Origin
North Platte, NE
Late night in North Platte on Friday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Platte, NE to Alma, NE
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
2h 13m
Distance
122.4 mi
197 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 4m
★
6 AM
2h 14m
8 AM
2h 32m
10 AM
2h 20m
12 PM
2h 18m
3 PM
2h 21m
5 PM
2h 31m
8 PM
2h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Platte, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Alma, NE
Engin Akyurt
Trip Overview
The drive from North Platte, NE to Alma, NE covers 122.4 miles and takes about 2h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, US Highway 183, Burlington Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 79 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.14 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.
Midpoint
61.2 miles from North Platte, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 13m. Total distance: 122.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 13m highway drive covering 122.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and US Highway 183. The longest continuous stretch is about 79 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 15 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 79 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US Highway 183. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West William Avenue.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from North Platte, NE to Alma, NE is easy. At 2h 13m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West William Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 83R / South Jeffers Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West William Avenue
Turn right onto West William Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 83R / South Jeffers Street
Turn right onto US 83R / South Jeffers Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 80 East
6
80.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
Take the exit toward US 183: Holdrege, Elm Creek
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 257
Toward US 183: Holdrege, Elm Creek
4
122 mi into trip
|
~2h 12m in
|
John Street
Turn right onto John Street
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 North Platte, NE to Alma, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Elm Creek along the way.
Elm Creek
80.7 mi in
|
~1h 22m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 79 mi | 1h 19m |
| US Highway 183 | 34.9 mi | 40m |
| Burlington Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Highway 183 | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| South Jeffers Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Highway 281 | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| South East Avenue | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| John Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 79 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Platte, NE and Alma, NE.
1
Start on this road
156 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto West William Avenue
400 ft
·
19 sec
·
West William Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 83R
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jeffers Street
4
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 80 East
5
Merge onto I 80
79 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
I 80
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 257
Toward US 183: Holdrege, Elm Creek
7
Turn right onto US 183
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 183
8
Continue on US 183
14 mi
·
16 min
·
US Highway 183
9
Continue on US 183
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Burlington Street
10
Continue on US 183
0.8 mi
·
58 sec
·
Highway 281
11
Continue on US 183
0.8 mi
·
54 sec
·
South East Avenue
12
Continue on US 183
21 mi
·
24 min
·
US Highway 183
13
Turn left onto US 136
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
West 7th Street
14
Turn right onto John Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
John Street
15
Arrive at destination
John Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 61.2 miles from North Platte, NE, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79 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 27 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.2 miles or 1h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alma, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving North Platte, 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 North Platte, NE
This is one driving day of about 122.4 miles and 2h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from North Platte, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 79 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 61.2 mi from North Platte, NE · 1h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
61 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 61.2 miles from North Platte, 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 79 miles.
Arriving in Alma, NE
The final approach into Alma, 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 Alma, 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
$19.14 one way
$38.27 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $21.01 | $42.02 |
| premium | $4.89 | $23.55 | $47.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.02 | $54.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.7 | 0 | $12.85 | $5.88 |
| Efficient EV | 30.6 | 0 | $10.71 | $4.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 49 | 0 | $17.14 | $7.83 |
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Alma, NE
Late night in Alma on Friday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
84°F
Lexington, NE
61 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
1 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
2h 13m 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 North Platte, NE to Alma, NE covers 122.4 miles and takes about 2h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, US Highway 183, Burlington 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 61.2 miles from North Platte, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.14 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.
The drive from North Platte, NE to Alma, NE is easy. At 2h 13m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West William Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 83R / South Jeffers Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
On the drive from North Platte, NE to Alma, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Elm Creek along the way.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the methodology page.
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