This 69.3-mile drive from Fairbury, NE to Lincoln, NE is a straightforward journey within the Great Plains region. Expect the trip to take approximately 1 hour and 34 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $11, it's an economical option for a quick excursion. The route primarily utilizes Highway 77 and Highway 136, offering a mixed driving experience. Since there are no designated stops and the duration is manageable, you won't need to split this trip overnight. It's a simple, direct connection between two Nebraska communities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.7 miles from Fairbury, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 69.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route offers a mixed driving profile, with 55% of it on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 15.5 miles on Highway 77, providing a consistent pace for a significant portion of your journey. The roads will transition between highway and local routes as you make your way toward Lincoln. Expect a generally straightforward driving experience without significant challenges, suitable for maintaining a steady speed for extended periods.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highway 77 is the longest continuous segment at about 15.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 27.1 miles in near West Hickory Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 34m drive. You will face about 18 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 27.1 miles (West Hickory Road): Navigation decision point; at 60.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63 miles (South 40th Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
27.1 mi into trip|~38m in|West Hickory Road
At end of road, turn right onto West Hickory Road
Navigation decision point
5
60.5 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward Jamaica Avenue, Bennet Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Jamaica Avenue, Bennet Road
5
63 mi into trip|~1h 21m in|South 40th Street
Enter roundabout onto South 40th Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
63.3 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|South 40th Street
Enter roundabout onto South 40th Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
63.5 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|South 40th Street
Enter roundabout onto South 40th Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 77
15.5 mi
17m
Highway 136
14.8 mi
19m
South 40th Street
7.1 mi
13m
South 12th Street
6.8 mi
7m
West Hickory Road
5.1 mi
6m
Southwest 117th Road
5 mi
6m
US Highway 77
4.3 mi
4m
Southwest 89th Road
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Highway 77
— 15.5 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairbury, NE and Lincoln, NE.
1
Start on 6th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·6th Street
2
Turn left onto N-15
0.6 mi·1 min·K Street
3
Turn right onto US 136
0.1 mi·17 sec·14th Street
4
Continue on US 136
15 mi·19 min·Highway 136
5
Continue on US 136
2.0 mi·2 min·West US Highway 136
6
Turn left onto Southwest 117th Road
5.0 mi·6 min·Southwest 117th Road
7
Turn right onto West Sargent Road
1.5 mi·3 min·West Sargent Road
8
Turn straight onto N-4
0.5 mi·45 sec·West Highway 4
9
Turn left onto Southwest 89th Road
2.0 mi·2 min·Southwest 89th Road
10
At end of road, turn right onto West Hickory Road
5.1 mi·6 min·West Hickory Road
11
Turn left onto US 77
16 mi·17 min·Highway 77
12
Continue on US 77
3.8 mi·4 min·US Highway 77
13
Continue on US 77
6.8 mi·7 min·South 12th Street
14
Continue on US 77
0.5 mi·32 sec·US Highway 77
15
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward NE 2
16
Merge onto N-2
0.9 mi·59 sec·Nebraska Highway 2
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward Jamaica Avenue, Bennet Road
18
Turn left onto Jamaica Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Jamaica Avenue
19
Enter roundabout onto Saltillo Road
5 ft·0 sec·Saltillo Road
20
Continue on Saltillo Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Saltillo Road
21
Turn left onto South 40th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South 40th Street
22
Enter roundabout onto South 40th Street
82 ft·1 sec·South 40th Street
23
Continue on South 40th Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·South 40th Street
24
Enter roundabout onto South 40th Street
122 ft·2 sec·South 40th Street
25
Continue on South 40th Street
0.3 mi·28 sec·South 40th Street
26
Enter roundabout onto South 40th Street
100 ft·2 sec·South 40th Street
27
Continue on South 40th Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·South 40th Street
28
Enter roundabout onto South 40th Street
113 ft·2 sec·South 40th Street
29
Continue on South 40th Street
4.1 mi·7 min·South 40th Street
Use the straight lane.
30
Enter roundabout onto South 40th Street
125 ft·2 sec·South 40th Street
31
Continue on South 40th Street
1.5 mi·3 min·South 40th Street
32
Turn left onto B Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·B Street
33
Arrive at destination
B Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 1-hour and 34-minute duration and 69.3-mile distance, this trip is very flexible. You can easily depart at your convenience, perhaps in the late morning to avoid early rush and arrive in Lincoln by midday. Since there are no specific stops recommended and the fuel cost is a low $11, you likely won't need to plan for extensive breaks or refueling. A key tip for this drive is to be aware of the transition onto South 40th Street as you approach Lincoln, as this is a more urban section that may have increased traffic.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 34.7 miles from Fairbury, NE, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.5 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 15 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.7 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 15m
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 Fairbury, NE so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fairbury, NE
This is one driving day of about 69.3 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Fairbury, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Highway 77 for about 15.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 34.7 mi from Fairbury, NE
· 48m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Homestead National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The Homestead Act of 1862 transformed the world. Millions were invited to file claims including families, women, immigrants, and formerly enslaved people. Over 10 percent of the United States was home...
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.8
0
$7.28
$3.33
Efficient EV
17.3
0
$6.06
$2.77
EV Truck/SUV
27.7
0
$9.70
$4.44
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Fairbury, NE
Evening
in Fairbury on Friday
Local time
5:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lincoln, NE
Evening
in Lincoln on Friday
Local time
5:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Hickman, NE
35 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
24 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
1h 34m 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 Fairbury, NE to Lincoln, NE covers 69.3 miles and takes about 1h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 77, Highway 136, South 40th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 34.7 miles from Fairbury, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.83 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 34m drive. You will face about 18 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 27.1 miles (West Hickory Road): Navigation decision point; at 60.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63 miles (South 40th Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Fairbury, NE to Lincoln, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
