This straightforward 69.1-mile drive from Lincoln, NE to Fairbury, NE takes about 1 hour and 31 minutes, making it an easy one-day trip. You'll be spending about 71% of your time on highways, primarily Highway 77 and Highway 136. With a fuel cost estimated at $11, this is a budget-friendly excursion. The route stays within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent landscape throughout your journey. Given its short distance and duration, this trip is ideal for a quick getaway without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.6 miles from Lincoln, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 42m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 69.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 69.1-mile journey, with 71% of the drive utilizing major roads like Highway 77 and Highway 136. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 16.3 miles on Highway 77, providing a good opportunity to settle into a steady pace. While largely a highway drive, the transition onto Highway 136 will guide you into your destination. The Great Plains scenery will likely be a constant companion.
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 16.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 77 and Highway 136. 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.
Driving Effort5/10
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 69.1 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 1.9 miles (South 13th Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles (Warlick Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These 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
4
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in|South 13th Street
Turn left onto South 13th Street
Navigation decision point
4
4.8 mi into trip|~9m in|Warlick Boulevard
Keep slight right at fork onto Warlick Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
9.6 mi into trip|~15m in|US 77 / US Highway 77
Keep slight right at fork onto US 77 / US Highway 77
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
4
39.4 mi into trip|~48m in|Industrial Row
Turn right onto Industrial Row
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 77
16.3 mi
17m
Highway 136
14.8 mi
19m
West US Highway 136
9.1 mi
11m
US Highway 77
8.7 mi
9m
South 12th Street
6.8 mi
7m
South 13th Street
1.9 mi
3m
A Street
1.8 mi
4m
Court Street
1.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Highway 77
— 16.3 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lincoln, NE and Fairbury, 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
1.8 mi·4 min·A Street
4
Turn left onto South 13th Street
1.9 mi·3 min·South 13th Street
5
Continue on South 14th Street
1.0 mi·1 min·South 14th Street
6
Keep slight right at fork onto Warlick Boulevard
1.3 mi·2 min·Warlick Boulevard
7
Turn left onto US 77
3.4 mi·3 min·US Highway 77
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 77
1.5 mi·1 min·US Highway 77
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Continue on US 77
6.8 mi·7 min·South 12th Street
10
Continue on US 77
3.8 mi·4 min·US Highway 77
11
Continue on US 77
16 mi·17 min·Highway 77
12
Continue on US 77
1.4 mi·2 min·North 6th Street
13
Turn right onto Industrial Row
0.5 mi·56 sec·Industrial Row
14
Turn left onto Ashland Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Ashland Avenue
15
Continue on 1st Street
0.1 mi·13 sec·1st Street
16
Continue on Railroad Street
0.3 mi·34 sec·Railroad Street
17
Continue on North 2nd Street
0.4 mi·46 sec·North 2nd Street
18
Turn right onto US 136; N-4
1.6 mi·3 min·Court Street
19
Continue on US 136
304 ft·6 sec·West Court Street
20
Continue on US 136
0.8 mi·1 min·South Reed Street
21
Continue on US 136
9.1 mi·11 min·West US Highway 136
22
Continue on US 136
15 mi·19 min·Highway 136
23
Continue on US 136
0.1 mi·19 sec·14th Street
24
Turn left onto N-15
0.6 mi·1 min·K Street
25
Turn right onto 6th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·6th Street
26
Arrive at destination
6th Street
Trip Plan
For this short, 1-hour and 31-minute trip covering 69.1 miles, you have plenty of flexibility. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid early rush hour in Lincoln and arrive in Fairbury with ample daylight. With no designated stops, you can plan your own breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; while the estimated cost is only $11, it's always wise to refuel before heading out on Highway 77, especially if you plan any detours. The longest stretch without much variation is 16.3 miles on Highway 77, so be prepared for that consistent driving segment.
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 34.6 miles from Lincoln, NE, or about 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.3 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 15 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.6 miles or 42m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairbury, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lincoln, NE
This is one driving day of about 69.1 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Lincoln, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Highway 77 for about 16.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 34.6 mi from Lincoln, NE
· 42m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Homestead National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The Homestead Act of 1862 transformed the world. Millions were invited to file claims including families, women, immigrants, and formerly enslaved people. Over 10 percent of the United States was home...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.80 one way
$21.61 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$11.86
$23.72
premium
$4.89
$13.30
$26.60
diesel
$5.61
$15.26
$30.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.7
0
$7.26
$3.32
Efficient EV
17.3
0
$6.05
$2.76
EV Truck/SUV
27.6
0
$9.67
$4.42
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Night
in Lincoln on Friday
Local time
10:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fairbury, NE
Night
in Fairbury on Friday
Local time
10:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Hickman, NE
35 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
24 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 31m 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 Fairbury, NE covers 69.1 miles and takes about 1h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 77, Highway 136, West US Highway 136. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 34.6 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 $10.80 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 69.1 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 1.9 miles (South 13th Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles (Warlick Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Lincoln, NE to Fairbury, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Homestead National Historical Park.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
