How far is Grand Island, NE from Imperial, NE?

The driving distance from Grand Island, NE to Imperial, NE is about 211 miles (339.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 175.2 miles (281.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 30m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
211.02 mi
04h 15m
Flight
175.15 mi
281.87 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Grand Island.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
175.15 mi
Kilometers
281.87 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
211.02 mi
Kilometers
339.6 km
Drive Time
04h 15m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Imperial
Thu, Apr 23, 7:30 AM MDT
Return by in Grand Island
Thu, Apr 23, 12:45 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Grand Island
2026-04-23T04:15
Arrive Imperial
Thu, Apr 23, 8:30 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:15 AM to 11:15 AM MDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:30 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Grand Island
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Edison
NE

Village in the United States

From Grand Island
105.3 mi
02h 07m
To Imperial
105.7 mi
02h 07m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Thursday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph WSW
Destination
74°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
15 to 25 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Grand Island and Imperial.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Grand Island and Imperial.

  1. 1

    Start on West 3rd Street

    122 m · 25 sec · West 3rd Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North Walnut Street

    1799 ft · 36 sec · North Walnut Street

  3. 3

    Continue on South Locust Street

    6.4 mi · 11 min · South Locust Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right

    2024 ft · 49 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    40.8 mi · 41 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward NE 44: Kearney, Archway Monument

    1748 ft · 32 sec

  7. 7

    Turn left onto 2nd Avenue

    12.9 mi · 16 min · 2nd Avenue

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Highway 6

    5.1 mi · 6 min · Highway 6

  9. 9

    Continue on US Highway 6 & 34

    9.6 mi · 11 min · US Highway 6 & 34

  10. 10

    Continue on 4th Avenue

    1.2 mi · 3 min · 4th Avenue

  11. 11

    Continue on West 4th Avenue

    2008 ft · 49 sec · West 4th Avenue

  12. 12

    Continue on US Highway 6 & 34

    9.2 mi · 11 min · US Highway 6 & 34

  13. 13

    Continue on Highway 6 & 34

    21.8 mi · 25 min · Highway 6 & 34

  14. 14

    Continue on Chestnut Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Chestnut Street

  15. 15

    Continue on Highway 6 & 34

    5.1 mi · 6 min · Highway 6 & 34

  16. 16

    Continue on 6 & 34 Highway Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · 6 & 34 Highway Street

  17. 17

    Continue on Highway 6 & 34

    15.4 mi · 19 min · Highway 6 & 34

  18. 18

    Continue on Maple Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · Maple Street

  19. 19

    Continue on Highway 6 & 34

    4.9 mi · 6 min · Highway 6 & 34

  20. 20

    Continue on D Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · D Street

  21. 21

    Continue on Highway 6 & 34

    9.8 mi · 11 min · Highway 6 & 34

  22. 22

    Continue on East B Street

    2.3 mi · 6 min · East B Street

  23. 23

    Continue on West Highway 6 & 34

    6.4 mi · 8 min · West Highway 6 & 34

  24. 24

    Continue on Highway 34

    6.8 mi · 8 min · Highway 34

  25. 25

    Turn slight right onto US 6

    103 m · 5 sec

  26. 26

    Continue on US 6

    1.3 km · 54 sec

  27. 27

    Keep slight right

    134 m · 6 sec

  28. 28

    Turn straight onto Highway 6

    37.8 mi · 44 min · Highway 6

  29. 29

    Continue on 338 Avenue

    2.4 mi · 3 min · 338 Avenue

  30. 30

    Continue on Highway 6

    2667 ft · 35 sec · Highway 6

  31. 31

    Continue on 736 Road

    3 mi · 3 min · 736 Road

  32. 32

    Continue on Highway 6

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Highway 6

  33. 33

    Continue on East 1st Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · East 1st Street

  34. 34

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Broadway Street

    1513 ft · 57 sec · Broadway Street

  35. 35

    Turn left onto West 6th Street

    10 m · 1 sec · West 6th Street

  36. 36

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 6th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Grand Island and Imperial.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
36 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Highway 6 & 34
57 mi · 27%
South Locust Street
47.6 mi · 23%
Highway 6
45.3 mi · 21%
US Highway 6 & 34
18.9 mi · 9%
2nd Avenue
12.9 mi · 6%
Highway 34
6.78 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

South Locust Street

Merge slight left

40.8 mi · 00h 41m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 15m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+35.8 mi
175.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Edison
02h 07m from Grand Island
Leave By
8:30 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Grand Island and Mostly Sunny near Imperial.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Grand Island to Imperial?

The road trip is about 211 miles (339.6 km) and usually takes 04h 15m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Edison is a useful midpoint, sitting about 105.3 miles from Grand Island and 105.7 miles from Imperial.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 175.2 miles (281.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 35.8 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:30 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.09 one way or $56.19 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 66.2 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Grand Island and Imperial, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Grand Island and Mostly Sunny near Imperial.

Stop Ideas Near Edison

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Edison, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Edison.

RAIL

Holdrege

39 mi away
100 West Ave.
RAIL

McCook

73 mi away
101 Norris Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Grand Island and Imperial. Straight-line distance: 175.15 mi (281.87 km).

Grand Island

#1 Grand Island

The most populous city in Hall County, Nebraska.

Population51,004
Coordinates40.9250100, -98.3420100
Altitude567
CountryUnited States
Imperial

#2 Imperial

City in Nebraska, United States

Population2,011
Coordinates40.5169400, -101.6432300
Altitude1001
CountryUnited States
Start: Grand Island (-98.34201, 40.92501)
End: Imperial (-101.64323, 40.51694)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 340 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 01m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 13m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 31m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 00m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.45 gal
28.19 L · about $28.09
Round trip
$56.19
14.9 gal · 56.38 L
Estimated CO2
66.2 kg one way
Round trip: 132.4 kg / 292 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $28.09 $56.19
Mid-grade $4.25 $31.68 $63.37
Premium $4.65 $34.67 $69.34
Diesel $5.30 $39.51 $79.03

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Nebraska · Apr 23, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Grand Island, NE and Imperial, NE. The current time in Grand Island is 04:15:31, although it is 03:15:31 in Imperial.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.