How far is Lincoln, NE from Alma, NE?

The driving distance from Lincoln, NE to Alma, NE is about 183.2 miles (294.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 149.8 miles (241 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 51m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
183.17 mi
03h 25m
Flight
149.78 mi
241.05 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
149.78 mi
Kilometers
241.05 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
183.17 mi
Kilometers
294.78 km
Drive Time
03h 25m

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 03h 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Alma
Thu, Apr 16, 12:13 PM CDT
Return by in Lincoln
Thu, Apr 16, 3:39 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lincoln
2026-04-16T08:47
Arrive Alma
Thu, Apr 16, 12:13 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:26 AM to 11:26 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:08 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lincoln
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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 Lincoln
91.5 mi
01h 42m
To Alma
91.7 mi
01h 42m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 16 mph SSW
Destination
85°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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 · 55 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

    124.3 mi · 2 hr 8 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward NE 44: Kearney, Archway Monument

    1748 ft · 32 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left onto 2nd Avenue

    12.9 mi · 16 min · 2nd Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Highway 6

    5.1 mi · 6 min · Highway 6

  14. 14

    Continue on US Highway 6 & 34

    9.6 mi · 11 min · US Highway 6 & 34

  15. 15

    Continue on 4th Avenue

    2769 ft · 1 min · 4th Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Arthur Street

    97 m · 14 sec · Arthur Street

  17. 17

    Continue on Railroad Street

    794 ft · 38 sec · Railroad Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto East Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · East Avenue

  19. 19

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Highway 281

    689 ft · 9 sec · Highway 281

  20. 20

    Continue on South East Avenue

    1.3 km · 54 sec · South East Avenue

  21. 21

    Continue on US Highway 183

    21.1 mi · 25 min · US Highway 183

  22. 22

    Turn left onto West 7th Street

    2041 ft · 37 sec · West 7th Street

  23. 23

    Turn right onto John Street

    2269 ft · 1 min · John Street

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · John Street

Car Route Details

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

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
24 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 West
125 mi · 68%
US Highway 183
21.1 mi · 12%
2nd Avenue
12.9 mi · 7%
US Highway 6 & 34
9.64 mi · 5%
Highway 6
5.07 mi · 3%
Rosa Parks Way
1.91 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 80 West

Merge slight left

124 mi · 02h 08m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 25m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+33.4 mi
149.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Doniphan
01h 42m from Lincoln
Leave By
10:08 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Lincoln and Sunny near Alma.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 183.2 miles (294.8 km) and usually takes 03h 25m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Doniphan is a useful midpoint, sitting about 91.5 miles from Lincoln and 91.7 miles from Alma.

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

The direct path is about 149.8 miles (241 km), while the road route adds roughly 33.4 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 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:08 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.36 one way or $48.72 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 57.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Lincoln and Sunny near Alma.

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 Lincoln and Alma. Straight-line distance: 149.78 mi (241.05 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
Photo coming soon

#2 Alma

City in Nebraska, USA

Population1,116
Coordinates40.0975100, -99.3620400
Altitude602
CountryUnited States
Start: Lincoln (-96.66696, 40.8)
End: Alma (-99.36204, 40.09751)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 295 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 06m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 03m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 37m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.46 gal
24.47 L · about $24.36
Round trip
$48.72
12.92 gal · 48.94 L
Estimated CO2
57.4 kg one way
Round trip: 114.8 kg / 253 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $24.36 $48.72
Mid-grade $4.25 $27.47 $54.95
Premium $4.65 $30.06 $60.13
Diesel $5.30 $34.26 $68.53

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Lincoln and Alma. The current time is 08:47:41.

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.