How far is Lincoln, NE from Seward, NE?

The driving distance from Lincoln, NE to Seward, NE is about 27.5 miles (44.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 23.7 miles (38.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 15m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
27.51 mi
00h 37m
Flight
23.76 mi
38.23 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lincoln.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
23.76 mi
Kilometers
38.23 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
27.51 mi
Kilometers
44.27 km
Drive Time
00h 37m

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 00h 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Seward
Sat, May 30, 2:43 AM CDT
Return by in Lincoln
Sat, May 30, 3:21 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lincoln
2026-05-30T02:06
Arrive Seward
Sat, May 30, 2:43 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:38 AM to 7:38 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:14 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Lincoln
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

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
Malcolm
NE

Village in Nebraska, United States

From Lincoln
13.7 mi
00h 18m
To Seward
13.8 mi
00h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Saturday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SE
Destination
83°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 22 mph ESE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    1.4 km · 2 min · L Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto South 10th Street

    3.7 mi · 6 min · South 10th Street

  7. 7

    Turn straight onto Purple Heart Highway

    3 mi · 4 min · Purple Heart Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on West US Highway 34

    7.8 mi · 9 min · West US Highway 34

  9. 9

    Continue on Alvo Road

    3 mi · 3 min · Alvo Road

  10. 10

    Continue on Highway 34

    2 mi · 2 min · Highway 34

  11. 11

    Continue on McKelvie Road

    4.9 mi · 6 min · McKelvie Road

  12. 12

    Continue on East Main Street

    2660 ft · 47 sec · East Main Street

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Street

Car Route Details

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

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
13 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
47.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West US Highway 34
7.79 mi · 28%
McKelvie Road
4.87 mi · 18%
South 10th Street
3.72 mi · 14%
Purple Heart Highway
3.05 mi · 11%
Alvo Road
3 mi · 11%
Highway 34
2.05 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

West US Highway 34

Continue on West US Highway 34

7.79 mi · 00h 09m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 37m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.8 mi
23.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Malcolm
00h 18m from Lincoln
Leave By
7:14 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Lincoln and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Mostly Cloudy near Seward.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 27.5 miles (44.3 km) and usually takes 00h 37m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Malcolm is a useful midpoint, sitting about 13.7 miles from Lincoln and 13.8 miles from Seward.

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

The direct path is about 23.7 miles (38.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.8 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:14 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.66 one way or $7.32 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 8.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Lincoln and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Mostly Cloudy near Seward.

Stop Ideas Near Malcolm

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

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

RAIL

Lincoln

16 mi away
201 North 7th St.
RAIL

Omaha

87 mi away
1003 S. 9th Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lincoln and Seward. Straight-line distance: 23.76 mi (38.23 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 Seward

City in Alaska, USA

Population7,363
Coordinates40.9069500, -97.0989200
Altitude455
CountryUnited States
Start: Lincoln (-96.66696, 40.8)
End: Seward (-97.09892, 40.90695)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 44 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 54m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 41m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 33m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 27m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.97 gal
3.67 L · about $3.66
Round trip
$7.32
1.94 gal · 7.34 L
Estimated CO2
8.6 kg one way
Round trip: 17.2 kg / 38 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $3.66 $7.32
Mid-grade $4.25 $4.13 $8.25
Premium $4.65 $4.51 $9.03
Diesel $5.30 $5.14 $10.29

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 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Lincoln and Seward. The current time is 02:06:22.

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.