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

The driving distance from Lincoln, NE to Nebraska City, NE is about 48.3 miles (77.8 km), with a travel time of about 01h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 43.1 miles (69.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 02m 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
48.36 mi
01h 01m
Flight
43.14 mi
69.43 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lincoln.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
43.14 mi
Kilometers
69.43 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
48.36 mi
Kilometers
77.83 km
Drive Time
01h 01m

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 01h 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Nebraska City
Fri, Apr 17, 10:03 AM CDT
Return by in Lincoln
Fri, Apr 17, 11:04 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lincoln
2026-04-17T09:02
Arrive Nebraska City
Fri, Apr 17, 10:03 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:01 AM to 11:01 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:28 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lincoln
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Unadilla
NE

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

From Lincoln
24.1 mi
00h 30m
To Nebraska City
24.2 mi
00h 30m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Friday

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 18 mph WSW
Destination
77°F
Friday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
22 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on B Street

    1019 ft · 37 sec · B Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South 40th Street

    1.5 mi · 3 min · South 40th Street

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South 40th Street

    39 m · 3 sec · South 40th Street

  4. 4

    Exit the roundabout onto South 40th Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · South 40th Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Nebraska Parkway

    6.6 mi · 10 min · Nebraska Parkway

  6. 6

    Turn left onto NE 2 East, I 29

    2216 ft · 54 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Nebraska Highway 2

    1.6 km · 1 min · Nebraska Highway 2

  8. 8

    Continue on Rokeby Road

    4 mi · 4 min · Rokeby Road

  9. 9

    Continue on F Road

    3 mi · 3 min · F Road

  10. 10

    Continue on Highway 2

    1.1 km · 57 sec · Highway 2

  11. 11

    Continue on F Road

    4.6 mi · 5 min · F Road

  12. 12

    Continue on Highway 2

    3 mi · 3 min · Highway 2

  13. 13

    Continue on H Road

    3.5 mi · 4 min · H Road

  14. 14

    Continue on Highway 2

    2.9 mi · 3 min · Highway 2

  15. 15

    Continue on I Road

    2.2 mi · 2 min · I Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Highway 2

    10.4 mi · 11 min · Highway 2

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right

    1.4 km · 1 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight left

    1433 ft · 24 sec

  19. 19

    Continue on 4th Corso

    1883 ft · 34 sec · 4th Corso

  20. 20

    Continue on 4th Corso

    1950 ft · 51 sec · 4th Corso

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Steinhart Park Road

    2314 ft · 49 sec · Steinhart Park Road

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Central Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · Central Avenue

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Central Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
23 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
47.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Highway 2
18.1 mi · 37%
F Road
7.63 mi · 16%
Nebraska Parkway
6.63 mi · 14%
Rokeby Road
3.98 mi · 8%
H Road
3.49 mi · 7%
South 40th Street
2.56 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Highway 2

Continue on Highway 2

10.4 mi · 00h 11m

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
01h 01m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.2 mi
43.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Unadilla
00h 30m from Lincoln
Leave By
4:28 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Lincoln and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Nebraska City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 48.3 miles (77.8 km) and usually takes 01h 01m 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?

Unadilla is a useful midpoint, sitting about 24.1 miles from Lincoln and 24.2 miles from Nebraska City.

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

The direct path is about 43.1 miles (69.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.2 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 4:28 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.45 one way or $12.90 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 15.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Lincoln and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Nebraska City.

Stop Ideas Near Unadilla

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

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

RAIL

Lincoln

40 mi away
201 North 7th St.
RAIL

Omaha

69 mi away
1003 S. 9th Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lincoln and Nebraska City. Straight-line distance: 43.14 mi (69.43 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
Nebraska City

#2 Nebraska City

City and county seat of Otoe County, Nebraska, United States

Population7,292
Coordinates40.6766700, -95.8591700
Altitude322
CountryUnited States
Start: Lincoln (-96.66696, 40.8)
End: Nebraska City (-95.85917, 40.67667)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 78 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 36m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 12m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 48m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 41m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 36m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.71 gal
6.46 L · about $6.45
Round trip
$12.90
3.42 gal · 12.92 L
Estimated CO2
15.2 kg one way
Round trip: 30.4 kg / 67 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $6.45 $12.90
Mid-grade $4.25 $7.27 $14.55
Premium $4.65 $7.96 $15.92
Diesel $5.30 $9.07 $18.14

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Lincoln and Nebraska City. The current time is 09:02:30.

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.