Origin
Lincoln, NE
Night in Lincoln on Tuesday
Local time
10:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lincoln, NE to Columbus, NE
Data updated 2 hours ago
Drive Time
1h 37m
Distance
78.4 mi
126 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
8 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 30m
★
6 AM
1h 38m
8 AM
1h 52m
10 AM
1h 43m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 44m
5 PM
1h 52m
8 PM
1h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lincoln, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Columbus, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 78.4-mile journey from Lincoln, NE to Columbus, NE is a straightforward, single-day trip. Expect the drive to take about 1 hour and 37 minutes, making it an easy excursion. The route primarily utilizes local roads like A Road, 31 Road, and 23 Road, with only about 11% highway driving. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, this is an economical option for exploring the Great Plains region. The overall feel is a turn-heavy local drive, offering a glimpse into the Nebraska landscape without a significant time commitment.
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
39.2 miles from Lincoln, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The character of this drive is best described as a turn-heavy local experience, rather than a long highway stretch. Only 11% of the 78.4 miles are on highways, meaning you'll be navigating a series of local roads for the majority of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 16.5 miles on A Road. Expect frequent turns and adjustments as you make your way through the Nebraska landscape. This isn't a route for high-speed cruising, but rather a more engaged, ground-level exploration.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
A Road is the longest continuous segment at about 16.5 miles.
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. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South 37th Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 37m 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: at 0.1 miles (South 37th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (A Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (South 10th Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South 37th Street
Turn left onto South 37th Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
A Street
Turn right onto A Street
Navigation decision point
4
2.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
South 10th Street
Turn right onto South 10th Street
Navigation decision point
4
24.3 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
N-66 / South Street
Turn left onto N-66 / South Street
Navigation decision point
4
61.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
US 81 / A Road
Turn right onto US 81 / A Road
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| A Road | 16.5 mi | 20m |
| 31 Road | 12.2 mi | 14m |
| 23 Road | 10 mi | 11m |
| O Road | 9 mi | 10m |
| Northwest 56th Street | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| Nebraska Highway 79 | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| South 10th Street | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| County Road B | 3.7 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
A Road
— 16.5 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lincoln, NE and Columbus, NE.
1
Start on B Street
305 ft
·
15 sec
·
B Street
2
Turn left onto South 37th Street
337 ft
·
16 sec
·
South 37th Street
3
Turn right onto A Street
0.4 mi
·
54 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
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Turn right onto South 10th Street
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
South 10th Street
7
Turn straight onto I 180; US 34
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Purple Heart Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Continue on US 34; I 80 Alt
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
West US Highway 34
9
Turn right onto N-79
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Northwest 56th Street
10
Continue on N-79
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Nebraska Highway 79
11
Continue on N-79
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 79
12
Continue on N-79
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road 28
13
Turn left onto N-66
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
South Street
14
Continue on N-66
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
County Road B
15
Continue on N-66
10.0 mi
·
11 min
·
23 Road
16
Turn right onto N-15
9.0 mi
·
10 min
·
O Road
17
Turn left onto N-15; N-92
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
32 Road
18
Turn straight onto N-92
12 mi
·
14 min
·
31 Road
19
Turn right onto US 81
16 mi
·
20 min
·
A Road
20
Continue on US 30; US 81
316 ft
·
15 sec
·
33rd Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
US 30; US 81
Trip Plan
Given its short duration of under two hours, this 78.4-mile drive is perfectly suited for a single day trip. You can leave Lincoln at your leisure and still arrive in Columbus with plenty of daylight. Since there are no designated stops mentioned, consider planning your own breaks at small towns along A Road, 31 Road, or 23 Road as needed. The fuel cost is estimated at a low $12, so you won't need to worry about extensive refueling stops. Keep an eye out for frequent turns, as this route is characterized by its local road nature.
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 39.2 miles from Lincoln, NE, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.5 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 78.4 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.2 miles or 50m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbus, 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 78.4 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lincoln, 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 A Road for about 16.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.2 mi from Lincoln, NE · 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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 78.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 39.2 miles from Lincoln, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Columbus, NE
The final approach into Columbus, 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 Columbus, 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
$12.26 one way
$24.51 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.46 | $26.92 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.09 | $30.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.31 | $34.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
8 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Runza - Tesla Supercharger
Lincoln, NE
Tesla
8 DCFC
Lincoln #3 Hy-Vee - Tesla Supercharger
Lincoln, NE
Tesla
8 DCFC
Anderson Ford of Lincoln
Lincoln, NE
FCN
6 DCFC
Casey's Lincoln #30 (Lincoln, NE)
Lincoln, NE
Electrify America
4 DCFC
RUSS'S MARKET RUSS MARKET 1
Lincoln, NE
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
NIC NIC DC EXPRESS
Lincoln, NE
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
RUSS'S MARKET SUPER SAVER L3
Lincoln, NE
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
RUSS'S MARKET SUPER SAVER 1
Columbus, NE
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Network: 4
Tesla: 2
Electrify America: 1
FCN: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.5 | 0 | $8.23 | $3.76 |
| Efficient EV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.86 | $3.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.4 | 0 | $10.98 | $5.02 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Columbus, NE
Night in Columbus on Tuesday
Local time
10:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Fremont, NE
39 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
3 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
1h 37m 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 Lincoln, NE to Columbus, NE covers 78.4 miles and takes about 1h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are A Road, 31 Road, 23 Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.2 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 $12.26 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 37m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South 37th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (A Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (South 10th Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Lincoln, NE to Columbus, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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