Origin
Bayard, NE
Morning in Bayard on Monday
Local time
8:43 AM
MDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bayard, NE to Lincoln, NE
Drive Time
5h 44m
Distance
379.7 mi
611 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$58
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 32m
★
6 AM
5h 45m
8 AM
6h 11m
10 AM
5h 54m
12 PM
5h 52m
3 PM
5h 56m
5 PM
6h 10m
8 PM
5h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lincoln, NE
www.kaboompics.com
Trip Overview
The drive from Bayard, NE to Lincoln, NE covers 379.7 miles and takes about 5h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Highway 26, Main Street, Highway 61 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $57.67 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
189.8 miles from Bayard, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 52m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 44m drive with frequent turns across 379.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highway 26 is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 44m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bayard, NE to Lincoln, NE is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 26 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 61 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Spruce Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 80 east | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 77 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Homestead Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Rosa Parks Way | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Highway 26
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bayard, NE and Lincoln, NE.
1
Start on Main Street
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
2
At the end of the road, turn left onto US Highway 26
13 mi
·
15 min
·
US Highway 26
3
Turn left onto Main Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
4
Continue straight
82 mi
·
1 hr 37 min
5
Continue on Highway 61
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 61
6
Turn right onto North Spruce Street
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
North Spruce Street
7
Turn left
305 ft
·
8 sec
8
Turn right onto South Highway 26/61
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Highway 26/61
9
Turn left onto I 80 east
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
I 80 east
10
Merge slight left
270 mi
·
4 hr 33 min
11
Take the exit slight right toward US 77 South, To NE 2: Beatrice, Nebraska City
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
US 77 South, To NE 2: Beatrice, Nebraska City
12
Continue on Homestead Expressway
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
·
Homestead Expressway
13
Take the exit slight right toward Rosa Parks Way
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Rosa Parks Way
14
Keep slight left to continue on Rosa Parks Way, Downtown Lincoln
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Rosa Parks Way, Downtown Lincoln
15
Turn slight left onto Rosa Parks Way
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Rosa Parks Way
16
Continue on K Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
K Street
17
Continue on Capitol Parkway
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Capitol Parkway
18
Turn left onto A Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
A Street
19
Turn left onto South 37th Street
338 ft
·
17 sec
·
South 37th Street
20
Turn right onto B Street
305 ft
·
11 sec
·
B Street
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 189.8 miles from Bayard, NE, or about 2h 52m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 84 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 189.8 miles or 2h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lincoln, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bayard, NE so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bayard, NE
This is one driving day of about 379.7 miles and 5h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from Bayard, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 189.8 mi from Bayard, NE · 2h 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
190 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 84 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 189.8 miles from Bayard, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lincoln, NE
The final approach into Lincoln, NE usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Lincoln, NE.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.67 one way
$115.35 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
133 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $63.58 | $127.15 |
| premium | $4.80 | $71.68 | $143.36 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $84.36 | $168.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 132.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 113.9 | 1 | $39.87 | $18.23 |
| Efficient EV | 94.9 | 1 | $33.22 | $15.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 151.9 | 1 | $53.16 | $24.30 |
Gas CO2
133 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Lincoln, NE
Morning in Lincoln on Monday
Local time
9:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
27 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 44m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bayard, NE to Lincoln, NE covers 379.7 miles and takes about 5h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 26, Main Street, Highway 61. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 189.8 miles from Bayard, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $57.67 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 44m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bayard, NE to Lincoln, NE is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Bayard, NE to Lincoln, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Lincoln, NE
More from Bayard, NE
More trips to Lincoln, NE
Explore more options from Bayard, NE or browse trips ending in Lincoln, NE.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NE road trips.
Explore maps for Bayard, NE or Lincoln, NE on MapSof.net.