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Trip from Lincoln, NE to Dakota City, NE

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 34m

Distance

122.1 mi

196 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 24m ★
6 AM
2h 35m
8 AM
2h 55m
10 AM
2h 42m
12 PM
2h 40m
3 PM
2h 43m
5 PM
2h 54m
8 PM
2h 28m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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seat of Lancaster County, and capital of the State of Nebraska, United States

Lincoln, NE

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Dakota City, NE, NE

Dakota City, NE

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Lincoln, NE to Dakota City, NE covers 122.1 miles and takes about 2h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Highway 77, US 77, County Road 11 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 49.2 miles on Highway 77. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.09 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

61 miles from Lincoln, NE

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 34m. Total distance: 122.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (71%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 34m highway drive covering 122.1 miles, with most of the trip on Highway 77 and US 77. The longest continuous stretch is about 49.2 miles on Highway 77.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highway 77 is the longest continuous segment at about 49.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 77 and US 77. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near South 33rd Street.

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 2h 34m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (South 33rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles (US 6 / Cornhusker Highway): Navigation decision point; at 38.1 miles (US 77 / County Road 11): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in | South 33rd Street

At end of road, turn right onto South 33rd Street

Navigation decision point

4
3.3 mi into trip | ~7m in | US 6 / Cornhusker Highway

Turn right onto US 6 / Cornhusker Highway

Navigation decision point

6
38.1 mi into trip | ~49m in | US 77 / County Road 11

Turn left onto US 77 / County Road 11

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
5
108.5 mi into trip | ~2h 17m in | US 75; US 77 / Highway 77

Enter roundabout onto US 75; US 77 / Highway 77

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
122.1 mi into trip | ~2h 34m in | Broadway Street

Turn right onto Broadway Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Highway 77 49.2 mi 58m
US 77 38 mi 43m
County Road 11 11.6 mi 13m
North 56th Street 6.4 mi 7m
County Road M 5.2 mi 6m
South Broad Street 3.4 mi 7m
Cornhusker Highway 2 mi 3m
North 33rd Street 2 mi 4m
Longest stretch: Highway 77 — 49.2 mi, about 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lincoln, NE and Dakota City, NE.

1

Start on B Street

0.3 mi · 59 sec · B Street
2

At end of road, turn right onto South 33rd Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · South 33rd Street
3

Continue on North 33rd Street

2.0 mi · 4 min · North 33rd Street
4

Turn right onto US 6

2.0 mi · 3 min · Cornhusker Highway
5

Turn left onto L-55X

6.4 mi · 7 min · North 56th Street
6

Continue on US 77

21 mi · 23 min · US 77
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
7

Enter roundabout onto US 77; N-92

217 ft · 2 sec · County Road M
8

Continue on US 77; N-92

5.2 mi · 6 min · County Road M
9

Turn left onto US 77

12 mi · 13 min · County Road 11
Use the straight / right lanes.
10

Continue on US 77

0.6 mi · 42 sec · Highway 77
11

Enter roundabout onto S-27E

341 ft · 4 sec · South Broad Street
12

Continue on S-27E

3.4 mi · 7 min · South Broad Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13

Continue on Highway 77

8.9 mi · 10 min · Highway 77
Use the straight / right lanes.
14

Take the exit onto US 77

17 mi · 19 min · US 77
Toward US 77
15

Enter roundabout onto US 77

190 ft · 3 sec · Charde Avenue
16

Continue on US 77

1.6 mi · 3 min · Charde Avenue
17

Continue on US 77

27 mi · 31 min · Highway 77
Use the straight lane.
18

Enter roundabout onto US 75; US 77

124 ft · 5 sec · South Bluff Street
19

Continue on US 75; US 77

0.6 mi · 1 min · South Bluff Street
20

Continue on US 75; US 77

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Highway 77
21

Enter roundabout onto US 75; US 77

101 ft · 4 sec · Highway 77
22

Continue on US 75; US 77

13 mi · 15 min · Highway 77
23

Turn right onto Broadway Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Broadway Street
24

