Origin
Norfolk, NE
Evening in Norfolk on Thursday
Local time
8:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Norfolk, NE to Lexington, NE
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
3h 38m
Distance
193.6 mi
312 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 26m
★
6 AM
3h 39m
8 AM
4h 4m
10 AM
3h 48m
12 PM
3h 45m
3 PM
3h 49m
5 PM
4h 3m
8 PM
3h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Norfolk, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Lexington, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Norfolk, NE to Lexington, NE covers 193.6 miles and takes about 3h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, Highway 30, South 13th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 76.2 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.27 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
96.8 miles from Norfolk, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 53m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 38m. Total distance: 193.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 38m highway drive covering 193.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and Highway 30. The longest continuous stretch is about 76.2 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 25 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 76.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Highway 30. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near West Pasewalk Avenue.
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 3h 38m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 190.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 190.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese 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
6
190.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 33m in
Take the exit toward US 283: Lexington, Arapahoe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 237
Toward US 283: Lexington, Arapahoe
6
190.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 33m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 283 North: Lexington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 237
Toward US 283 North: Lexington
5
193.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 38m in
|
East 6th Street
Turn left onto East 6th Street
Navigation decision point
5
193.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 38m in
|
North Washington Street
Turn right onto North Washington Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 76.2 mi | 1h 16m |
| Highway 30 | 43.8 mi | 52m |
| South 13th Street | 39.2 mi | 42m |
| 370th Avenue | 8.9 mi | 10m |
| State Highway 22 | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| South Locust Street | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| North Gunbarrel Road | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| Highway 34 | 2.4 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 76.2 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Norfolk, NE and Lexington, 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
76 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
I 80
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 237
Toward US 283: Lexington, Arapahoe
20
Keep slight right at fork
178 ft
·
6 sec
Exit 237
Toward US 283 North: Lexington
21
Turn straight onto US 283
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Plum Creek Parkway
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on US 283
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
North Jackson Street
23
Turn left onto East 6th Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
East 6th Street
24
Turn right onto North Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
North Washington Street
25
Arrive at destination
North Washington 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 96.8 miles from Norfolk, NE, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.2 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 43 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.8 miles or 1h 53m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lexington, 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 193.6 miles and 3h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 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 I 80 for about 76.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 96.8 mi from Norfolk, NE · 1h 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
97 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 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 96.8 miles from Norfolk, 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 76.2 miles.
Arriving in Lexington, NE
The final approach into Lexington, 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 Lexington, 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
$30.27 one way
$60.53 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
68 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $33.23 | $66.46 |
| premium | $4.89 | $37.26 | $74.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.74 | $85.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 58.1 | 0 | $20.33 | $9.29 |
| Efficient EV | 48.4 | 0 | $16.94 | $7.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 77.4 | 0 | $27.10 | $12.39 |
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Destination
Lexington, NE
Evening in Lexington on Thursday
Local time
8:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
80°F
Central City, NE
97 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
6 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 38m 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 Lexington, NE covers 193.6 miles and takes about 3h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, Highway 30, South 13th 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 96.8 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 $30.27 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 38m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (West Pasewalk Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 190.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 190.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Norfolk, NE to Lexington, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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