, NE
This is one driving day of about 166.1 miles and 3h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Macy, 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 63.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 83 mi from Macy, NE · 1h 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
83 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 83 miles from Macy, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Highway 30 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63.3 miles.
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
$25.23 one way
$50.46 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
58 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $27.81 | $55.62 |
| premium | $4.80 | $31.36 | $62.71 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $36.90 | $73.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.8 | 0 | $17.44 | $7.97 |
| Efficient EV | 41.5 | 0 | $14.53 | $6.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 66.4 | 0 | $23.25 | $10.63 |
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Grand Island, NE
Evening in Grand Island on Sunday
Local time
6:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
46°F
Columbus, NE
83 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
3 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 28m 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 Macy, NE to Grand Island, NE covers 166.1 miles and takes about 3h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 30, Highway 77, Road F. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 83 miles from Macy, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.23 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 is a straightforward 3h 28m drive. You will face about 17 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.8 miles (US 77 / Highway 77): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.3 miles (US 77 / Highway 77): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Macy, NE to Grand Island, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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