Turn left onto North 16th Street

55 ft · 4 sec · North 16th Street
25

Turn right onto Broadway Street

91 ft · 6 sec · Broadway Street
26

Arrive at destination

Broadway 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 61 miles from Lincoln, NE, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.2 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 27 miles or 36m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 61 miles or 1h 19m 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 6m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dakota City, 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 122.1 miles and 2h 34m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 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 Highway 77 for about 49.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 61 mi from Lincoln, NE · 1h 19m into the drive

city and county seat of Dodge County, Nebraska, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fremont, NE

61 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

Wahoo, NE

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fremont, NE

Meal break

The midpoint is around 61 miles from Lincoln, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Dakota City, NE

The final approach into Dakota City, 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 Dakota City, NE.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Fattoush Restaurant/مطعم فتوش

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lincoln, Nebraska

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+14022616699

Visit website

The Eatery Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Lincoln, Nebraska

1.2 mi

Pho Nguyenn Vietnamese Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lincoln, Nebraska

1.6 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Mana Games Café

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lincoln, Nebraska

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 10 am–12 pm

+14024136967

Visit website

The Mill Coffee & Bistro

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lincoln, Nebraska

2.7 mi

Fattoush Restaurant/مطعم فتوش

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Lincoln, Nebraska

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+14022616699

Visit website

The Eatery Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Lincoln, Nebraska

Hours: 8 am–8:30 pm

+14024890396

Visit website

Pho Nguyenn Vietnamese Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30

Lincoln, Nebraska

Hours: 11 am–7:30 pm

+14024772058

Banhwich Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Lincoln, Nebraska

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+14022614655

Visit website

Anthony Leon's Mexican Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 52.3

Fremont, Nebraska

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+14022536363

Billy's

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $20 to $30

Lincoln, Nebraska

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+14024740084

Visit website

DISH Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour Expensive

Lincoln, Nebraska

Hours: 5–8:30 pm

+14024759475

High Peak Asian Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Lincoln, Nebraska

Hours: 10:30 am–3 pm

+14029047300

Mana Games Café

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Lincoln, Nebraska

Hours: 10 am–12 pm

+14024136967

Visit website

The Mill Coffee & Bistro

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10

Lincoln, Nebraska

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+14024139191

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 34.9

Wahoo, Nebraska

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 122.1

Sioux City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 122.1

Sioux City, Iowa

+18668167584

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 122.1

Sioux City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 52.3

Fremont, Nebraska

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18668167584

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 122.1

South Sioux City, Nebraska

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 26.2

Wahoo, Nebraska

+18668167584

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Near the end, short detour

3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 122.1

Sioux City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

University of Nebraska State Museum - Morrill Hall

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Lincoln, Nebraska

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+14024722637

Visit website

Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour

Lincoln, Nebraska

Hours: 4–8 pm

+14022810896

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$19.09 one way

$38.18 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 43 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $20.96 $41.92
premium $4.89 $23.50 $46.99
diesel $5.61 $26.96 $53.92

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 42.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 36.6 0 $12.82 $5.86
Efficient EV 30.5 0 $10.68 $4.88
EV Truck/SUV 48.8 0 $17.09 $7.81

Gas CO2

43 kg

EV CO2

14 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Lincoln, NE

Morning in Lincoln on Saturday

Local time

9:27 AM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Dakota City, NE

Morning in Dakota City on Saturday

Local time

9:27 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

77°F

Fremont, NE

61 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

4 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 34m 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 Dakota City, NE covers 122.1 miles and takes about 2h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Highway 77, US 77, County Road 11. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 61 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 $19.09 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a straightforward 2h 34m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (South 33rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles (US 6 / Cornhusker Highway): Navigation decision point; at 38.1 miles (US 77 / County Road 11): Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Lincoln, NE to Dakota City, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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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