How far is Norfolk, NE from Imperial, NE?
The driving distance from Norfolk, NE to Imperial, NE is about 318.1 miles (511.9 km), with a travel time of about 06h 19m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 243 miles (391.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 39m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 19m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in and county seat of Buffalo County, Nebraska, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Norfolk and Imperial.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Norfolk and Imperial.
-
1
Start on South 7th Street
805 ft · 22 sec · South 7th Street
-
2
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward West Pasewalk Avenue
10 m · 1 sec · West Pasewalk Avenue
-
3
Exit the roundabout onto West Pasewalk Avenue
2594 ft · 1 min · West Pasewalk Avenue
-
4
Turn left onto South 13th Street
39.2 mi · 42 min · South 13th Street
-
5
Turn right onto State Highway 22
7.8 mi · 9 min · State Highway 22
-
6
Continue on Columbus Avenue
2779 ft · 1 min · Columbus Avenue
-
7
Turn left onto Gleason Street
1138 ft · 31 sec · Gleason Street
-
8
Continue on 370th Avenue
8.9 mi · 11 min · 370th Avenue
-
9
Turn right onto Highway 30
26 mi · 31 min · Highway 30
-
10
Continue on 16th Street
1 km · 1 min · 16th Street
-
11
Continue on G Street
1.4 km · 2 min · G Street
-
12
Continue on Highway 30
17.8 mi · 21 min · Highway 30
-
13
Turn left onto North Gunbarrel Road
4.1 mi · 6 min · North Gunbarrel Road
-
14
Continue on Husker Highway
1.2 km · 1 min · Husker Highway
-
15
Turn right onto Highway 34
2.4 mi · 3 min · Highway 34
-
16
Turn left onto South Locust Street
4.1 mi · 6 min · South Locust Street
-
17
Take the ramp slight right
2024 ft · 49 sec
-
18
Merge slight left
40.8 mi · 41 min
-
19
Take the exit slight right toward NE 44: Kearney, Archway Monument
1748 ft · 32 sec
-
20
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue
12.9 mi · 16 min · 2nd Avenue
-
21
Turn right onto Highway 6
5.1 mi · 6 min · Highway 6
-
22
Continue on US Highway 6 & 34
9.6 mi · 11 min · US Highway 6 & 34
-
23
Continue on 4th Avenue
1.2 mi · 3 min · 4th Avenue
-
24
Continue on West 4th Avenue
2008 ft · 49 sec · West 4th Avenue
-
25
Continue on US Highway 6 & 34
9.2 mi · 11 min · US Highway 6 & 34
-
26
Continue on Highway 6 & 34
21.8 mi · 25 min · Highway 6 & 34
-
27
Continue on Chestnut Street
1.1 mi · 2 min · Chestnut Street
-
28
Continue on Highway 6 & 34
5.1 mi · 6 min · Highway 6 & 34
-
29
Continue on 6 & 34 Highway Street
1.2 km · 1 min · 6 & 34 Highway Street
-
30
Continue on Highway 6 & 34
15.4 mi · 19 min · Highway 6 & 34
-
31
Continue on Maple Street
1.6 km · 1 min · Maple Street
-
32
Continue on Highway 6 & 34
4.9 mi · 6 min · Highway 6 & 34
-
33
Continue on D Street
1.3 mi · 2 min · D Street
-
34
Continue on Highway 6 & 34
9.8 mi · 11 min · Highway 6 & 34
-
35
Continue on East B Street
2.3 mi · 6 min · East B Street
-
36
Continue on West Highway 6 & 34
6.4 mi · 8 min · West Highway 6 & 34
-
37
Continue on Highway 34
6.8 mi · 8 min · Highway 34
-
38
Turn slight right onto US 6
103 m · 5 sec
-
39
Continue on US 6
1.3 km · 54 sec
-
40
Keep slight right
134 m · 6 sec
-
41
Turn straight onto Highway 6
37.8 mi · 44 min · Highway 6
-
42
Continue on 338 Avenue
2.4 mi · 3 min · 338 Avenue
-
43
Continue on Highway 6
2667 ft · 35 sec · Highway 6
-
44
Continue on 736 Road
3 mi · 3 min · 736 Road
-
45
Continue on Highway 6
1.9 mi · 2 min · Highway 6
-
46
Continue on East 1st Street
1.4 km · 1 min · East 1st Street
-
47
At the end of the road, turn right onto Broadway Street
1513 ft · 57 sec · Broadway Street
-
48
Turn left onto West 6th Street
10 m · 1 sec · West 6th Street
-
49
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West 6th Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Norfolk and Imperial.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
South Locust Street
Merge slight left
40.8 mi · 00h 41m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Norfolk and Sunny near Imperial.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Norfolk to Imperial?
The road trip is about 318.1 miles (511.9 km) and usually takes 06h 19m 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?
Kearney is a useful midpoint, sitting about 158.9 miles from Norfolk and 159.3 miles from Imperial.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 243 miles (391.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 75.1 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 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 $42.31 one way or $84.62 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 99.7 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Norfolk and Imperial, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Norfolk and Sunny near Imperial.
Stop Ideas Near Kearney
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Kearney.
Holdrege
Hastings
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Norfolk and Imperial. Straight-line distance: 243.01 mi (391.08 km).
#1 Norfolk
City in Madison County, Nebraska, United States
| Population | 24,363 |
| Coordinates | 42.0283400, -97.4170000 |
| Altitude | 464 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Imperial
City in Nebraska, United States
| Population | 2,011 |
| Coordinates | 40.5169400, -101.6432300 |
| Altitude | 1001 |
| Country | United States |
End: Imperial (-101.64323, 40.51694)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 512 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 35m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 57m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 21m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 18m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 32m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 58m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $42.31 | $84.62 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $47.72 | $95.44 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $52.22 | $104.44 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $59.51 | $119.02 |
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 · May 13, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.