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

The driving distance from Lexington, NE to Grand Island, NE is about 86.9 miles (139.9 km), with a travel time of about 01h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 73.8 miles (118.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 50m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
86.95 mi
01h 25m
Flight
73.81 mi
118.79 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lexington.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
73.81 mi
Kilometers
118.79 km
Flight Time
00h 08m

Driving Distance

Road route
86.95 mi
Kilometers
139.93 km
Drive Time
01h 25m

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 01h 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Grand Island
Wed, Apr 22, 9:53 PM CDT
Return by in Lexington
Wed, Apr 22, 11:19 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lexington
2026-04-22T20:28
Arrive Grand Island
Wed, Apr 22, 9:53 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:25 AM to 11:25 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:40 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lexington
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Newark
NE

City in United States of America

From Lexington
43.4 mi
00h 42m
To Grand Island
43.6 mi
00h 42m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Wednesday

Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 30 mph SSE
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 Lexington and Grand Island.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Washington Street

    735 ft · 25 sec · North Washington Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East 6th Street

    759 ft · 23 sec · East 6th Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Jackson Street

    813 ft · 15 sec · North Jackson Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Plum Creek Parkway

    2.5 mi · 4 min · Plum Creek Parkway

  5. 5

    Turn left onto I 80 East: Kearney

    1623 ft · 40 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    76.2 mi · 1 hr 16 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward Grand Island

    2525 ft · 1 min

  8. 8

    Turn left onto South Locust Street

    6.6 mi · 10 min · South Locust Street

  9. 9

    Continue on South Locust Street

    76 m · 4 sec · South Locust Street

  10. 10

    Continue on South Walnut Street

    1796 ft · 40 sec · South Walnut Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto West 3rd Street

    122 m · 18 sec · West 3rd Street

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 3rd Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Lexington 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
12 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 East
77 mi · 89%
South Locust Street
6.67 mi · 8%
Plum Creek Parkway
2.52 mi · 3%
South Walnut Street
0.34 mi
North Jackson Street
0.15 mi
East 6th Street
0.14 mi
Longest Stretch

I 80 East

Merge slight left

76.2 mi · 01h 16m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 25m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+13.1 mi
73.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Newark
00h 42m from Lexington
Leave By
3:40 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Lexington 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 Lexington to Grand Island?

The road trip is about 86.9 miles (139.9 km) and usually takes 01h 25m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Newark is a useful midpoint, sitting about 43.4 miles from Lexington and 43.6 miles from Grand Island.

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

The direct path is about 73.8 miles (118.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 13.1 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:40 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $11.58 one way or $23.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 27.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Newark

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

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

RAIL

Holdrege

41 mi away
100 West Ave.
RAIL

Hastings

49 mi away
501 West First St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lexington and Grand Island. Straight-line distance: 73.81 mi (118.79 km).

Lexington

#1 Lexington

City in Dawson County, Nebraska, United States

Population10,109
Coordinates40.7808400, -99.7415000
Altitude729
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: North Washington Street (-99.741509, 40.78084)
End: West 3rd Street (-98.342013, 40.925014)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 140 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 53m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 10m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 44m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.07 gal
11.61 L · about $11.58
Round trip
$23.15
6.14 gal · 23.22 L
Estimated CO2
27.3 kg one way
Round trip: 54.6 kg / 120 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $11.58 $23.15
Mid-grade $4.25 $13.06 $26.11
Premium $4.65 $14.29 $28.58
Diesel $5.30 $16.28 $32.57

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

There is no time difference between Lexington and Grand Island. The current time is 20:28:26.

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.