How far is Lexington, NE from Seward, NE?

The driving distance from Lexington, NE to Seward, NE is about 151 miles (243 km), with a travel time of about 02h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 138.4 miles (222.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 12m 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
150.99 mi
02h 36m
Flight
138.39 mi
222.72 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lexington.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
138.39 mi
Kilometers
222.72 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
150.99 mi
Kilometers
243 km
Drive Time
02h 36m

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 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Seward
Wed, Apr 15, 2:28 AM CDT
Return by in Lexington
Wed, Apr 15, 5:04 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lexington
2026-04-14T23:52
Arrive Seward
Wed, Apr 15, 2:28 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:36 AM to 12:36 PM CDT

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

Leave by
1:18 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lexington
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
Doniphan
NE

Township in Hall County, Nebraska

From Lexington
75.3 mi
01h 18m
To Seward
75.7 mi
01h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Tuesday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph WNW
Destination
79°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 to 17 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Lexington and Seward.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lexington and Seward.

  1. 1

    Start on North Washington Street

    735 ft · 25 sec · North Washington Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East 6th Street

    759 ft · 23 sec · East 6th Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Jackson Street

    813 ft · 15 sec · North Jackson Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Plum Creek Parkway

    2.5 mi · 4 min · Plum Creek Parkway

  5. 5

    Turn left onto I 80 East: Kearney

    1623 ft · 40 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    141.3 mi · 2 hr 21 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward NE 15: Seward, Fairbury

    1419 ft · 35 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on NE 15 North: Seward

    50 m · 5 sec

  9. 9

    Turn left onto 280th Road

    4.7 mi · 6 min · 280th Road

  10. 10

    Continue on South Highway 15

    1.4 km · 2 min · South Highway 15

  11. 11

    Continue on South 6th Street

    2210 ft · 48 sec · South 6th Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Main Street

    100 m · 13 sec · Main Street

  13. 13

    Continue on Main Street

    99 m · 14 sec · Main Street

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Lexington and Seward.

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
14 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 East
142 mi · 94%
280th Road
4.68 mi · 3%
Plum Creek Parkway
2.52 mi · 2%
South Highway 15
0.87 mi · 1%
South 6th Street
0.42 mi
NE 15
0.27 mi
Longest Stretch

I 80 East

Merge slight left

141 mi · 02h 21m

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 36m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+12.6 mi
138.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Doniphan
01h 18m from Lexington
Leave By
1:18 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Lexington and Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Seward.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lexington to Seward?

The road trip is about 151 miles (243 km) and usually takes 02h 36m 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?

Doniphan is a useful midpoint, sitting about 75.3 miles from Lexington and 75.7 miles from Seward.

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

The direct path is about 138.4 miles (222.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 12.6 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 1:18 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $20.10 one way or $40.20 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 47.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Lexington and Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Seward.

Stop Ideas Near Doniphan

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Doniphan, 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 Doniphan.

RAIL

Hastings

21 mi away
501 West First St.
RAIL

Holdrege

92 mi away
100 West Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lexington and Seward. Straight-line distance: 138.39 mi (222.72 km).

Lexington

#1 Lexington

City in Dawson County, Nebraska, United States

Population10,109
Coordinates40.7808400, -99.7415000
Altitude729
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Seward

City in Alaska, USA

Population7,363
Coordinates40.9069500, -97.0989200
Altitude455
CountryUnited States
Start: Lexington (-99.7415, 40.78084)
End: Seward (-97.09892, 40.90695)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 243 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 01m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 46m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 30m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 09m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 53m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.33 gal
20.17 L · about $20.10
Round trip
$40.20
10.66 gal · 40.34 L
Estimated CO2
47.4 kg one way
Round trip: 94.7 kg / 209 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $20.10 $40.20
Mid-grade $4.25 $22.67 $45.34
Premium $4.65 $24.81 $49.61
Diesel $5.30 $28.27 $56.54

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Lexington and Seward. The current time is 23:52:29.

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.