Origin
Lincoln, NE
Morning in Lincoln on Monday
Local time
7:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lincoln, NE to Cozad, NE
Drive Time
3h 14m
Distance
182.4 mi
294 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 3m
★
6 AM
3h 14m
8 AM
3h 38m
10 AM
3h 23m
12 PM
3h 20m
3 PM
3h 24m
5 PM
3h 37m
8 PM
3h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lincoln, NE
www.kaboompics.com
Cozad, NE
Vladimir Srajber
Trip Overview
The drive from Lincoln, NE to Cozad, NE covers 182.4 miles and takes about 3h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, Rosa Parks Way, Capitol Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 174.4 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.70 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
91.2 miles from Lincoln, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 39m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 3h 14m highway drive covering 182.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and Rosa Parks Way. The longest continuous stretch is about 174.4 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 18 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 174.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Rosa Parks Way. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South 37th Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 182.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.1 miles (South 37th Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 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
5
4.5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward US 77 north, To I 80
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 77 north, To I 80
5
5.6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 West: Grand Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 West: Grand Island
5
180.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 10m in
Take the exit toward NE 21: Cozad
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 222
Toward NE 21: Cozad
7
182.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 13m in
|
N-21 / East 8th Street
Turn left onto N-21 / East 8th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 174.4 mi | 2h 57m |
| Rosa Parks Way | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Capitol Parkway | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| L Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Homestead Expressway | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| South Meridian Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| A Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| State Highway 21 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 174.4 mi, about 2h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lincoln, NE and Cozad, 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
Continue on Rosa Parks Way
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Rosa Parks Way
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward US 77 north, To I 80
8
Merge onto US 77
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
·
Homestead Expressway
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 80 West: Grand Island
10
Merge onto I 80
174 mi
·
2 hr 57 min
·
I 80
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 222
Toward NE 21: Cozad
12
Keep slight right at fork
159 ft
·
5 sec
Toward NE 21 North: Cozad
13
Turn straight onto N-21
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Meridian Avenue
14
Continue on N-21
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
State Highway 21
15
Continue on N-21
433 ft
·
21 sec
·
E Street
16
Turn left onto N-21
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
East 8th Street
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto H Street
67 ft
·
2 sec
·
H Street
18
Arrive at destination
H Street
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 91.2 miles from Lincoln, NE, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 174.4 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 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.2 miles or 1h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cozad, 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 182.4 miles and 3h 14m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 174.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 91.2 mi from Lincoln, NE · 1h 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
91 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 91.2 miles from Lincoln, 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 174.4 miles.
Arriving in Cozad, NE
The final approach into Cozad, 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 Cozad, 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
$27.70 one way
$55.41 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
64 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $30.54 | $61.08 |
| premium | $4.80 | $34.43 | $68.87 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $40.52 | $81.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54.7 | 0 | $19.15 | $8.76 |
| Efficient EV | 45.6 | 0 | $15.96 | $7.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 73 | 0 | $25.54 | $11.67 |
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Cozad, NE
Morning in Cozad on Monday
Local time
7:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
41°F
Aurora, NE
91 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
5 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
3h 14m 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 Cozad, NE covers 182.4 miles and takes about 3h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, Rosa Parks Way, Capitol Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 91.2 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 $27.70 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 182.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.1 miles (South 37th Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Lincoln, NE to Cozad, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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