How far is Lincoln, NE from Alliance, NE?

The driving distance from Lincoln, NE to Alliance, NE is about 400.6 miles (644.7 km), with a travel time of about 06h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 333.6 miles (536.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 04m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
400.61 mi
06h 02m
Flight
333.61 mi
536.89 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lincoln.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
333.61 mi
Kilometers
536.89 km
Flight Time
00h 40m

Driving Distance

Road route
400.61 mi
Kilometers
644.72 km
Drive Time
06h 02m

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 06h 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Alliance
Fri, May 1, 5:55 PM MDT
Return by in Lincoln
Sat, May 2, 12:57 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lincoln
2026-05-01T12:53
Arrive Alliance
Fri, May 1, 6:55 PM CDT
Route Timing
06h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
11:02 AM to 12:32 PM MDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:56 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lincoln
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Merna
NE

Human settlement in Custer County, Nebraska, United States of America

From Lincoln
184.7 mi
03h 01m
To Alliance
215.9 mi
03h 01m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Friday

Widespread Frost then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 10 mph NNW
Destination
63°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lincoln and Alliance.

  1. 1

    Start on B Street

    93 m · 16 sec · B Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South 37th Street

    103 m · 17 sec · South 37th Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto A Street

    1983 ft · 57 sec · A Street

  4. 4

    Turn slight right onto Capitol Parkway

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Capitol Parkway

  5. 5

    Continue on L Street

    1.5 km · 3 min · L Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Rosa Parks Way

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Rosa Parks Way

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward US 77 north, To I 80

    1619 ft · 40 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Homestead Expressway

    1.2 km · 57 sec · Homestead Expressway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: Grand Island

    1.3 km · 2 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    84.6 mi · 1 hr 28 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward US 34, US 281: Grand Island, Hastings

    1422 ft · 35 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on US 34, US 281: Grand Island, Hastings

    1100 ft · 29 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto US Highway 281

    4.5 mi · 5 min · US Highway 281

  14. 14

    Continue on Highway 281

    4.3 mi · 6 min · Highway 281

  15. 15

    Take the exit straight toward NE 2 West: Broken Bow

    1354 ft · 37 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on West Highway 2

    15.7 mi · 18 min · West Highway 2

  17. 17

    Continue on West Nebraska Highway 2

    2.7 mi · 3 min · West Nebraska Highway 2

  18. 18

    Continue on Highway 2

    57.7 mi · 1 hr 7 min · Highway 2

  19. 19

    Continue on South E Street

    2.1 mi · 2 min · South E Street

  20. 20

    Continue on Highway 2

    67.1 mi · 1 hr 18 min · Highway 2

  21. 21

    Continue on Court Street

    1.1 km · 45 sec · Court Street

  22. 22

    Continue on Highway 2

    25.2 mi · 29 min · Highway 2

  23. 23

    Continue on Southwest 1st Street

    82.4 mi · 1 hr 38 min · Southwest 1st Street

  24. 24

    Continue on 1st Street

    2868 ft · 38 sec · 1st Street

  25. 25

    Continue on State Highway 2

    6 mi · 7 min · State Highway 2

  26. 26

    Continue on Perkins Road

    8.3 mi · 10 min · Perkins Road

  27. 27

    Continue on East 3rd Street

    1660 ft · 44 sec · East 3rd Street

  28. 28

    Turn right onto Mississippi Avenue

    1824 ft · 57 sec · Mississippi Avenue

  29. 29

    Turn left onto East 8th Street

    2296 ft · 1 min · East 8th Street

  30. 30

    Turn left onto Laramie Avenue

    56 m · 8 sec · Laramie Avenue

  31. 31

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Laramie Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
31 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Highway 2
150 mi · 37%
I 80 West
85.4 mi · 21%
Southwest 1st Street
82.4 mi · 21%
West Highway 2
15.7 mi · 4%
Perkins Road
8.28 mi · 2%
State Highway 2
6.04 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 80 West

Merge slight left

84.6 mi · 01h 28m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 02m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+67 mi
333.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Merna
03h 01m from Lincoln
Leave By
11:56 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Widespread Frost then Mostly Sunny leaving Lincoln and Sunny near Alliance.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lincoln to Alliance?

The road trip is about 400.6 miles (644.7 km) and usually takes 06h 02m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Merna is a useful midpoint, sitting about 184.7 miles from Lincoln and 215.9 miles from Alliance.

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

The direct path is about 333.6 miles (536.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 67 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $53.32 one way or $106.64 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 125.7 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Lincoln and Alliance, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Widespread Frost then Mostly Sunny around Lincoln and Sunny near Alliance.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lincoln and Alliance. Straight-line distance: 333.61 mi (536.89 km).

Lincoln

#1 Lincoln

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

Population290,505
Coordinates40.8000000, -96.6669600
Altitude367
CountryUnited States
Alliance

#2 Alliance

City and county seat of Box Butte County, Nebraska, United States

Population8,029
Coordinates42.1016300, -102.8721500
Altitude1209
CountryUnited States
Start: B Street (-96.66696, 40.799868)
End: Laramie Avenue (-102.872304, 42.101626)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 645 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)13h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 00m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 40m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 43m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 59m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
14.14 gal
53.51 L · about $53.32
Round trip
$106.64
28.28 gal · 107.02 L
Estimated CO2
125.7 kg one way
Round trip: 251.3 kg / 554 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $53.32 $106.64
Mid-grade $4.25 $60.14 $120.27
Premium $4.65 $65.81 $131.62
Diesel $5.30 $75.00 $150.00

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 · May 01, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Lincoln, NE and Alliance, NE. The current time in Lincoln is 12:53:15, although it is 11:53:15 in Alliance.

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.