How far is Norfolk, NE from Chadron, NE?

The driving distance from Norfolk, NE to Chadron, NE is about 324.3 miles (521.9 km), with a travel time of about 06h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 290 miles (466.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 00m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
324.29 mi
06h 30m
Flight
289.99 mi
466.7 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Norfolk.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
289.99 mi
Kilometers
466.7 km
Flight Time
00h 35m

Driving Distance

Road route
324.29 mi
Kilometers
521.9 km
Drive Time
06h 30m

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 06h 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chadron
Thu, Apr 23, 7:14 AM MDT
Return by in Norfolk
Thu, Apr 23, 2:44 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Norfolk
2026-04-23T01:43
Arrive Chadron
Thu, Apr 23, 8:14 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
11:30 AM to 1:00 PM MDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:00 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Norfolk
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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 Lake
NE

Village in Nebraska, United States

From Norfolk
161.8 mi
03h 15m
To Chadron
162.5 mi
03h 15m

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
20 to 23 mph SW
Destination
62°F
Thursday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
30 to 35 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South 7th Street

    805 ft · 22 sec · South 7th Street

  2. 2

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South 7th Street

    27 m · 3 sec · South 7th Street

  3. 3

    Exit the roundabout onto South 7th Street

    2826 ft · 1 min · South 7th Street

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn right onto West Omaha Avenue

    1.3 km · 1 min · West Omaha Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on Highway 275

    2 mi · 2 min · Highway 275

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Highway 275

    62 m · 3 sec · Highway 275

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout onto Highway 275

    18.8 mi · 22 min · Highway 275

  8. 8

    Continue on Front Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · Front Street

  9. 9

    Continue on Highway 275

    12.2 mi · 14 min · Highway 275

  10. 10

    Continue on L Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · L Street

  11. 11

    Continue on East 11th Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · East 11th Street

  12. 12

    Continue on Highway 275

    8.1 mi · 9 min · Highway 275

  13. 13

    Continue on Miles Street

    2496 ft · 32 sec · Miles Street

  14. 14

    Continue on Highway 275

    9.6 mi · 11 min · Highway 275

  15. 15

    Continue on Front Street

    2978 ft · 38 sec · Front Street

  16. 16

    Continue on Highway 275

    7.6 mi · 9 min · Highway 275

  17. 17

    Continue on Highway 20/275

    12.4 mi · 15 min · Highway 20/275

  18. 18

    Continue on East Douglas Street

    1.1 mi · 3 min · East Douglas Street

  19. 19

    Continue on Highway 20

    17.3 mi · 21 min · Highway 20

  20. 20

    Continue on South Hyde Street

    2765 ft · 59 sec · South Hyde Street

  21. 21

    Continue on East 5th Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · East 5th Street

  22. 22

    Continue on Highway 20

    36.8 mi · 44 min · Highway 20

  23. 23

    Continue on US Highway 20

    8.5 mi · 10 min · US Highway 20

  24. 24

    Continue on East 4th Street

    43.1 mi · 51 min · East 4th Street

  25. 25

    Continue straight

    109.7 mi · 2 hr 12 min

  26. 26

    Continue on US Highway 20

    10.3 mi · 12 min · US Highway 20

  27. 27

    Continue on South 1st Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · South 1st Street

  28. 28

    Continue on US Highway 20

    19.3 mi · 24 min · US Highway 20

  29. 29

    Turn right

    13 m · 3 sec

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
30 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
0 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
East 4th Street
153 mi · 47%
Highway 275
58.4 mi · 18%
Highway 20
54.2 mi · 17%
US Highway 20
38.2 mi · 12%
Highway 20/275
12.4 mi · 4%
Front Street
1.38 mi
Longest Stretch

East 4th Street

Continue straight

110 mi · 02h 12m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 30m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34.3 mi
290 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Wood Lake
03h 15m from Norfolk
Leave By
11:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Norfolk and Chance Rain Showers near Chadron.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 324.3 miles (521.9 km) and usually takes 06h 30m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Wood Lake is a useful midpoint, sitting about 161.8 miles from Norfolk and 162.5 miles from Chadron.

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

The direct path is about 290 miles (466.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.3 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $43.14 one way or $86.28 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 101.7 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Norfolk and Chadron, 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 Norfolk and Chance Rain Showers near Chadron.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Norfolk and Chadron. Straight-line distance: 289.99 mi (466.7 km).

Norfolk

#1 Norfolk

City in Madison County, Nebraska, United States

Population24,363
Coordinates42.0283400, -97.4170000
Altitude464
CountryUnited States
Chadron

#2 Chadron

City in Nebraska

Population5,250
Coordinates42.8294200, -102.9999100
Altitude1030
CountryUnited States
Start: Norfolk (-97.417, 42.02834)
End: Chadron (-102.99991, 42.82942)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 522 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 48m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 06m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 29m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 24m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 37m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.44 gal
43.32 L · about $43.14
Round trip
$86.28
22.88 gal · 86.64 L
Estimated CO2
101.7 kg one way
Round trip: 203.3 kg / 448 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $43.14 $86.28
Mid-grade $4.25 $48.65 $97.31
Premium $4.65 $53.24 $106.48
Diesel $5.30 $60.68 $121.36

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 Norfolk, NE and Chadron, NE. The current time in Norfolk is 01:43:46, although it is 00:43:46 in Chadron.

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.