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

The driving distance from Imperial, NE to Grand Island, NE is about 211 miles (339.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 33m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 175.2 miles (281.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 06m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT.
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
211.04 mi
03h 33m
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 Imperial.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
211.04 mi
Kilometers
339.64 km
Drive Time
03h 33m

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 03h 33m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Grand Island
Thu, Apr 23, 12:00 AM CDT
Return by in Imperial
Thu, Apr 23, 2:34 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Imperial
2026-04-22T19:27
Arrive Grand Island
Wed, Apr 22, 11:00 PM MDT
Route Timing
03h 33m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:33 AM to 12:33 PM CDT

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

Leave by
9:54 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Imperial
9:00 PM MDT
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 Imperial
105.4 mi
01h 46m
To Grand Island
105.6 mi
01h 46m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
88°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

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

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 25 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West 6th Street

    10 m · 4 sec · West 6th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Broadway Street

    1513 ft · 53 sec · Broadway Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto East 1st Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · East 1st Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Highway 6

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Highway 6

  5. 5

    Continue on 736 Road

    3 mi · 3 min · 736 Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Highway 6

    2667 ft · 35 sec · Highway 6

  7. 7

    Continue on 338 Avenue

    2.4 mi · 3 min · 338 Avenue

  8. 8

    Continue on Highway 6

    38.4 mi · 45 min · Highway 6

  9. 9

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Highway 34

    7.3 mi · 9 min · Highway 34

  10. 10

    Continue on Highway 6 & 34

    6.4 mi · 8 min · Highway 6 & 34

  11. 11

    Continue on West B Street

    2.3 mi · 6 min · West B Street

  12. 12

    Continue on Highway 6 & 34

    9.8 mi · 11 min · Highway 6 & 34

  13. 13

    Continue on D Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · D Street

  14. 14

    Continue on Highway 6 & 34

    4.9 mi · 6 min · Highway 6 & 34

  15. 15

    Continue on Maple Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · Maple Street

  16. 16

    Continue on Highway 6 & 34

    6.8 mi · 8 min · Highway 6 & 34

  17. 17

    Continue on Nasby Street

    8.6 mi · 11 min · Nasby Street

  18. 18

    Continue on 6 & 34 Highway Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · 6 & 34 Highway Street

  19. 19

    Continue on Highway 6 & 34

    5.1 mi · 6 min · Highway 6 & 34

  20. 20

    Continue on Chestnut Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Chestnut Street

  21. 21

    Continue on Highway 6 & 34

    21.8 mi · 25 min · Highway 6 & 34

  22. 22

    Continue on US Highway 6 & 34

    9.2 mi · 11 min · US Highway 6 & 34

  23. 23

    Continue on West 4th Avenue

    1964 ft · 50 sec · West 4th Avenue

  24. 24

    Continue on 4th Avenue

    1.2 mi · 3 min · 4th Avenue

  25. 25

    Continue on US Highway 6 & 34

    9.6 mi · 11 min · US Highway 6 & 34

  26. 26

    Continue on Highway 6

    5.1 mi · 6 min · Highway 6

  27. 27

    Turn left

    12.6 mi · 15 min

  28. 28

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 80 East

    1700 ft · 42 sec

  29. 29

    Merge slight left

    40.8 mi · 41 min

  30. 30

    Take the exit slight right toward Grand Island

    2525 ft · 1 min

  31. 31

    Turn left onto South Locust Street

    6.6 mi · 10 min · South Locust Street

  32. 32

    Continue on South Locust Street

    76 m · 4 sec · South Locust Street

  33. 33

    Continue on South Walnut Street

    1796 ft · 40 sec · South Walnut Street

  34. 34

    Turn right onto West 3rd Street

    122 m · 18 sec · West 3rd Street

  35. 35

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 3rd Street

Car Route Details

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

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
35 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Highway 6 & 34
54.8 mi · 26%
Highway 6
45.9 mi · 22%
I 80 East
41.6 mi · 20%
US Highway 6 & 34
18.9 mi · 9%
Nasby Street
8.62 mi · 4%
Highway 34
7.27 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 80 East

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
03h 33m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+35.8 mi
175.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Edison
01h 46m from Imperial
Leave By
9:54 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Imperial and Sunny near Grand Island.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 211 miles (339.6 km) and usually takes 03h 33m 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 105.4 miles from Imperial and 105.6 miles from Grand Island.

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 MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:54 AM MDT.

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 Imperial and Grand Island, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Imperial and Grand Island. Straight-line distance: 175.15 mi (281.87 km).

Imperial

#1 Imperial

City in Nebraska, United States

Population2,011
Coordinates40.5169400, -101.6432300
Altitude1001
CountryUnited States
Grand Island

#2 Grand Island

The most populous city in Hall County, Nebraska.

Population51,004
Coordinates40.9250100, -98.3420100
Altitude567
CountryUnited States
Start: West 6th Street (-101.643231, 40.516998)
End: West 3rd Street (-98.342013, 40.925014)

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 Imperial, NE and Grand Island, NE. The current time in Imperial is 19:27:24, although it is 20:27:24 in Grand Island.

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.