Origin
Madison, NE
Evening in Madison on Thursday
Local time
5:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Madison, NE to Norfolk, NE
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
18m
Distance
15.3 mi
25 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 17m
★
6 AM
0h 19m
8 AM
0h 22m
10 AM
0h 20m
12 PM
0h 19m
3 PM
0h 20m
5 PM
0h 22m
8 PM
0h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Norfolk, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Madison, NE to Norfolk, NE covers 15.3 miles and takes about 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 81, East 2nd Street, West Pasewalk Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14 miles on US 81. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.39 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 18m. Total distance: 15.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 18m highway drive covering 15.3 miles, with most of the trip on US 81 and East 2nd Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 14 miles on US 81.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 8 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 14 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 81 and East 2nd Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near N-32 / South Main 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 18m drive. You will face about 4 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 (N-32 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (N-32 / East 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 14.6 miles (West Pasewalk Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
N-32 / South Main Street
Turn left onto N-32 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
N-32 / East 2nd Street
Turn right onto N-32 / East 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
3
14.6 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
West Pasewalk Avenue
Turn right onto West Pasewalk Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
15.1 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
South 7th Street
Enter roundabout onto South 7th Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 81 | 14 mi | 15m |
| East 2nd Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Pasewalk Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South 7th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 81
— 14 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, NE and Norfolk, NE.
1
Start on this road
16 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto N-32
191 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Main Street
3
Turn right onto N-32
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 2nd Street
4
Turn left onto US 81
14 mi
·
15 min
·
US 81
5
Turn right onto West Pasewalk Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Pasewalk Avenue
6
Enter roundabout onto South 7th Street
135 ft
·
3 sec
·
South 7th Street
7
Continue on South 7th Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
South 7th Street
8
Arrive at destination
South 7th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.39 one way
$4.78 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.63 | $5.25 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.94 | $5.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.38 | $6.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.61 | $0.73 |
| Efficient EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.34 | $0.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.14 | $0.98 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Norfolk, NE
Evening in Norfolk on Thursday
Local time
5:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
18m 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 Madison, NE to Norfolk, NE covers 15.3 miles and takes about 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 81, East 2nd Street, West Pasewalk Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 7.6 miles from Madison, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.39 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.
This is a straightforward 18m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (N-32 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (N-32 / East 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 14.6 miles (West Pasewalk Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from Madison, NE to Norfolk, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Norfolk, NE
More trips to Norfolk, NE
Explore more options from Madison, NE or browse trips ending in Norfolk, NE.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NE road trips.
Explore maps for Madison, NE or Norfolk, NE on MapSof.net.