Norfolk to Alma is 207.6 miles and takes about 4h 2m via Highway 30 and I 80, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Nebraska, traversing the Great Plains region. It's a straightforward trip, primarily on well-traveled highways, making it a practical option for a single day of travel. You'll find it's a manageable distance if you're looking for a direct route across the state.
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
103.8 miles from Norfolk, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 30
43.8 mi
52m
I 80
40.8 mi
40m
South 13th Street
39.2 mi
42m
US Highway 183
21.1 mi
24m
2nd Avenue
12.9 mi
15m
US Highway 6 & 34
9.6 mi
11m
370th Avenue
8.9 mi
10m
State Highway 22
7.8 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
Highway 30
— 43.8 mi, about 52m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~782 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,132
Quietest
3 AM
~98 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 42 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 Norfolk, NE and Alma, NE.
1
Start on South 7th Street
0.2 mi·22 sec·South 7th Street
2
Enter roundabout onto West Pasewalk Avenue
33 ft·1 sec·West Pasewalk Avenue
3
Continue on West Pasewalk Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·West Pasewalk Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 81
39 mi·42 min·South 13th Street
5
Turn right onto N-22
7.8 mi·9 min·State Highway 22
6
Continue on N-22
0.5 mi·1 min·Columbus Avenue
7
Turn left onto Gleason Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·Gleason Street
8
Continue on 370th Avenue
8.9 mi·10 min·370th Avenue
9
Turn right onto US 30
26 mi·31 min·Highway 30
10
Continue on US 30
0.6 mi·1 min·16th Street
11
Continue on US 30
0.9 mi·1 min·G Street
12
Continue on US 30
18 mi·21 min·Highway 30
13
Turn left onto North Gunbarrel Road
4.1 mi·5 min·North Gunbarrel Road
14
Continue on Husker Highway
0.7 mi·1 min·Husker Highway
15
Turn right onto US 34; N-2; I 80 Alt
2.4 mi·3 min·Highway 34
16
Turn left onto South Locust Street
4.1 mi·5 min·South Locust Street
17
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
18
Merge onto I 80
41 mi·40 min·I 80
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Toward NE 44: Kearney, Archway Monument
20
Turn left onto N-44; I 80 Alt
13 mi·15 min·2nd Avenue
21
Turn right onto US 6; US 34; N-44
5.1 mi·6 min·Highway 6
22
Continue on US 6; US 34
9.6 mi·11 min·US Highway 6 & 34
23
Continue on US 6; US 34
0.5 mi·1 min·4th Avenue
24
Turn left onto Arthur Street
319 ft·14 sec·Arthur Street
25
Continue on Railroad Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·Railroad Street
26
Turn left onto East Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·East Avenue
27
At end of road, turn left onto US 183
0.1 mi·9 sec·Highway 281
28
Continue on US 183
0.8 mi·54 sec·South East Avenue
29
Continue on US 183
21 mi·24 min·US Highway 183
30
Turn left onto US 136
0.4 mi·36 sec·West 7th Street
31
Turn right onto John Street
0.4 mi·1 min·John Street
32
Arrive at destination
John Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 2m duration, starting your drive in the morning from Norfolk will easily get you to Alma with plenty of daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility on when and where you choose to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $32, and plan your refueling accordingly, especially before any longer stretches on Highway 30. Since it's a single-day trip, you can adjust your departure time based on your morning's activities.
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 103.8 miles from Norfolk, NE, or about 2h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.8 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 46 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.8 miles or 2h 2m 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 16m
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 Norfolk, 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 Norfolk, NE
This is one driving day of about 207.6 miles and 4h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Norfolk, 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 Highway 30 for about 43.8 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 183.6 — 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|West Pasewalk Avenue
Enter roundabout onto West Pasewalk Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
107.4 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|US 34; N-2; I 80 Alt / Highway 34
Turn right onto US 34; N-2; I 80 Alt / Highway 34
Navigation decision point
5
155.1 mi into trip|~2h 57m in
Take the exit toward NE 44: Kearney, Archway Monument
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NE 44: Kearney, Archway Monument
4
168.4 mi into trip|~3h 13m in|US 6; US 34; N-44 / Highway 6
Turn right onto US 6; US 34; N-44 / Highway 6
Navigation decision point
4
183.6 mi into trip|~3h 32m in|Arthur Street
Turn left onto Arthur Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.66 one way
$61.32 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$33.85
$67.69
premium
$4.72
$38.54
$77.09
diesel
$4.80
$39.20
$78.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.3
0
$21.80
$9.96
Efficient EV
51.9
0
$18.17
$8.30
EV Truck/SUV
83
1
$29.06
$13.29
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Forecast as of Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Norfolk, NE
Late night
in Norfolk on Sunday
Local time
3:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
E 5 to 8 mph15% 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
Alma, NE
Late night
in Alma on Sunday
Local time
3:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Mostly Clear
ESE 0 to 5 mph8% 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 2m 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 route is mostly highway, with 63% of the drive on interstates and major roads. You'll encounter a stretch of 43.8 miles on Highway 30 before transitioning to I 80 and then South 13th Street. Expect mostly rural cruising with a significant portion on the interstate, which generally means fewer exits and consistent speeds. The highway portion will offer a more direct and faster pace compared to any surface road segments.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.8 mi on Highway 30.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 30 and I 80. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near West Pasewalk Avenue.
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 2m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (West Pasewalk Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 107.4 miles (US 34; N-2; I 80 Alt / Highway 34): Navigation decision point; at 155.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
2,312 ft1,502 ft
Total Climb
981 ft
Total Descent
527 ft
Highest Point
2,312 ft
~192.8 mi in
Elevation Range
810 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 Norfolk, NE to Alma, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Archway Monument along the way.
The longest stretch is about 43.8 miles on Highway 30. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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 0.2 miles (West Pasewalk Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 107.4 miles (US 34; N-2; I 80 Alt / Highway 34): Navigation decision point; at 155.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Alma, NE, but most travelers stay overnight.
