How far is McCook, NE from Norfolk, NE?

The driving distance from McCook, NE to Norfolk, NE is about 256.1 miles (412.2 km), with a travel time of about 04h 19m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 209.3 miles (336.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 39m 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
256.12 mi
04h 19m
Flight
209.31 mi
336.85 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from McCook.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
209.31 mi
Kilometers
336.85 km
Flight Time
00h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
256.12 mi
Kilometers
412.18 km
Drive Time
04h 19m

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 19m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Norfolk
Thu, Apr 23, 4:45 AM CDT
Return by in McCook
Thu, Apr 23, 9:05 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave McCook
2026-04-23T00:25
Arrive Norfolk
Thu, Apr 23, 4:45 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 19m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:20 AM to 12:20 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
8:20 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in McCook
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
Wood River
NE

City in Nebraska

From McCook
128.3 mi
02h 09m
To Norfolk
127.8 mi
02h 09m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 30 mph W
Destination
78°F
Thursday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
20 to 23 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between McCook and Norfolk.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between McCook and Norfolk.

  1. 1

    Start on Norris Avenue

    1011 ft · 22 sec · Norris Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East H Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · East H Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East 11th Street

    2219 ft · 50 sec · East 11th Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto East B Street

    2595 ft · 1 min · East B Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Highway 6 & 34

    9.8 mi · 11 min · Highway 6 & 34

  6. 6

    Continue on D Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · D Street

  7. 7

    Continue on Highway 6 & 34

    4.9 mi · 6 min · Highway 6 & 34

  8. 8

    Continue on Maple Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · Maple Street

  9. 9

    Continue on Highway 6 & 34

    6.8 mi · 8 min · Highway 6 & 34

  10. 10

    Continue on Nasby Street

    8.6 mi · 11 min · Nasby Street

  11. 11

    Continue on 6 & 34 Highway Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · 6 & 34 Highway Street

  12. 12

    Continue on Highway 6 & 34

    5.1 mi · 6 min · Highway 6 & 34

  13. 13

    Continue on Chestnut Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Chestnut Street

  14. 14

    Continue on Highway 6 & 34

    21.8 mi · 25 min · Highway 6 & 34

  15. 15

    Continue on US Highway 6 & 34

    9.2 mi · 11 min · US Highway 6 & 34

  16. 16

    Continue on West 4th Avenue

    1964 ft · 50 sec · West 4th Avenue

  17. 17

    Continue on 4th Avenue

    1.2 mi · 3 min · 4th Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on US Highway 6 & 34

    9.6 mi · 11 min · US Highway 6 & 34

  19. 19

    Continue on Highway 6

    5.1 mi · 6 min · Highway 6

  20. 20

    Turn left

    12.6 mi · 15 min

  21. 21

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 80 East

    1700 ft · 42 sec

  22. 22

    Merge slight left

    40.8 mi · 41 min

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward Grand Island

    2525 ft · 1 min

  24. 24

    Turn left onto South Locust Street

    4.4 mi · 5 min · South Locust Street

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Highway 34

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Highway 34

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Husker Highway

    1.2 km · 59 sec · Husker Highway

  27. 27

    Continue on South Gunbarrel Road

    4 mi · 6 min · South Gunbarrel Road

  28. 28

    Turn right onto Highway 30

    17.8 mi · 21 min · Highway 30

  29. 29

    Continue on G Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · G Street

  30. 30

    Continue on 16th Street

    1 km · 1 min · 16th Street

  31. 31

    Continue on Highway 30

    26 mi · 31 min · Highway 30

  32. 32

    Turn left onto 370th Avenue

    8.9 mi · 11 min · 370th Avenue

  33. 33

    Continue on Gleason Street

    1138 ft · 33 sec · Gleason Street

  34. 34

    Turn right onto Columbus Avenue

    2779 ft · 55 sec · Columbus Avenue

  35. 35

    Continue on State Highway 22

    7.8 mi · 9 min · State Highway 22

  36. 36

    At the end of the road, turn left

    39.2 mi · 43 min

  37. 37

    Turn right onto West Pasewalk Avenue

    2599 ft · 1 min · West Pasewalk Avenue

  38. 38

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward South 7th Street

    41 m · 4 sec · South 7th Street

  39. 39

    Exit the roundabout onto South 7th Street

    805 ft · 22 sec · South 7th Street

  40. 40

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South 7th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between McCook and Norfolk.

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
40 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Highway 6 & 34
48.4 mi · 19%
Highway 30
43.8 mi · 17%
I 80 East
41.1 mi · 16%
US Highway 6 & 34
18.9 mi · 7%
370th Avenue
8.92 mi · 3%
Nasby Street
8.62 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
04h 19m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+46.8 mi
209.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Wood River
02h 09m from McCook
Leave By
8:20 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving McCook and Chance Rain Showers near Norfolk.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from McCook to Norfolk?

The road trip is about 256.1 miles (412.2 km) and usually takes 04h 19m 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?

Wood River is a useful midpoint, sitting about 128.3 miles from McCook and 127.8 miles from Norfolk.

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

The direct path is about 209.3 miles (336.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 46.8 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 8:20 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.09 one way or $68.18 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 80.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around McCook and Chance Rain Showers near Norfolk.

Stop Ideas Near Wood River

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

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

RAIL

Hastings

32 mi away
501 West First St.
RAIL

Holdrege

78 mi away
100 West Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between McCook and Norfolk. Straight-line distance: 209.31 mi (336.85 km).

McCook

#1 McCook

McCook is a city in Red Willow County, Nebraska.

Population7,499
Coordinates40.2019500, -100.6257100
Altitude784
CountryUnited States
Norfolk

#2 Norfolk

City in Madison County, Nebraska, United States

Population24,363
Coordinates42.0283400, -97.4170000
Altitude464
CountryUnited States
Start: Norris Avenue (-100.625785, 40.201952)
End: South 7th Street (-97.416847, 42.028339)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 412 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 24m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 11m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.04 gal
34.21 L · about $34.09
Round trip
$68.18
18.08 gal · 68.42 L
Estimated CO2
80.3 kg one way
Round trip: 160.7 kg / 354 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $34.09 $68.18
Mid-grade $4.25 $38.45 $76.89
Premium $4.65 $42.07 $84.14
Diesel $5.30 $47.95 $95.90

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 McCook and Norfolk. The current time is 00:25:14.

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.