Origin
La Vista, NE
Evening in La Vista on Friday
Local time
5:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from La Vista, NE to Nebraska City, NE
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
49 mi
79 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Vista, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Nebraska City, NE
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from La Vista, NE to Nebraska City, NE covers 49 miles and takes about 1h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 29, Kennedy Freeway, Cornhusker Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.6 miles on I 29. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.66 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 49 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 3m highway drive covering 49 miles, with most of the trip on I 29 and Kennedy Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 24.6 miles on I 29.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 29 is the longest continuous segment at about 24.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and Kennedy Freeway. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near James Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (James Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (South 72nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (Cornhusker Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
James Avenue
Turn right onto James Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South 72nd Street
At end of road, turn right onto South 72nd Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Cornhusker Road
Turn left onto Cornhusker Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
18.5 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
43.6 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward IA 2: Sidney, Nebr City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 2: Sidney, Nebr City
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from La Vista, NE to Nebraska City, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Nebr City along the way.
Nebr City
43.6 mi in
|
~54m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 29 | 24.6 mi | 26m |
| Kennedy Freeway | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| Cornhusker Road | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| US Highway 34 | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| State Highway 2 | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Highway 34 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| South 72nd Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| East 4th Corso | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 24.6 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Vista, NE and Nebraska City, NE.
1
Start on Lillian Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Lillian Avenue
2
Turn right onto James Avenue
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
James Avenue
3
At end of road, turn right onto South 72nd Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
South 72nd Street
4
Turn left onto Cornhusker Road
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Cornhusker Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward US 75 South
6
Merge onto US 75
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Kennedy Freeway
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
8
Turn left onto US 34
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Hidden Valley Drive
9
Continue on US 34
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 34
10
Continue on US 34
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
US Highway 34
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Use the right lane.
12
Merge onto I 29
25 mi
·
26 min
·
I 29
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward IA 2: Sidney, Nebr City
14
Turn right onto IA 2
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 2
15
Continue on N-2
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Highway 2
16
Turn right onto N-2 Business
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East 4th Corso
17
Turn right onto South 1st Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
South 1st Street
18
Turn left onto Central Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.5 mi from La Vista, NE · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.5 miles from La Vista, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Nebraska City, NE
The final approach into Nebraska City, NE usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.66 one way
$15.32 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.41 | $16.82 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.43 | $18.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.82 | $21.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.15 | $2.35 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.29 | $1.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.86 | $3.14 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Nebraska City, NE
Evening in Nebraska City on Friday
Local time
5:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Glenwood, IA
25 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 3m 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 La Vista, NE to Nebraska City, NE covers 49 miles and takes about 1h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 29, Kennedy Freeway, Cornhusker Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.5 miles from La Vista, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.66 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 49 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (James Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (South 72nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (Cornhusker Road): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from La Vista, NE to Nebraska City, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Nebr City along the way.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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