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Trip from Norfolk, NE to Holdrege, NE

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 33m

Distance

183.9 mi

296 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$29

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 21m ★
6 AM
3h 34m
8 AM
3h 58m
10 AM
3h 42m
12 PM
3h 40m
3 PM
3h 43m
5 PM
3h 57m
8 PM
3h 26m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Madison County, Nebraska, United States

Norfolk, NE

Wikimedia Commons

city in Nebraska, United States

Holdrege, NE

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Norfolk, NE to Holdrege, NE covers 183.9 miles and takes about 3h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Highway 30, I 80, South 13th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 43.8 miles on Highway 30. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.75 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

92 miles from Norfolk, NE

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 48m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 33m. Total distance: 183.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (60%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

The drive from Norfolk, NE to Holdrege, NE covers 183.9 miles and takes about 3h 33m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 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 43.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near West Pasewalk Avenue.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Norfolk, NE to Holdrege, NE is easy. At 3h 33m with 60% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (West Pasewalk Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 107.4 miles (US 34; N-2; I 80 Alt / Highway 34): Navigation decision point; at 155.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | West Pasewalk Avenue

Enter roundabout onto West Pasewalk Avenue

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

4
107.4 mi into trip | ~2h 7m in | US 34; N-2; I 80 Alt / Highway 34

Turn right onto US 34; N-2; I 80 Alt / Highway 34

Navigation decision point

5
155.1 mi into trip | ~2h 57m in

Take the exit toward NE 44: Kearney, Archway Monument

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward NE 44: Kearney, Archway Monument
4
168.4 mi into trip | ~3h 13m in | US 6; US 34; N-44 / Highway 6

Turn right onto US 6; US 34; N-44 / Highway 6

Navigation decision point

4
183.8 mi into trip | ~3h 33m in | East Avenue

Turn right onto East Avenue

Navigation decision point

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Norfolk, NE to Holdrege, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Archway Monument along the way.

Archway Monument

155.1 mi in | ~2h 57m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Highway 30 43.8 mi 52m
I 80 40.8 mi 40m
South 13th Street 39.2 mi 42m
2nd Avenue 12.9 mi 15m
US Highway 6 & 34 9.6 mi 11m
370th Avenue 8.9 mi 10m
State Highway 22 7.8 mi 9m
Highway 6 5.1 mi 6m
Longest stretch: Highway 30 — 43.8 mi, about 52m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Norfolk, NE and Holdrege, NE.

1

Start on South 7th Street

0.2 mi · 22 sec · South 7th Street
2

Enter roundabout onto West Pasewalk Avenue

33 ft · 1 sec · West Pasewalk Avenue
3

Continue on West Pasewalk Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Pasewalk Avenue
4

Turn left onto US 81

39 mi · 42 min · South 13th Street
5

Turn right onto N-22

7.8 mi · 9 min · State Highway 22
6

Continue on N-22

0.5 mi · 1 min · Columbus Avenue
7

Turn left onto Gleason Street

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Gleason Street
8

Continue on 370th Avenue

8.9 mi · 10 min · 370th Avenue
9

Turn right onto US 30

26 mi · 31 min · Highway 30
10

Continue on US 30

0.6 mi · 1 min · 16th Street
11

Continue on US 30

0.9 mi · 1 min · G Street
12

Continue on US 30

18 mi · 21 min · Highway 30
13

Turn left onto North Gunbarrel Road

4.1 mi · 5 min · North Gunbarrel Road
14

Continue on Husker Highway

0.7 mi · 1 min · Husker Highway
15

Turn right onto US 34; N-2; I 80 Alt

2.4 mi · 3 min · Highway 34
16

Turn left onto South Locust Street

4.1 mi · 5 min · South Locust Street
17

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 49 sec
18

Merge onto I 80

41 mi · 40 min · I 80
19

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 31 sec
Toward NE 44: Kearney, Archway Monument
20

Turn left onto N-44; I 80 Alt

13 mi · 15 min · 2nd Avenue
21

Turn right onto US 6; US 34; N-44

5.1 mi · 6 min · Highway 6
22

Continue on US 6; US 34

9.6 mi · 11 min · US Highway 6 & 34
23

Continue on US 6; US 34

0.7 mi · 1 min · 4th Avenue
24

Turn right onto East Avenue

0.2 mi · 16 sec · East Avenue
25

Arrive at destination

East Avenue

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 92 miles from Norfolk, NE, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.8 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 40 miles or 44m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 92 miles or 1h 48m 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 53m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Holdrege, NE than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Norfolk, 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 Norfolk, NE

This is one driving day of about 183.9 miles and 3h 33m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Norfolk, 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 43.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 92 mi from Norfolk, NE · 1h 48m into the drive

largest or most important city of a metropolitan area

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Central City, NE

92 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

Columbus, NE

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Central City, NE

Meal break

The midpoint is around 92 miles from Norfolk, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Holdrege, NE

The final approach into Holdrege, 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 Holdrege, 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

$28.75 one way

$57.50 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 64 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $31.57 $63.13
premium $4.89 $35.39 $70.78
diesel $5.61 $40.60 $81.21

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$29

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$54–$79

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 64.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 55.2 0 $19.31 $8.83
Efficient EV 46 0 $16.09 $7.36
EV Truck/SUV 73.6 0 $25.75 $11.77

Gas CO2

64 kg

EV CO2

22 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Norfolk, NE

Afternoon in Norfolk on Thursday

Local time

2:00 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Holdrege, NE

Afternoon in Holdrege on Thursday

Local time

2:00 PM

CDT

Current temp

83°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

80°F

Central City, NE

92 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

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

3h 33m 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 Norfolk, NE to Holdrege, NE covers 183.9 miles and takes about 3h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 30, I 80, South 13th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 92 miles from Norfolk, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.75 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.
The drive from Norfolk, NE to Holdrege, NE is easy. At 3h 33m with 60% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (West Pasewalk Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 107.4 miles (US 34; N-2; I 80 Alt / Highway 34): Navigation decision point; at 155.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Norfolk, NE to Holdrege, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Archway Monument along the way.

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