How far is Lincoln, NE from Mitchell, NE?

The driving distance from Lincoln, NE to Mitchell, NE is about 409.2 miles (658.5 km), with a travel time of about 07h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 378.5 miles (609.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 56m 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
409.14 mi
07h 28m
Flight
378.47 mi
609.09 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
378.47 mi
Kilometers
609.09 km
Flight Time
00h 45m

Driving Distance

Road route
409.14 mi
Kilometers
658.45 km
Drive Time
07h 28m

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 07h 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Mitchell
Thu, Apr 23, 3:31 PM MDT
Return by in Lincoln
Fri, Apr 24, 12:00 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lincoln
2026-04-23T09:03
Arrive Mitchell
Thu, Apr 23, 4:31 PM CDT
Route Timing
07h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:28 PM to 1:58 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
9:04 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
Brady
NE

Village in Nebraska

From Lincoln
204.2 mi
03h 44m
To Mitchell
205 mi
03h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Thursday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
16 to 21 mph SSW
Destination
63°F
Thursday

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
30 to 40 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    270.2 mi · 4 hr 34 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward US 26, NE 61: Ogallala, Grant

    1578 ft · 40 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right onto South Highway 26/61

    1.1 km · 1 min · South Highway 26/61

  13. 13

    Continue on East A Street

    2278 ft · 50 sec · East A Street

  14. 14

    At the end of the road, turn left onto East 8th Street

    101 m · 10 sec · East 8th Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto North Spruce Street

    2.2 mi · 4 min · North Spruce Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Highway 26 West

    24.2 mi · 28 min · Highway 26 West

  17. 17

    Continue straight

    59.8 mi · 1 hr 11 min

  18. 18

    Turn left

    1 mi · 2 min

  19. 19

    Turn right

    23.6 mi · 28 min

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Highway L79E

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Highway L79E

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Highway 26

    17.6 mi · 22 min · Highway 26

  22. 22

    Continue on Broadway Street

    2177 ft · 1 min · Broadway Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Center Avenue

    933 ft · 41 sec · Center Avenue

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Center Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
24 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 West
271 mi · 66%
Highway 26 West
84 mi · 21%
Highway 26
17.6 mi · 4%
North Spruce Street
2.25 mi · 1%
Highway L79E
2.14 mi · 1%
Rosa Parks Way
1.91 mi
Longest Stretch

I 80 West

Merge slight left

270 mi · 04h 34m

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
07h 28m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
14h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+30.7 mi
378.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Brady
03h 44m from Lincoln
Leave By
9:04 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Lincoln and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Mitchell.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 409.2 miles (658.5 km) and usually takes 07h 28m 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?

Brady is a useful midpoint, sitting about 204.2 miles from Lincoln and 205 miles from Mitchell.

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

The direct path is about 378.5 miles (609.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 30.7 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 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 $54.45 one way or $108.91 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 128.3 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Lincoln and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Mitchell.

Stop Ideas Near Brady

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

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

RAIL

McCook

94 mi away
101 Norris Ave.
RAIL

Holdrege

106 mi away
100 West Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lincoln and Mitchell. Straight-line distance: 378.47 mi (609.09 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
Mitchell

#2 Mitchell

City in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States

Population1,608
Coordinates41.9402400, -103.8085600
Altitude1205
CountryUnited States
Start: Lincoln (-96.66696, 40.8)
End: Mitchell (-103.80856, 41.94024)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 658 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)13h 37m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 13m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 49m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 50m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 06m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
14.44 gal
54.65 L · about $54.45
Round trip
$108.91
28.88 gal · 109.3 L
Estimated CO2
128.3 kg one way
Round trip: 256.7 kg / 566 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $54.45 $108.91
Mid-grade $4.25 $61.41 $122.83
Premium $4.65 $67.20 $134.41
Diesel $5.30 $76.59 $153.18

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 23, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Lincoln, NE and Mitchell, NE. The current time in Lincoln is 09:03:07, although it is 08:03:07 in Mitchell.

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.