Alma to La Vista is 227.3 miles and takes about 4h 9m via I 80 and US 136, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Nebraska, traversing the Great Plains for its entirety. Expect a straightforward drive primarily on major highways. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion. It's a practical option for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
113.7 miles from Alma, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
169.5 mi
2h 54m
US 136
21.9 mi
25m
N-44
12.6 mi
14m
US Highway 6 & 34
9.6 mi
11m
Highway 6
5.1 mi
6m
Harrison Street
3.6 mi
6m
South East Avenue
1.2 mi
2m
4th Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 169.5 mi, about 2h 54m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,626 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,063
Quietest
2 AM
~144 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alma, NE and La Vista, NE.
1
Start on John Street
0.4 mi·1 min·John Street
2
Turn left onto US 136
0.4 mi·31 sec·West 7th Street
3
Take the ramp onto US 136
245 ft·6 sec·US 136
4
Turn slight right onto US 136; US 183
22 mi·25 min·US 136; US 183
5
Continue on South East Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·South East Avenue
6
Turn right onto US 6; US 34
0.7 mi·1 min·4th Avenue
7
Continue on US 6; US 34
9.6 mi·11 min·US Highway 6 & 34
8
Continue on US 6; US 34
5.1 mi·6 min·Highway 6
9
Turn left onto N-44
13 mi·14 min·N-44
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 80 East
11
Merge onto I 80
170 mi·2 hr 54 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·48 sec
Exit 442Toward Giles Road, Harrison Street
13
Turn left onto Giles Road
0.5 mi·56 sec·Giles Road
14
Turn right onto Harrison Street
3.6 mi·6 min·Harrison Street
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right onto N-85
0.2 mi·26 sec·South 84th Street
16
Turn left onto Park View Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·Park View Boulevard
17
Turn left onto Lillian Avenue
0.2 mi·53 sec·Lillian Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
Lillian Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour drive time, leaving Alma in the morning allows ample time to reach La Vista before evening. While this route is manageable in one day, the longest stretch without a stop is 169.5 miles on I 80, so plan a brief pause for fuel or a stretch before or during that segment. The fuel cost is estimated at $40, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before departing, especially since you're staying within the Great Plains region where services can be spaced out. This trip is short enough that you can depart a bit later if needed.
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 113.7 miles from Alma, NE, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 169.5 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 50 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.7 miles or 2h 7m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Vista, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alma, 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 Alma, NE
This is one driving day of about 227.3 miles and 4h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Alma, 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 169.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 222.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|US 136 / West 7th Street
Turn left onto US 136 / West 7th Street
Navigation decision point
4
23.9 mi into trip|~29m in|US 6; US 34 / 4th Avenue
Turn right onto US 6; US 34 / 4th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
52.2 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
221.7 mi into trip|~3h 58m in
Take the exit toward Giles Road, Harrison Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 442
Toward Giles Road, Harrison Street
6
222.7 mi into trip|~4h in|Harrison Street
Turn right onto Harrison Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.57 one way
$67.13 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$37.06
$74.11
premium
$4.72
$42.20
$84.41
diesel
$4.80
$42.92
$85.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.2
0
$23.87
$10.91
Efficient EV
56.8
0
$19.89
$9.09
EV Truck/SUV
90.9
1
$31.82
$14.55
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Alma, NE
Late night
in Alma on Sunday
Local time
1:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
ESE 5 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:22PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:22PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Destination
La Vista, NE
Late night
in La Vista on Sunday
Local time
1:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
97°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 3 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:22PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:22PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
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
3 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
4h 9m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 91% of this 227.3-mile drive on highways, with the longest continuous stretch covering 169.5 miles on I 80. The transition to surface roads will occur after that significant highway segment. Expect a consistent flow of traffic and frequent exits along the interstate portion, typical of major highway travel.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 169.5 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US 136. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 136 / West 7th Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 9m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 136 / West 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 23.9 miles (US 6; US 34 / 4th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 52.2 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 169.5 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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: at 0.4 miles (US 136 / West 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 23.9 miles (US 6; US 34 / 4th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 52.2 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at La Vista, NE, but most travelers stay overnight.
