Origin
Wakefield, NE
Late night in Wakefield on Saturday
Local time
4:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wakefield, NE to Norfolk, NE
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
54m
Distance
41.9 mi
67 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wakefield, NE
Obes
Norfolk, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Wakefield, NE to Norfolk, NE covers 41.9 miles and takes about 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Highway 35, East 7th Street, East Norfolk Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37.4 miles on Highway 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.55 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 41.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 54m highway drive covering 41.9 miles, with most of the trip on Highway 35 and East 7th Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 37.4 miles on Highway 35.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highway 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 37.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 35 and East 7th Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near N-35 / Oak Street.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Wakefield, NE to Norfolk, NE is easy. At 54m with 89% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (N-35 / Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 40.1 miles (East Norfolk Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 41.6 miles (South 7th Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
3 of 3 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
N-35 / Oak Street
At end of road, turn right onto N-35 / Oak Street
Navigation decision point
4
40.1 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
East Norfolk Avenue
Enter roundabout onto East Norfolk Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
3
41.6 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
South 7th Street
Turn left onto South 7th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 35 | 37.4 mi | 44m |
| East 7th Street | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| East Norfolk Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Norfolk Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Oak Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South 7th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 3rd Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Highway 35
— 37.4 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wakefield, NE and Norfolk, NE.
1
Start on 3rd Street
0.1 mi
·
36 sec
·
3rd Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto N-35
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
Oak Street
3
Continue on N-35
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway 35
4
Continue on N-35
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Highway 35
5
Continue on N-35
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
East 7th Street
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on N-35
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Highway 35
7
Continue on N-35
22 mi
·
26 min
·
Highway 35
8
Enter roundabout onto East Norfolk Avenue
156 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Norfolk Avenue
9
Continue on East Norfolk Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Norfolk Avenue
10
Continue on West Norfolk Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Norfolk Avenue
11
Turn left onto South 7th Street
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
South 7th Street
12
Arrive at destination
South 7th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21 mi from Wakefield, NE · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21 miles from Wakefield, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Norfolk, NE
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Norfolk, NE if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.55 one way
$13.10 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.19 | $14.38 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.06 | $16.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.25 | $18.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.40 | $2.01 |
| Efficient EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.67 | $1.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.87 | $2.68 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Norfolk, NE
Late night in Norfolk on Saturday
Local time
4:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Wayne, NE
21 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
54m 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 Wakefield, NE to Norfolk, NE covers 41.9 miles and takes about 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 35, East 7th Street, East Norfolk Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21 miles from Wakefield, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.55 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 Wakefield, NE to Norfolk, NE is easy. At 54m with 89% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (N-35 / Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 40.1 miles (East Norfolk Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 41.6 miles (South 7th Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Wakefield, NE to Norfolk, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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