Origin
Nebraska City, NE
Late night in Nebraska City on Wednesday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nebraska City, NE to Lincoln, NE
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h
Distance
48.1 mi
77 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nebraska City, NE
Tom Fisk
Lincoln, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Nebraska City, NE to Lincoln, NE covers 48.1 miles and takes about 1h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Highway 2, F Road, Nebraska Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17 miles on Highway 2. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.52 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
24 miles from Nebraska City, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 27m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Nebraska City, NE to Lincoln, NE covers 48.1 miles and takes about 1h, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highway 2 is the longest continuous segment at about 17 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near Steinhart Park Road.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 48.1 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (Steinhart Park Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Steinhart Park Road
Turn left onto Steinhart Park Road
Navigation decision point
4
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
2.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
38.5 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward To Lincoln via Nebraska Parkway, 120th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward To Lincoln via Nebraska Parkway, 120th S...
5
38.9 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Keep slight right at fork toward To Lincoln via Nebraska Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward To Lincoln via Nebraska Parkway
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 2 | 17 mi | 18m |
| F Road | 7.7 mi | 8m |
| Nebraska Parkway | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| Rokeby Road | 4 mi | 4m |
| H Road | 3.5 mi | 3m |
| South 40th Street | 2.6 mi | 5m |
| I Road | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Central Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Highway 2
— 17 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nebraska City, NE and Lincoln, NE.
1
Start on Central Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue
2
Turn left onto Steinhart Park Road
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Steinhart Park Road
3
Turn right onto N-2 Business
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
4th Corso
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
48 sec
6
Merge onto N-2
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Highway 2
7
Continue on N-2
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
I Road
8
Continue on N-2
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 2
9
Continue on N-2
3.5 mi
·
3 min
·
H Road
10
Continue on N-2
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 2
11
Continue on N-2
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
F Road
12
Continue on N-2
0.7 mi
·
56 sec
·
Highway 2
13
Continue on N-2; N-43
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
F Road
14
Continue on N-2; N-43
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Rokeby Road
15
Continue on N-2
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Nebraska Highway 2
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward To Lincoln via Nebraska Parkway, 120th Street
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward To Lincoln via Nebraska Parkway
18
Turn straight onto Nebraska Parkway
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Nebraska Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Turn right onto South 40th Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South 40th Street
20
Enter roundabout onto South 40th Street
125 ft
·
2 sec
·
South 40th Street
21
Continue on South 40th Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
South 40th Street
22
Turn left onto B Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
B Street
23
Arrive at destination
B 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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 24 miles from Nebraska City, NE, or about 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 17 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 48.1 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 24 miles or 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lincoln, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Nebraska City, 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 Nebraska City, NE
This is one driving day of about 48.1 miles and 1h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Nebraska City, 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 Highway 2 for about 17 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24 mi from Nebraska City, NE · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 48.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24 miles from Nebraska City, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lincoln, NE
The final approach into Lincoln, 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 Lincoln, 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
$7.52 one way
$15.04 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.26 | $16.51 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.26 | $18.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.62 | $21.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.05 | $2.31 |
| Efficient EV | 12 | 0 | $4.21 | $1.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.2 | 0 | $6.73 | $3.08 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Lincoln, NE
Late night in Lincoln on Wednesday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Louisville, NE
24 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
32 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
1h 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 Nebraska City, NE to Lincoln, NE covers 48.1 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 2, F Road, Nebraska Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24 miles from Nebraska City, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.52 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 demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 48.1 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (Steinhart Park Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Nebraska City, NE to Lincoln, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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