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

The driving distance from Grand Island, NE to Kimball, NE is about 300.6 miles (483.8 km), with a travel time of about 05h 07m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 277.9 miles (447.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 14m 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
300.63 mi
05h 07m
Flight
277.91 mi
447.26 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
277.91 mi
Kilometers
447.26 km
Flight Time
00h 33m

Driving Distance

Road route
300.63 mi
Kilometers
483.81 km
Drive Time
05h 07m

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 05h 07m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Kimball
Thu, Apr 23, 3:44 AM MDT
Return by in Grand Island
Thu, Apr 23, 9:52 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Grand Island
2026-04-22T23:37
Arrive Kimball
Thu, Apr 23, 4:44 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 07m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:07 AM to 12:07 PM MDT

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

Leave by
6:46 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
North Platte
NE

City in Lincoln County, Nebraska, United States

From Grand Island
150 mi
02h 33m
To Kimball
150.6 mi
02h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 25 mph S
Destination
83°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    209.9 mi · 3 hr 30 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: Sidney, Cheyanne

    80.7 mi · 1 hr 21 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward NE 71 North: Gering, Scottsbluff

    1749 ft · 43 sec

  8. 8

    Turn right onto South Highway 71

    1 mi · 1 min · South Highway 71

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Link 53E

    572 ft · 15 sec · Link 53E

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Link 53E

    4 m · 1 sec · Link 53E

  11. 11

    Exit the roundabout onto Link 53E

    1553 ft · 34 sec · Link 53E

  12. 12

    At the end of the road, turn left onto East 3rd Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · East 3rd Street

  13. 13

    Turn right onto South Chesnut Street

    13 m · 1 sec · South Chesnut Street

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Chesnut Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
14 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South Locust Street
217 mi · 72%
I 80 West
80.7 mi · 27%
East 3rd Street
1.06 mi
South Highway 71
1.01 mi
Link 53E
0.41 mi
North Walnut Street
0.34 mi
Longest Stretch

South Locust Street

Merge slight left

210 mi · 03h 30m

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
05h 07m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.7 mi
277.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
North Platte
02h 33m from Grand Island
Leave By
6:46 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Grand Island and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Kimball.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 300.6 miles (483.8 km) and usually takes 05h 07m 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?

North Platte is a useful midpoint, sitting about 150 miles from Grand Island and 150.6 miles from Kimball.

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

The direct path is about 277.9 miles (447.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.7 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 6:46 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.01 one way or $80.02 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 94.3 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 Kimball, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near North Platte

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around North Platte, 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 North Platte.

RAIL

McCook

104 mi away
101 Norris Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Grand Island and Kimball. Straight-line distance: 277.91 mi (447.26 km).

Grand Island

#1 Grand Island

The most populous city in Hall County, Nebraska.

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

#2 Kimball

City in Kimball County, Nebraska, United States

Population2,282
Coordinates41.2358100, -103.6630000
Altitude1437
CountryUnited States
Start: Grand Island (-98.34201, 40.92501)
End: Kimball (-103.663, 41.23581)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 484 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 01m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 30m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 00m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 00m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 17m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 45m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.61 gal
40.16 L · about $40.01
Round trip
$80.02
21.22 gal · 80.32 L
Estimated CO2
94.3 kg one way
Round trip: 188.6 kg / 416 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $40.01 $80.02
Mid-grade $4.25 $45.12 $90.25
Premium $4.65 $49.38 $98.76
Diesel $5.30 $56.28 $112.55

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 Kimball, NE. The current time in Grand Island is 23:37:17, although it is 22:37:17 in Kimball.

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.