Origin
Kearney, NE
Evening in Kearney on Sunday
Local time
7:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kearney, NE to Lincoln, NE
Drive Time
2h 25m
Distance
132.7 mi
214 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 16m
★
6 AM
2h 26m
8 AM
2h 45m
10 AM
2h 32m
12 PM
2h 30m
3 PM
2h 33m
5 PM
2h 44m
8 PM
2h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kearney, NE
Jean-Rene Chazottes
Lincoln, NE
www.kaboompics.com
Trip Overview
The drive from Kearney, NE to Lincoln, NE covers 132.7 miles and takes about 2h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, 2nd Avenue, Rosa Parks Way for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 124 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.16 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
66.4 miles from Kearney, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 2h 25m highway drive covering 132.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and 2nd Avenue. The longest continuous stretch is about 124 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 16 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 124 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and 2nd Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 24th Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 25m drive. You will face about 8 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 24th Street): Navigation decision point; at 126.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 127.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 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 24th Street
Turn right onto West 24th Street
Navigation decision point
6
126.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 13m 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
127.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 15m 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
128.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 15m 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
5
132.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 25m in
|
B Street
Turn right onto B Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 124 mi | 2h 7m |
| 2nd Avenue | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Rosa Parks Way | 2 mi | 3m |
| Capitol Parkway | 1 mi | 2m |
| K Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Homestead Expressway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| A Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West 24th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 124 mi, about 2h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kearney, NE and Lincoln, NE.
1
Start on Central Avenue
51 ft
·
3 sec
·
Central Avenue
2
Turn right onto West 24th Street
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
West 24th Street
3
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
2nd Avenue
4
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 80 East
5
Merge onto I 80
124 mi
·
2 hr 7 min
·
I 80
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 397
Toward US 77 South, To NE 2: Beatrice, Nebraska City
7
Continue on US 77
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
·
Homestead Expressway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Rosa Parks Way
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward Rosa Parks Way, Downtown Lincoln
10
Turn slight left onto Rosa Parks Way
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Rosa Parks Way
11
Continue on K Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
K Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Continue on Capitol Parkway
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Capitol Parkway
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left onto A Street
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
A Street
14
Turn left onto South 37th Street
337 ft
·
17 sec
·
South 37th Street
15
Turn right onto B Street
305 ft
·
10 sec
·
B Street
16
Arrive at destination
B Street
Trip Plan
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 66.4 miles from Kearney, NE, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 124 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 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.4 miles or 1h 11m 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 55m
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 Kearney, 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 Kearney, NE
This is one driving day of about 132.7 miles and 2h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Kearney, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 124 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 66.4 mi from Kearney, NE · 1h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
66 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 66.4 miles from Kearney, 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 124 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
$20.16 one way
$40.31 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $22.22 | $44.44 |
| premium | $4.80 | $25.05 | $50.10 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $29.48 | $58.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.8 | 0 | $13.93 | $6.37 |
| Efficient EV | 33.2 | 0 | $11.61 | $5.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 53.1 | 0 | $18.58 | $8.49 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (65% 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
Evening in Lincoln on Sunday
Local time
7:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
41°F
Aurora, NE
66 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
34 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
2h 25m 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 Kearney, NE to Lincoln, NE covers 132.7 miles and takes about 2h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, 2nd Avenue, Rosa Parks Way. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 66.4 miles from Kearney, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.16 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 2h 25m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 24th Street): Navigation decision point; at 126.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 127.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Kearney, NE to Lincoln, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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