Origin
Cozad, NE
Afternoon in Cozad on Wednesday
Local time
12:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cozad, NE to Lincoln, NE
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 13m
Distance
181.9 mi
293 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 2m
★
6 AM
3h 14m
8 AM
3h 37m
10 AM
3h 22m
12 PM
3h 20m
3 PM
3h 23m
5 PM
3h 36m
8 PM
3h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cozad, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Lincoln, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Cozad, NE to Lincoln, NE covers 181.9 miles and takes about 3h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, Rosa Parks Way, Capitol Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 174.1 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.44 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
91 miles from Cozad, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 34m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 3h 13m highway drive covering 181.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and Rosa Parks Way. The longest continuous stretch is about 174.1 miles on I 80.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 174.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Rosa Parks Way. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 8th Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 13m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (N-21 / E Street): Navigation decision point; at 175.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West 8th Street
Turn left onto West 8th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
N-21 / E Street
Turn right onto N-21 / E Street
Navigation decision point
6
175.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 1m in
Take the exit toward US 77 South, To NE 2: Beatrice, Nebraska City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 397
Toward US 77 South, To NE 2: Beatrice, Nebraska...
6
177.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 3m in
Take the exit toward Rosa Parks Way
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Rosa Parks Way
7
177.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Rosa Parks Way, Downtown Lincoln
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Rosa Parks Way, Downtown Lincoln
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 174.1 mi | 2h 57m |
| Rosa Parks Way | 2 mi | 3m |
| Capitol Parkway | 1 mi | 2m |
| K Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Meridian Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Homestead Expressway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| A Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| State Highway 21 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 174.1 mi, about 2h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cozad, NE and Lincoln, NE.
1
Start on H Street
67 ft
·
8 sec
·
H Street
2
Turn left onto West 8th Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
West 8th Street
3
Turn right onto N-21
433 ft
·
14 sec
·
E Street
4
Continue on N-21
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
State Highway 21
5
Continue on N-21
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Meridian Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 80 East: Kearney
7
Merge onto I 80
174 mi
·
2 hr 57 min
·
I 80
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 397
Toward US 77 South, To NE 2: Beatrice, Nebraska City
9
Continue on US 77
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
·
Homestead Expressway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Rosa Parks Way
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward Rosa Parks Way, Downtown Lincoln
12
Turn slight left onto Rosa Parks Way
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Rosa Parks Way
13
Continue on K Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
K Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Continue on Capitol Parkway
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Capitol Parkway
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn left onto A Street
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
A Street
16
Turn left onto South 37th Street
337 ft
·
17 sec
·
South 37th Street
17
Turn right onto B Street
305 ft
·
10 sec
·
B Street
18
Arrive at destination
B Street
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 91 miles from Cozad, NE, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 174.1 miles.
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 80 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91 miles or 1h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 34m
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 Cozad, 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 Cozad, NE
This is one driving day of about 181.9 miles and 3h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cozad, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 174.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 91 mi from Cozad, NE · 1h 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
91 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 91 miles from Cozad, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 174.1 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.44 one way
$56.88 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
64 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $31.22 | $62.45 |
| premium | $4.89 | $35.01 | $70.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $40.16 | $80.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54.6 | 0 | $19.10 | $8.73 |
| Efficient EV | 45.5 | 0 | $15.92 | $7.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 72.8 | 0 | $25.47 | $11.64 |
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Afternoon in Lincoln on Wednesday
Local time
12:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Aurora, NE
91 mi in
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
31 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
3h 13m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cozad, NE to Lincoln, NE covers 181.9 miles and takes about 3h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, Rosa Parks Way, Capitol Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 91 miles from Cozad, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.44 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 13m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (N-21 / E Street): Navigation decision point; at 175.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Cozad, NE to Lincoln, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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