La Vista, NE to Terrytown, NE is 443.3 miles and takes about 8 hours via I 80 and US 26 West, with a fuel budget near $60 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Nebraska, traversing the Great Plains region. Given the mostly highway profile, expect a straightforward drive with minimal detours. It's a practical route for getting from point A to point B efficiently, especially if you're looking to cover a good amount of ground in a single day. You'll be on major roads for almost the entire duration, making it relatively simple to navigate.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
221.7 miles from La Vista, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
315.5 mi
5h 20m
US 26
90.7 mi
1h 48m
Highway 26 West
24.2 mi
28m
Harrison Street
3.6 mi
6m
North Spruce Street
2.2 mi
3m
South Beltline Highway East
1.4 mi
2m
Lockwood Road
1.2 mi
1m
South Highway 26/61
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 315.5 mi, about 5h 20m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 152 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,291 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,730
Quietest
2 AM
~132 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 La Vista, NE and Terrytown, NE.
1
Start on Lillian Avenue
0.2 mi·55 sec·Lillian Avenue
2
At end of road, turn right onto Park View Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·Park View Boulevard
3
Turn right onto N-85
0.2 mi·20 sec·South 84th Street
4
Turn left onto Harrison Street
3.6 mi·6 min·Harrison Street
5
Turn left onto Giles Road
0.3 mi·28 sec·Giles Road
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·42 sec
Toward I 80 West
7
Merge onto I 80
316 mi·5 hr 20 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward US 26, NE 61: Ogallala, Grant
9
Turn right onto US 26; N-61
0.7 mi·1 min·South Highway 26/61
10
Continue on East A Street
0.4 mi·49 sec·East A Street
11
At end of road, turn left onto East 8th Street
330 ft·9 sec·East 8th Street
12
Turn right onto North Spruce Street
2.2 mi·3 min·North Spruce Street
13
Turn left onto N-61
24 mi·28 min·Highway 26 West
14
Continue on US 26
60 mi·1 hr 11 min·US 26
15
Turn left onto US 26; US 385
1.0 mi·1 min·US 26; US 385
16
Turn right onto US 26; N-92
30 mi·35 min·US 26; N-92
17
Continue on Old Oregon Trail
0.2 mi·17 sec·Old Oregon Trail
18
Turn right onto Lockwood Road
1.2 mi·1 min·Lockwood Road
19
Continue on 21st Avenue
0.6 mi·49 sec·21st Avenue
20
Turn left onto South Beltline Highway East
1.4 mi·2 min·South Beltline Highway East
21
Turn left onto 10th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·10th Street
22
Turn right onto McGuire Street
67 ft·2 sec·McGuire Street
23
Arrive at destination
McGuire Street
Trip Plan
Given the 8-hour estimated drive time, it’s advisable to start early to make the most of daylight. Consider splitting this 443.3-mile trip over two days if you prefer a more relaxed pace, with your overnight stop around the halfway point. The two recommended stops are well-placed to break up the drive, so plan to utilize them for fuel and rest. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch on I 80, as services can sometimes be spread out. Aim to complete the 315.5-mile I 80 segment before needing a significant break.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 221.7 miles from La Vista, NE, or about 3h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 315.5 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 98 miles or 1h 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 221.7 miles or 3h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 221.7 miles or 3h 50m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Terrytown, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving La Vista, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from La Vista, NE
Aim for roughly 222 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Terrytown, NE
Aim for roughly 222 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 98 miles from La Vista, NE.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 315.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Final third
4.8 mi from route
~12 min detour
$10 to $20
Ogallala, Nebraska
Hours: 11 am–8 pm
+13082840899
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 320.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Park View Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto Park View Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|N-85 / South 84th Street
Turn right onto N-85 / South 84th Street
Navigation decision point
4
4.6 mi into trip|~9m in|Giles Road
Turn left onto Giles Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
5.3 mi into trip|~10m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
320.8 mi into trip|~5h 30m in
Take the exit toward US 26, NE 61: Ogallala, Grant
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 26, NE 61: Ogallala, Grant
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$68.73 one way
$137.46 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg155 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$75.36
$150.72
premium
$4.93
$86.01
$172.01
diesel
$5.60
$97.72
$195.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$69
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$199–$309
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 155.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $47 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
133
1
$46.55
$21.28
Efficient EV
110.8
1
$38.79
$17.73
EV Truck/SUV
177.3
2
$62.06
$28.37
Gas CO2
155 kg
EV CO2
52 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Sep 1, 2026
Origin
La Vista, NE
Late night
in La Vista on Wednesday
Local time
12:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Terrytown, NE
Night
in Terrytown on Tuesday
Local time
11:56 PM
MDT
Current temp
91°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
1 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
8h on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Scotts Bluff National Monument
National Monument
Towering 800 feet above the North Platte River, Scotts Bluff has served as a landmark for peoples from Native Americans to emigrants on the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails to modern travelers. Ri...
3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 443.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is overwhelmingly highway driving, with 97% of the 443.3 miles on major roads. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 315.5 miles on I 80, which means long stretches of consistent cruising. The transition to surface roads will occur after this main highway segment, marking the final portion of your drive. Expect a steady pace with fewer interruptions for most of the trip until you're closer to your destination.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 315.5 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 26. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Park View Boulevard.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 12 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Park View Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (N-85 / South 84th Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles (Giles Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
3,879 ft1,109 ft
Total Climb
2,770 ft
Total Descent
0 ft
Highest Point
3,879 ft
~443.3 mi in
Elevation Range
2,770 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 La Vista, NE to Terrytown, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Grant along the way.
The longest stretch is about 315.5 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 222 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Terrytown, NE before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 0.2 miles (Park View Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (N-85 / South 84th Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles (Giles Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Scotts Bluff National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.0 hours each way, a round trip means 16.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Terrytown, NE before the return drive.
