How far is Dakota City, NE from Lincoln, NE?

The driving distance from Dakota City, NE to Lincoln, NE is about 122 miles (196.3 km), with a travel time of about 02h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 112.3 miles (180.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 30m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
121.94 mi
02h 15m
Flight
112.36 mi
180.83 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Dakota City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
112.36 mi
Kilometers
180.83 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
121.94 mi
Kilometers
196.25 km
Drive Time
02h 15m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 02h 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lincoln
Sat, Apr 18, 6:44 AM CDT
Return by in Dakota City
Sat, Apr 18, 8:59 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Dakota City
2026-04-18T04:29
Arrive Lincoln
Sat, Apr 18, 6:44 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:15 AM to 12:15 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:00 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Dakota City
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Nickerson
NE

Township in Dodge County, Nebraska

From Dakota City
61 mi
01h 07m
To Lincoln
60.9 mi
01h 07m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
51°F
Saturday

Chance Snow Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
20 to 25 mph NW
Destination
55°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 18 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Dakota City and Lincoln.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Broadway Street

    28 m · 12 sec · Broadway Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North 16th Street

    17 m · 4 sec · North 16th Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Broadway Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · Broadway Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Highway 77

    12.9 mi · 16 min · Highway 77

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Highway 77

    35 m · 5 sec · Highway 77

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout onto Highway 77

    847 ft · 24 sec · Highway 77

  7. 7

    Continue on North Bluff Street

    3018 ft · 1 min · North Bluff Street

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Highway 77

    18 m · 2 sec · Highway 77

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout onto Highway 77

    26.7 mi · 31 min · Highway 77

  10. 10

    Continue on North Charde Avenue

    1.6 mi · 3 min · North Charde Avenue

  11. 11

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Highway 77

    54 m · 3 sec · Highway 77

  12. 12

    Exit the roundabout onto Highway 77

    6.3 mi · 7 min · Highway 77

  13. 13

    Continue on Oak Street

    3022 ft · 57 sec · Oak Street

  14. 14

    Continue on Highway 77

    8.2 mi · 9 min · Highway 77

  15. 15

    Continue on Highway US 77

    1507 ft · 23 sec · Highway US 77

  16. 16

    Continue on Highway 77

    1.1 km · 47 sec · Highway 77

  17. 17

    Take the ramp straight

    9.7 mi · 11 min

  18. 18

    Continue on North Broad Street

    3.4 mi · 8 min · North Broad Street

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Highway 77

    6 m · 1 sec · Highway 77

  20. 20

    Exit the roundabout onto Highway 77

    3080 ft · 43 sec · Highway 77

  21. 21

    Continue on County Road 11

    11.5 mi · 13 min · County Road 11

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right

    5.2 mi · 6 min

  23. 23

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Highway 77;Wahoo Expressway

    47 m · 2 sec · Highway 77;Wahoo Expressway

  24. 24

    Exit the roundabout onto Highway 77;Wahoo Expressway

    11.7 mi · 13 min · Highway 77;Wahoo Expressway

  25. 25

    Continue on County Road 18

    1.8 mi · 2 min · County Road 18

  26. 26

    Continue on North Highway 77

    2678 ft · 44 sec · North Highway 77

  27. 27

    Continue on County Road 18

    13.7 mi · 16 min · County Road 18

  28. 28

    Turn right onto Cornhusker Highway

    2 mi · 4 min · Cornhusker Highway

  29. 29

    Turn left onto North 33rd Street

    2 mi · 4 min · North 33rd Street

  30. 30

    Continue on South 33rd Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · South 33rd Street

  31. 31

    Turn left onto B Street

    1633 ft · 57 sec · B Street

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · B Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Dakota City and Lincoln.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
32 steps
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
12
0 merges, 12 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
26.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Highway 77
71.1 mi · 58%
County Road 11
16.7 mi · 14%
County Road 18
15.4 mi · 13%
Wahoo Expressway
5.85 mi · 5%
North Broad Street
3.36 mi · 3%
Cornhusker Highway
2.02 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Highway 77

Exit the roundabout onto Highway 77

26.7 mi · 00h 31m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 15m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.7 mi
112.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Nickerson
01h 07m from Dakota City
Leave By
2:00 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Snow Showers leaving Dakota City and Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers near Lincoln.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Dakota City to Lincoln?

The road trip is about 122 miles (196.3 km) and usually takes 02h 15m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Nickerson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 61 miles from Dakota City and 60.9 miles from Lincoln.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 112.3 miles (180.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.7 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:00 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $16.22 one way or $32.43 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 38.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Snow Showers around Dakota City and Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers near Lincoln.

Stop Ideas Near Nickerson

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Nickerson, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Nickerson.

RAIL

Omaha

55 mi away
1003 S. 9th Street
RAIL

Lincoln

83 mi away
201 North 7th St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Dakota City and Lincoln. Straight-line distance: 112.36 mi (180.83 km).

Dakota City

#1 Dakota City

Dakota City is a city located in Dakota County, Nebraska, United States.

Population1,859
Coordinates42.4155500, -96.4183600
Altitude336
CountryUnited States
Lincoln

#2 Lincoln

The capital of Nebraska and the center of the Lincoln metropolitan area.

Population290,505
Coordinates40.8000000, -96.6669600
Altitude367
CountryUnited States
Start: North 16th Street (-96.418695, 42.415555)
End: B Street (-96.66696, 40.799868)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 196 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 03m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 26m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 44m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 31m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.3 gal
16.29 L · about $16.22
Round trip
$32.43
8.6 gal · 32.58 L
Estimated CO2
38.2 kg one way
Round trip: 76.4 kg / 168 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $16.22 $32.43
Mid-grade $4.25 $18.29 $36.58
Premium $4.65 $20.01 $40.02
Diesel $5.30 $22.81 $45.61

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Nebraska · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Dakota City and Lincoln. The current time is 04:29:35.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.