How far is Omaha, NE from Imperial, NE?

The driving distance from Omaha, NE to Imperial, NE is about 345.5 miles (556.1 km), with a travel time of about 06h 33m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 302.2 miles (486.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 06m 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
345.54 mi
06h 33m
Flight
302.17 mi
486.3 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Omaha.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
302.17 mi
Kilometers
486.3 km
Flight Time
00h 36m

Driving Distance

Road route
345.54 mi
Kilometers
556.09 km
Drive Time
06h 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 06h 33m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Imperial
Wed, May 13, 1:46 AM MDT
Return by in Omaha
Wed, May 13, 9:20 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Omaha
2026-05-12T20:13
Arrive Imperial
Wed, May 13, 2:46 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 33m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
11:33 AM to 1:03 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
10:54 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Omaha
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
Lowell
NE

Human settlement in United States of America

From Omaha
172.4 mi
03h 16m
To Imperial
173.1 mi
03h 16m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Tuesday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 to 16 mph WNW
Destination
81°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph NNE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Omaha and Imperial.

  1. 1

    Start on Harney Street

    54 m · 10 sec · Harney Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South 18th Street

    559 ft · 29 sec · South 18th Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Saint Mary's Avenue

    1.3 km · 2 min · Saint Mary's Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn left onto South 29th Street

    137 m · 11 sec · South 29th Street

  5. 5

    Take the ramp straight toward I 480 South, US 75 South

    824 ft · 20 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Gerald R Ford Expressway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Gerald R Ford Expressway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward Gerald R Ford Expressway

    1.3 km · 56 sec · Gerald R Ford Expressway

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    179.4 mi · 3 hr 6 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward NE 44: Kearney, Archway Monument

    1748 ft · 32 sec

  10. 10

    Turn left onto 2nd Avenue

    12.9 mi · 16 min · 2nd Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Highway 6

    5.1 mi · 6 min · Highway 6

  12. 12

    Continue on US Highway 6 & 34

    9.6 mi · 11 min · US Highway 6 & 34

  13. 13

    Continue on 4th Avenue

    1.2 mi · 3 min · 4th Avenue

  14. 14

    Continue on West 4th Avenue

    2008 ft · 49 sec · West 4th Avenue

  15. 15

    Continue on US Highway 6 & 34

    9.2 mi · 11 min · US Highway 6 & 34

  16. 16

    Continue on Highway 6 & 34

    21.8 mi · 25 min · Highway 6 & 34

  17. 17

    Continue on Chestnut Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Chestnut Street

  18. 18

    Continue on Highway 6 & 34

    5.1 mi · 6 min · Highway 6 & 34

  19. 19

    Continue on 6 & 34 Highway Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · 6 & 34 Highway Street

  20. 20

    Continue on Highway 6 & 34

    15.4 mi · 19 min · Highway 6 & 34

  21. 21

    Continue on Maple Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · Maple Street

  22. 22

    Continue on Highway 6 & 34

    4.9 mi · 6 min · Highway 6 & 34

  23. 23

    Continue on D Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · D Street

  24. 24

    Continue on Highway 6 & 34

    9.8 mi · 11 min · Highway 6 & 34

  25. 25

    Continue on East B Street

    2.3 mi · 6 min · East B Street

  26. 26

    Continue on West Highway 6 & 34

    6.4 mi · 8 min · West Highway 6 & 34

  27. 27

    Continue on Highway 34

    6.8 mi · 8 min · Highway 34

  28. 28

    Turn slight right onto US 6

    103 m · 5 sec

  29. 29

    Continue on US 6

    1.3 km · 54 sec

  30. 30

    Keep slight right

    134 m · 6 sec

  31. 31

    Turn straight onto Highway 6

    37.8 mi · 44 min · Highway 6

  32. 32

    Continue on 338 Avenue

    2.4 mi · 3 min · 338 Avenue

  33. 33

    Continue on Highway 6

    2667 ft · 35 sec · Highway 6

  34. 34

    Continue on 736 Road

    3 mi · 3 min · 736 Road

  35. 35

    Continue on Highway 6

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Highway 6

  36. 36

    Continue on East 1st Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · East 1st Street

  37. 37

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Broadway Street

    1513 ft · 57 sec · Broadway Street

  38. 38

    Turn left onto West 6th Street

    10 m · 1 sec · West 6th Street

  39. 39

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 6th Street

Car Route Details

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

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
39 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Gerald R Ford Expressway
181 mi · 52%
Highway 6 & 34
57 mi · 17%
Highway 6
45.3 mi · 13%
US Highway 6 & 34
18.9 mi · 5%
2nd Avenue
12.9 mi · 4%
Highway 34
6.78 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Gerald R Ford Expressway

Merge slight left

179 mi · 03h 06m

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 33m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+43.3 mi
302.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lowell
03h 16m from Omaha
Leave By
10:54 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny leaving Omaha and Sunny near Imperial.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Omaha to Imperial?

The road trip is about 345.5 miles (556.1 km) and usually takes 06h 33m 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?

Lowell is a useful midpoint, sitting about 172.4 miles from Omaha and 173.1 miles from Imperial.

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

The direct path is about 302.2 miles (486.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 43.3 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 $45.97 one way or $91.94 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 108.3 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Omaha and Imperial, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny around Omaha and Sunny near Imperial.

Stop Ideas Near Lowell

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

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

RAIL

Hastings

39 mi away
501 West First St.
RAIL

Holdrege

50 mi away
100 West Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Omaha and Imperial. Straight-line distance: 302.17 mi (486.3 km).

Omaha

#1 Omaha

The largest city in Nebraska and the center of the Omaha metropolitan area.

Population478,393
Coordinates41.2562600, -95.9404300
Altitude323
CountryUnited States
Imperial

#2 Imperial

City in Nebraska, United States

Population2,011
Coordinates40.5169400, -101.6432300
Altitude1001
CountryUnited States
Start: Omaha (-95.94043, 41.25626)
End: Imperial (-101.64323, 40.51694)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 556 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 54m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 45m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 56m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 18m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.19 gal
46.16 L · about $45.97
Round trip
$91.94
24.38 gal · 92.32 L
Estimated CO2
108.3 kg one way
Round trip: 216.7 kg / 478 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $45.97 $91.94
Mid-grade $4.25 $51.84 $103.69
Premium $4.65 $56.73 $113.46
Diesel $5.30 $64.66 $129.31

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

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Omaha, NE and Imperial, NE. The current time in Omaha is 20:13:33, although it is 19:13:33 in Imperial.

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.