Origin
Lincoln, NE
Morning in Lincoln on Thursday
Local time
10:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lincoln, NE to Ainsworth, NE
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 9m
Distance
261.1 mi
420 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 56m
★
6 AM
5h 9m
8 AM
5h 36m
10 AM
5h 19m
12 PM
5h 16m
3 PM
5h 20m
5 PM
5h 35m
8 PM
5h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lincoln, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Ainsworth, NE
cottonbro studio
Trip Overview
The drive from Lincoln, NE to Ainsworth, NE covers 261.1 miles and takes about 5h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South 37th Street, A Street, Capitol Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.82 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
130.6 miles from Lincoln, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 34m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 9m. Total distance: 261.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 9m drive with frequent turns across 261.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South 37th Street 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.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 9m 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 Lincoln, NE to Ainsworth, NE is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South 37th Street | — | — |
| A Street | — | — |
| Capitol Parkway | — | — |
| L Street | — | — |
| Rosa Parks Way | — | — |
| US 77 north | — | — |
| Homestead Expressway | — | — |
| I 80 West | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
South 37th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lincoln, NE and Ainsworth, NE.
1
Start on B Street
305 ft
·
16 sec
·
B Street
2
Turn left onto South 37th Street
338 ft
·
17 sec
·
South 37th Street
3
Turn right onto A Street
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
A Street
4
Turn slight right onto Capitol Parkway
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Capitol Parkway
5
Continue on L Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
L Street
6
Continue on Rosa Parks Way
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Rosa Parks Way
7
Take the exit slight right toward US 77 north, To I 80
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
US 77 north, To I 80
8
Merge slight left onto Homestead Expressway
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
·
Homestead Expressway
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: Grand Island
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80 West: Grand Island
10
Merge slight left
79 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
11
Take the exit slight right toward NE 2: Grand Island
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
NE 2: Grand Island
12
Turn right onto Highway 2
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 2
13
Turn left onto Highway 34
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 34
14
Turn right onto South Shady Bend Road
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
South Shady Bend Road
15
Turn left onto East Capital Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Capital Avenue
16
Turn right onto Sky Park Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Sky Park Road
17
Turn left onto East Airport Road
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Airport Road
18
Turn right onto North Highway 281
19 mi
·
20 min
·
North Highway 281
19
Continue on 2nd Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Street
20
Turn left onto Highway 92
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Highway 92
21
Turn right onto Highway 11
23 mi
·
26 min
·
Highway 11
22
Continue on 1st Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Street
23
Continue on Highway 11
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Highway 11
24
Continue on South 14th Street
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
South 14th Street
25
Turn left onto L Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
L Street
26
Turn right onto Highway 11
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Highway 11
27
Turn left onto Highway 91
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 91
28
Turn right onto Highway 96
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
·
Highway 96
29
Continue on South 13th Avenue
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
South 13th Avenue
30
Turn slight left onto Highway 96
19 mi
·
23 min
·
Highway 96
31
At the end of the road, turn right onto Highway 183
47 mi
·
53 min
·
Highway 183
32
Turn left onto Highway 20
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Highway 20
33
Continue on US Highway 20
8.5 mi
·
10 min
·
US Highway 20
34
Continue on East 4th Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East 4th Street
35
Turn right onto North Main Street
43 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Main Street
36
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 130.6 miles from Lincoln, NE, or about 2h 34m 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 57 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.6 miles or 2h 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 4h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ainsworth, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lincoln, 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 Lincoln, NE
This is one driving day of about 261.1 miles and 5h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Lincoln, 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 130.6 mi from Lincoln, NE · 2h 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
131 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 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 130.6 miles from Lincoln, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ainsworth, NE
The final approach into Ainsworth, 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 Ainsworth, 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
$40.82 one way
$81.64 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
91 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $44.82 | $89.64 |
| premium | $4.89 | $50.25 | $100.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $57.65 | $115.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 78.3 | 0 | $27.42 | $12.53 |
| Efficient EV | 65.3 | 0 | $22.85 | $10.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 104.4 | 1 | $36.55 | $16.71 |
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Ainsworth, NE
Morning in Ainsworth on Thursday
Local time
10:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Saint Paul, NE
131 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
27 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 9m 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 Lincoln, NE to Ainsworth, NE covers 261.1 miles and takes about 5h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South 37th Street, A Street, Capitol Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 130.6 miles from Lincoln, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $40.82 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 9m 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 Lincoln, NE to Ainsworth, NE is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Lincoln, NE to Ainsworth, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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