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

The driving distance from Nebraska City, NE to Lincoln, NE is about 48.1 miles (77.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 43.1 miles (69.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 47m 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
48.13 mi
00h 53m
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 Nebraska City.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
48.13 mi
Kilometers
77.45 km
Drive Time
00h 53m

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 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lincoln
Fri, Apr 17, 9:52 AM CDT
Return by in Nebraska City
Fri, Apr 17, 10:45 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Nebraska City
2026-04-17T08:58
Arrive Lincoln
Fri, Apr 17, 9:52 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:54 AM to 10:54 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:42 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Nebraska City
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 Nebraska City
24 mi
00h 26m
To Lincoln
24.1 mi
00h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Friday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
22 mph SW
Destination
79°F
Friday

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 18 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Central Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · Central Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Steinhart Park Road

    2314 ft · 49 sec · Steinhart Park Road

  3. 3

    Turn right onto 4th Corso

    1.4 km · 2 min · 4th Corso

  4. 4

    Keep slight left

    1723 ft · 29 sec

  5. 5

    Keep slight left

    3111 ft · 48 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Highway 2

    10.5 mi · 11 min · Highway 2

  7. 7

    Continue on I Road

    2.2 mi · 2 min · I Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Highway 2

    2.9 mi · 3 min · Highway 2

  9. 9

    Continue on H Road

    3.5 mi · 4 min · H Road

  10. 10

    Continue on Highway 2

    2.9 mi · 3 min · Highway 2

  11. 11

    Continue on F Road

    4.7 mi · 5 min · F Road

  12. 12

    Continue on Highway 2

    1.1 km · 56 sec · Highway 2

  13. 13

    Continue on F Road

    3 mi · 3 min · F Road

  14. 14

    Continue on Rokeby Road

    4 mi · 4 min · Rokeby Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Nebraska Highway 2

    1.6 km · 1 min · Nebraska Highway 2

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward To Lincoln via Nebraska Parkway, 120th Street

    1927 ft · 47 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on To Lincoln via Nebraska Parkway

    614 ft · 15 sec

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto Nebraska Parkway

    6.3 mi · 9 min · Nebraska Parkway

  19. 19

    Turn right onto South 40th Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · South 40th Street

  20. 20

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

    38 m · 3 sec · South 40th Street

  21. 21

    Exit the roundabout onto South 40th Street

    1.5 mi · 3 min · South 40th Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto B Street

    1019 ft · 35 sec · B Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · B Street

Car Route Details

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

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
47.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Highway 2
17 mi · 35%
F Road
7.69 mi · 16%
Nebraska Parkway
6.31 mi · 13%
Rokeby Road
3.98 mi · 8%
H Road
3.49 mi · 7%
South 40th Street
2.57 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Highway 2

Merge slight left onto Highway 2

10.5 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
00h 53m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5 mi
43.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Unadilla
00h 26m from Nebraska City
Leave By
4:42 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 48.1 miles (77.4 km) and usually takes 00h 53m 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 miles from Nebraska City and 24.1 miles from Lincoln.

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 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 4:42 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.41 one way or $12.82 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 15.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Nebraska City and Lincoln. Straight-line distance: 43.14 mi (69.43 km).

Nebraska City

#1 Nebraska City

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

Population7,292
Coordinates40.6766700, -95.8591700
Altitude322
CountryUnited States
Lincoln

#2 Lincoln

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

Population290,505
Coordinates40.8000000, -96.6669600
Altitude367
CountryUnited States
Start: Central Avenue (-95.85917, 40.676667)
End: B Street (-96.66696, 40.799868)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 77 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 57m
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
1.7 gal
6.43 L · about $6.41
Round trip
$12.82
3.4 gal · 12.86 L
Estimated CO2
15.1 kg one way
Round trip: 30.2 kg / 67 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $6.41 $12.82
Mid-grade $4.25 $7.23 $14.46
Premium $4.65 $7.91 $15.82
Diesel $5.30 $9.02 $18.03

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 Nebraska City and Lincoln. The current time is 08:58:44.

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.