Bellevue, NE to Alma, NE is 233.3 miles and takes about 4h 19m via I 80 and US Highway 183, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across Nebraska. With 92% of the route on highways, you'll experience mostly efficient travel. It's a single-day option, making it a convenient choice for a quick transit between these points. Plan for a smooth drive with minimal complexity.
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
116.7 miles from Bellevue, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
165.7 mi
2h 50m
US Highway 183
21.1 mi
24m
2nd Avenue
12.9 mi
15m
Highway 370
12.1 mi
17m
US Highway 6 & 34
9.6 mi
11m
Highway 6
5.1 mi
6m
Harlan Drive
1.3 mi
2m
East Avenue
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 165.7 mi, about 2h 50m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 46 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,200 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,622
Quietest
2 AM
~125 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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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 Bellevue, NE and Alma, NE.
1
Start on Main Street
73 ft·4 sec·Main Street
2
Turn right onto East Mission Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·East Mission Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn right onto Galvin Road South
412 ft·10 sec·Galvin Road South
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto Galvin Road South
0.3 mi·44 sec·Galvin Road South
5
Turn left onto Harlan Drive
1.3 mi·2 min·Harlan Drive
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on N-370
12 mi·17 min·Highway 370
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn left
0.4 mi·29 sec
Toward I 80 West: LincolnUse the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 80
166 mi·2 hr 50 min·I 80
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Toward NE 44: Kearney, Archway Monument
10
Turn left onto N-44; I 80 Alt
13 mi·15 min·2nd Avenue
11
Turn right onto US 6; US 34; N-44
5.1 mi·6 min·Highway 6
12
Continue on US 6; US 34
9.6 mi·11 min·US Highway 6 & 34
13
Continue on US 6; US 34
0.5 mi·1 min·4th Avenue
14
Turn left onto Arthur Street
319 ft·14 sec·Arthur Street
15
Continue on Railroad Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·Railroad Street
16
Turn left onto East Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·East Avenue
17
At end of road, turn left onto US 183
0.1 mi·9 sec·Highway 281
18
Continue on US 183
0.8 mi·54 sec·South East Avenue
19
Continue on US 183
21 mi·24 min·US Highway 183
20
Turn left onto US 136
0.4 mi·36 sec·West 7th Street
21
Turn right onto John Street
0.4 mi·1 min·John Street
22
Arrive at destination
John Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 19m estimated drive time, starting in the morning is advisable to allow for flexibility. You can comfortably complete this trip in one day, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer 165.7-mile stretch on I 80, as services might be less frequent. While there's only one recommended stop, consider breaking up the drive with a brief pause around the halfway point to stretch your legs. The fuel cost is estimated at $41, so factor that into your budget. Since it's a single-day drive, you have the advantage of not needing to book overnight accommodations.
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 116.7 miles from Bellevue, NE, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 165.7 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 51 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.7 miles or 2h 8m 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 26m
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 Bellevue, 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 Bellevue, NE
This is one driving day of about 233.3 miles and 4h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Bellevue, 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 165.7 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 14.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Mission Avenue
Turn right onto East Mission Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|Galvin Road South
Turn right onto Galvin Road South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
1 mi into trip|~2m in|Galvin Road South
Keep slight left at fork onto Galvin Road South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
1.2 mi into trip|~3m in|Harlan Drive
Turn left onto Harlan Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
14.6 mi into trip|~23m in
Turn left toward I 80 West: Lincoln
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 80 West: Lincoln
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.79 one way
$77.58 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$42.25
$84.50
premium
$5.18
$47.61
$95.21
diesel
$5.35
$49.14
$98.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70
0
$24.50
$11.20
Efficient EV
58.3
0
$20.41
$9.33
EV Truck/SUV
93.3
1
$32.66
$14.93
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% 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 Jun 3, 2026
Origin
Bellevue, NE
Afternoon
in Bellevue on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 6 to 9 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued June 2 at 2:44PM CDT until June 2 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS North Platte NE
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued June 2 at 1:41PM MDT until June 2 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY
Destination
Alma, NE
Afternoon
in Alma on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 10 to 15 mph48% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued June 2 at 2:44PM CDT until June 2 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS North Platte NE
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued June 2 at 1:41PM MDT until June 2 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY
65°F
Gresham, NE
117 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
4 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
4h 19m 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?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 92% of the 233.3 miles on faster roads. You'll cover a significant 165.7 miles on I 80 before transitioning to US Highway 183 and then 2nd Avenue. Expect the feel of efficient cruising for the majority of your trip. The shift from interstate to surface roads will be noticeable as you near your destination.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 165.7 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US Highway 183. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Mission Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 19m drive. You will face about 13 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 Mission Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles (Galvin Road South): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (Galvin Road South): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,302 ft1,033 ft
Total Climb
1,357 ft
Total Descent
411 ft
Highest Point
2,302 ft
~216.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,269 ft
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 Bellevue, NE to Alma, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Archway Monument along the way.
Bellevue, is a small town in Sarpy County, Nebraska, just south of Omaha and west of the Missouri River. It is the oldest town in Nebraska and the oldest town west of the Missouri River. It is known for being the historical home to Strategic Air Command and, today, US Strategic Command.
Top landmarks
•Log Cabin — historic house in Bellevue, Nebraska, USA
•Presbyterian Church — church building in Bellevue, Nebraska, United States
•William E. Gordon House — historic house in Bellevue, Nebraska
The longest stretch is about 165.7 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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: near the start (East Mission Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles (Galvin Road South): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (Galvin Road South): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Alma, NE, but most travelers stay overnight.
