Trip from South Sioux City, NE to Gothenburg, NE

Drive Time

5h 35m

Distance

292.6 mi

471 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$44

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 22m ★
6 AM
5h 36m
8 AM
6h 2m
10 AM
5h 45m
12 PM
5h 42m
3 PM
5h 46m
5 PM
6h 1m
8 PM
5h 28m

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

Downtown South Sioux City, NE, NE

South Sioux City, NE

Diego

Trip Overview

The drive from South Sioux City, NE to Gothenburg, NE covers 292.6 miles and takes about 5h 35m 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 35, Highway 30 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 101.6 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.44 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

146.3 miles from South Sioux City, NE

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 55m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 5h 35m highway drive covering 292.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and Highway 35. The longest continuous stretch is about 101.6 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 37 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 101.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Highway 35. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near West 21st Street.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 5h 35m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (West 21st Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 4.8 miles (N-110 / Highway 110): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

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

4
0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in | West 21st Street

Turn right onto West 21st Street

Navigation decision point

4
2.2 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the exit toward US 20 West

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward US 20 West
5
4.8 mi into trip | ~7m in | N-110 / Highway 110

Turn left onto N-110 / Highway 110

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
291.2 mi into trip | ~5h 32m in

Take the exit toward NE 47: Gothenburg

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 211 Toward NE 47: Gothenburg
5
292.1 mi into trip | ~5h 34m in | 4th Street

Turn left onto 4th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 80 101.6 mi 1h 41m
Highway 35 64.4 mi 1h 17m
Highway 30 43.8 mi 52m
South 13th Street 38.7 mi 41m
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
Longest stretch: I 80 — 101.6 mi, about 1h 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between South Sioux City, NE and Gothenburg, NE.

1

Start on US 20 Business

0.3 mi · 55 sec · Dakota Avenue
2

Turn right onto West 21st Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · West 21st Street
3

Turn left onto US 77

1.3 mi · 2 min · Highway 77
4

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 40 sec
Toward US 20 West
5

Merge onto I 129; US 20

2.1 mi · 2 min · I 129; US 20
6

Turn left onto N-110

2.3 mi · 2 min · Highway 110
Use the left lane.
7

Turn right onto N-35

24 mi · 29 min · Highway 35
8

Continue on N-35

1.6 mi · 1 min · Highway 35
9

Continue on N-35

0.6 mi · 51 sec · Oak Street
10

Continue on N-35

1.8 mi · 2 min · Highway 35
11

Continue on N-35

6.9 mi · 8 min · Highway 35
12

Continue on N-35

2.1 mi · 4 min · East 7th Street
Use the straight lane.
13

Continue on N-35

7.0 mi · 8 min · Highway 35
14

Continue on N-35

22 mi · 26 min · Highway 35
15

Enter roundabout onto N-35

304 ft · 5 sec · Highway 35
16

Continue on N-35

1.1 mi · 1 min · Highway 35
17

Turn right onto US 275

2.3 mi · 2 min · East Omaha Avenue
18

Turn left onto US 81

39 mi · 41 min · South 13th Street
19

Turn right onto N-22

7.8 mi · 9 min · State Highway 22
20

Continue on N-22

0.5 mi · 1 min · Columbus Avenue
21

Turn left onto Gleason Street

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Gleason Street
22

Continue on 370th Avenue

8.9 mi · 10 min · 370th Avenue
23

Turn right onto US 30

26 mi · 31 min · Highway 30
24

Continue on US 30

0.6 mi · 1 min · 16th Street
25

Continue on US 30

0.9 mi · 1 min · G Street
26

Continue on US 30

18 mi · 21 min · Highway 30
27

Turn left onto North Gunbarrel Road

4.1 mi · 5 min · North Gunbarrel Road
28

Continue on Husker Highway

0.7 mi · 1 min · Husker Highway
29

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

2.4 mi · 3 min · Highway 34
30

Turn left onto South Locust Street

4.1 mi · 5 min · South Locust Street
31

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 49 sec
32

Merge onto I 80

102 mi · 1 hr 41 min · I 80
33

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 43 sec
Exit 211 Toward NE 47: Gothenburg
34

Turn straight onto N-47; I 80 Alt

0.5 mi · 56 sec · South Lake Avenue
35

Turn left onto 4th Street

171 ft · 5 sec · 4th Street
Use the left lane.
36

Turn right onto Lake Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Lake Avenue
37

Arrive at destination

Lake 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 146.3 miles from South Sioux City, NE, or about 2h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.6 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 39m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 146.3 miles or 2h 55m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 41m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving South Sioux City, 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 South Sioux City, NE

This is one driving day of about 292.6 miles and 5h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from South Sioux City, 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 101.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 146.3 mi from South Sioux City, NE · 2h 55m into the drive

Downtown Columbus, NE, NE

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Columbus, NE

146 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Aurora, NE

Meal break

The midpoint is around 146.3 miles from South Sioux City, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 101.6 miles.

Arriving in Gothenburg, NE

The final approach into Gothenburg, 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 Gothenburg, NE.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$44.44 one way

$88.89 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 102 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $48.99 $97.99
premium $4.80 $55.24 $110.47
diesel $5.64 $65.01 $130.01

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$44

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$69–$94

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 102.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 87.8 1 $30.72 $14.04
Efficient EV 73.2 0 $25.60 $11.70
EV Truck/SUV 117 1 $40.96 $18.73

Gas CO2

102 kg

EV CO2

34 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

South Sioux City, NE

Afternoon in South Sioux City on Monday

Local time

1:58 PM

CDT

Current temp

41°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Gothenburg, NE

Afternoon in Gothenburg on Monday

Local time

1:58 PM

CDT

Current temp

39°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

46°F

Columbus, NE

146 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

2 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

5h 35m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from South Sioux City, NE to Gothenburg, NE covers 292.6 miles and takes about 5h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, Highway 35, Highway 30. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 146.3 miles from South Sioux City, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $44.44 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 35m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (West 21st Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 4.8 miles (N-110 / Highway 110): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from South Sioux City, NE to Gothenburg, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from South Sioux City, NE or browse trips ending in Gothenburg, NE.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NE road trips.

Explore maps for South Sioux City, NE or Gothenburg, NE on MapSof.net.