Cozad Rest Area Eastbound
0 mi from route
Trip from Gothenburg, NE to Grand Island, NE
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 57m
Distance
110.7 mi
178 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 49m
★
6 AM
1h 57m
8 AM
2h 14m
10 AM
2h 3m
12 PM
2h 2m
3 PM
2h 4m
5 PM
2h 14m
8 PM
1h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gothenburg, NE
Efrem Efre
Grand Island, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 110.7-mile journey from Gothenburg to Grand Island in Nebraska is a straightforward drive, taking approximately 1 hour and 57 minutes. With a 92% highway share, it’s a highly efficient route, making it perfectly suited for a single-day trip. Expect the drive to be largely on I-80, offering a consistent pace. With an estimated fuel cost of $17, this trip is quite budget-friendly for its distance. Both Gothenburg and Grand Island are situated in the heart of the Great Plains, so you’ll be traversing classic prairie landscapes throughout your drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.3 miles from Gothenburg, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 101.5 mi | 1h 41m |
| South Locust Street | 6.7 mi | 10m |
| Lake Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| South Walnut Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West 3rd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 4th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 101.5 mi, about 1h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gothenburg, NE and Grand Island, NE.
1
Start on Lake Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto 4th Street
171 ft
·
7 sec
·
4th Street
3
Turn right onto N-47; I 80 Alt
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 80 East: Kearney
5
Merge onto I 80
101 mi
·
1 hr 41 min
·
I 80
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward Grand Island
7
Turn left onto South Locust Street
6.6 mi
·
10 min
·
South Locust Street
8
Continue on N-2 Business
248 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Locust Street
9
Continue on N-2 Business
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
South Walnut Street
10
Turn right onto West 3rd Street
401 ft
·
17 sec
·
West 3rd Street
11
Arrive at destination
West 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under two hours, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Aiming for a morning departure will give you ample time to reach Grand Island and still have your afternoon free. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan for your own breaks as needed, perhaps stopping at a service area along I-80. A key consideration for this route is the longest stretch of 101.5 miles on I-80; ensure you have adequate fuel before entering this segment to avoid any concerns.
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 55.3 miles from Gothenburg, NE, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.5 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 24 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.3 miles or 57m 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 32m
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 Gothenburg, NE so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Gothenburg, NE
This is one driving day of about 110.7 miles and 1h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Gothenburg, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 101.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
55 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 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 55.3 miles from Gothenburg, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 101.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Cozad Rest Area Westbound
0 mi from route
Kearney Rest Area Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Sapp Brothers Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
ONE9 Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Kearney Rest Area Westbound
0.2 mi from route
Grand Island Rest Area Eastbound
0.7 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.7 mi from route
Sod House Museum
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, right off the route
0.9 mi from route
~2 min detour
Gothenburg, Nebraska
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+13085291630
Visit websiteBig Apple Fun Center
4.3
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Around the midpoint, short detour
1.5 mi from route
~4 min detour
mile 63.2
Kearney, Nebraska
Hours: 11 am–1 pm
+13082344545
Visit websiteHeartland Museum of Military Vehicles
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
3.1 mi from route
~8 min detour
mile 23.7
Lexington, Nebraska
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+13083246329
Visit websiteKearney Area Children's Museum
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour
4.4 mi from route
~11 min detour
mile 63.2
Kearney, Nebraska
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+13086982228
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 110.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
4th Street
At end of road, turn left onto 4th Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
N-47; I 80 Alt / Lake Avenue
Turn right onto N-47; I 80 Alt / Lake Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 East: Kearney
Navigation decision point
Toward I 80 East: Kearney
4
103.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
Take the exit toward Grand Island
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Grand Island
4
110.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 57m in
|
West 3rd Street
Turn right onto West 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.31 one way
$34.61 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
39 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.00 | $38.00 |
| premium | $4.89 | $21.30 | $42.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.44 | $48.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.2 | 0 | $11.62 | $5.31 |
| Efficient EV | 27.7 | 0 | $9.69 | $4.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.3 | 0 | $15.50 | $7.08 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Origin
Gothenburg, NE
Night in Gothenburg on Saturday
Local time
11:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Grand Island, NE
Night in Grand Island on Saturday
Local time
11:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 57m 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?
This drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 92% of the route taking place on major roadways like I-80. You’ll encounter a very long, uninterrupted stretch of 101.5 miles on I-80, meaning extended periods of consistent speed and minimal turns. The character of the drive is therefore quite consistent, offering a direct and efficient path between your starting and ending points. While the specific local roads like South Locust Street and Lake Avenue are brief, the bulk of your time will be spent on the interstate.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 101.5 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and South Locust Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near 4th Street.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Gothenburg, NE to Grand Island, NE is easy. At 1h 57m with 92% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (N-47; I 80 Alt / Lake Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles: 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 1h 57m. Total distance: 110.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 101.5 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 0.5 miles (4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (N-47; I 80 Alt / Lake Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles: 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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