Origin
Valley, NE
Afternoon in Valley on Saturday
Local time
3:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Valley, NE to Grand Island, NE
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 27m
Distance
120.2 mi
194 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 18m
★
6 AM
2h 28m
8 AM
2h 48m
10 AM
2h 35m
12 PM
2h 33m
3 PM
2h 36m
5 PM
2h 47m
8 PM
2h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Valley, NE
Magic K
Grand Island, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 120.2-mile drive from Valley, Nebraska to Grand Island, Nebraska is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 27 minutes. The route covers a fuel cost of around $19 and is primarily a "mixed drive" experience. You'll be traveling within the Great Plains region for the entirety of this journey. With no planned stops, this trip is designed for efficient travel. It's a straightforward option if you're looking for a direct connection between these two Nebraska locations without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.1 miles from Valley, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 30 | 28.7 mi | 34m |
| County Road K | 14.2 mi | 16m |
| County Road 130 | 13.4 mi | 16m |
| 32 Road | 12.3 mi | 14m |
| 31 Road | 12.2 mi | 14m |
| County Road 131 | 9.6 mi | 11m |
| US 77 | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| County Road 11 | 4.9 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
Highway 30
— 28.7 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Valley, NE and Grand Island, NE.
1
Start on North Spruce Street
76 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Spruce Street
2
Turn right onto East Gardiner Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
East Gardiner Street
3
Turn right onto North West Street
325 ft
·
14 sec
·
North West Street
4
Turn left onto West Valley Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Valley Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto North 288th Street
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
North 288th Street
6
Turn left onto N-64
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Ida Street
7
At end of road, turn left onto N-64
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
County Road 7
8
Turn straight onto N-64
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
County Road R
9
Turn left onto US 77
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
County Road 11
10
Take the exit onto US 77
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
US 77
11
Enter roundabout onto US 77; N-92
154 ft
·
1 sec
·
Highway 77;Wahoo Expressway
12
Continue on US 77; N-92
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Highway 77;Wahoo Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn right onto N-92
14 mi
·
16 min
·
County Road K
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on N-92
12 mi
·
14 min
·
32 Road
15
Turn straight onto N-92
12 mi
·
14 min
·
31 Road
16
Continue on N-92
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
County Road 131
17
Continue on US 81; N-92
0.8 mi
·
51 sec
·
East Park Street
18
Continue on US 81; N-92
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
County Road 131
19
Continue on US 81; N-92
13 mi
·
16 min
·
County Road 130
20
Turn straight onto N-92
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 92
21
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
22
Turn left onto US 30
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Highway 30
23
Continue on US 30
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
16th Street
24
Continue on US 30
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
G Street
25
Continue on US 30
20 mi
·
24 min
·
Highway 30
26
Continue on US 30
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
East 1st Street
27
Continue on US 30
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 2nd Street
28
Turn right onto North Sycamore Street
365 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Sycamore Street
29
Turn left onto East 3rd Street
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
East 3rd Street
30
Arrive at destination
West 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Given its 2-hour 27-minute duration, this trip is ideal for a morning departure, allowing for flexibility upon arrival in Grand Island. With only 120.2 miles, you won't need to split the drive, so focus on enjoying the journey. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 28.7-mile stretch on Highway 30, as services might be less frequent there. The estimated fuel cost is approximately $19, so plan accordingly before you set off from Valley.
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 60.1 miles from Valley, NE, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.7 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 26 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.1 miles or 1h 13m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Grand Island, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Valley, 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 Valley, NE
This is one driving day of about 120.2 miles and 2h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Valley, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Highway 30 for about 28.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
60 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 60.1 miles from Valley, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 23 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Gardiner Street
Turn right onto East Gardiner Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North West Street
Turn right onto North West Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
North 288th Street
At end of road, turn right onto North 288th Street
Navigation decision point
5
4.7 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
N-64 / County Road 7
At end of road, turn left onto N-64 / County Road 7
Navigation decision point
5
23 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
N-92 / County Road K
Turn right onto N-92 / County Road K
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.79 one way
$37.58 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.63 | $41.27 |
| premium | $4.89 | $23.13 | $46.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.54 | $53.08 |
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: 42.1 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 | 36.1 | 0 | $12.62 | $5.77 |
| Efficient EV | 30.1 | 0 | $10.52 | $4.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.1 | 0 | $16.83 | $7.69 |
Gas CO2
42 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
Grand Island, NE
Afternoon in Grand Island on Saturday
Local time
3:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Garrison, NE
60 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
29 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
2h 27m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
The character of this drive is a blend, with 34% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter Highway 30, County Road K, and County Road 130, offering a varied road experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll navigate is 28.7 miles on Highway 30, providing a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. This mixed profile suggests a drive that transitions between more open highway travel and potentially more localized county roads, keeping the driving engaging.
34% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.7 mi on Highway 30.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Gardiner 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 2h 27m 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: near the start (East Gardiner Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North West Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (North 288th Street): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Arriving in Grand Island, NE
Full guide →Grand Island is a city of 51,000 people (2019) in South Central Nebraska. Grand Island has been given the All-America City Award three times (1955, 1967, and 1981–82) by the National Civic League.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 27m. Total distance: 120.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (34%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.7 miles on Highway 30. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through NE can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Gardiner Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North West Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (North 288th Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Grand Island, NE before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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