How far is Sidney, NE from Lincoln, NE?

The driving distance from Sidney, NE to Lincoln, NE is about 346.8 miles (558.1 km), with a travel time of about 05h 04m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 330 miles (531.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 08m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT.
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
346.79 mi
05h 04m
Flight
330.01 mi
531.1 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sidney.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
330.01 mi
Kilometers
531.1 km
Flight Time
00h 39m

Driving Distance

Road route
346.79 mi
Kilometers
558.11 km
Drive Time
05h 04m

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 05h 04m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lincoln
Thu, Apr 23, 3:04 AM CDT
Return by in Sidney
Thu, Apr 23, 7:08 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sidney
2026-04-22T20:59
Arrive Lincoln
Thu, Apr 23, 2:04 AM MDT
Route Timing
05h 04m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
12:04 PM to 2:04 PM CDT

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

Leave by
6:52 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sidney
9:00 PM MDT
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
Lexington
NE

City in Dawson County, Nebraska, United States

From Sidney
173.2 mi
02h 32m
To Lincoln
173.6 mi
02h 32m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
86°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
10 to 25 mph S
Destination
82°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 22 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on 11th Avenue

    8 m · 3 sec · 11th Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto King Street

    106 m · 21 sec · King Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto 10th Avenue

    723 ft · 19 sec · 10th Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Illinois Street

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Illinois Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Link 17J

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Link 17J

  6. 6

    Continue on Upland Parkway

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Upland Parkway

  7. 7

    Take the ramp left toward I 80 east

    1802 ft · 44 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    336.5 mi · 5 hr 40 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 77 South, To NE 2: Beatrice, Nebraska City

    2614 ft · 44 sec

  10. 10

    Continue on Homestead Expressway

    1.2 km · 55 sec · Homestead Expressway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward Rosa Parks Way

    959 ft · 23 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Rosa Parks Way, Downtown Lincoln

    635 ft · 18 sec

  13. 13

    Turn slight left onto Rosa Parks Way

    2 mi · 3 min · Rosa Parks Way

  14. 14

    Continue on K Street

    1 mi · 3 min · K Street

  15. 15

    Continue on Capitol Parkway

    1 mi · 2 min · Capitol Parkway

  16. 16

    Turn left onto A Street

    2046 ft · 60 sec · A Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto South 37th Street

    103 m · 17 sec · South 37th Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto B Street

    93 m · 11 sec · B Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · B Street

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 east
337 mi · 97%
Rosa Parks Way
2.27 mi · 1%
Illinois Street
1.64 mi
Link 17J
1.22 mi
Upland Parkway
1.08 mi
Capitol Parkway
1.05 mi
Longest Stretch

I 80 east

Merge slight left

337 mi · 05h 40m

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
05h 04m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.8 mi
330 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lexington
02h 32m from Sidney
Leave By
6:52 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Sidney and Sunny near Lincoln.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 346.8 miles (558.1 km) and usually takes 05h 04m 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?

Lexington is a useful midpoint, sitting about 173.2 miles from Sidney and 173.6 miles from Lincoln.

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

The direct path is about 330 miles (531.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.8 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:52 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $46.16 one way or $92.31 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 108.8 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Sidney and Sunny near Lincoln.

Stop Ideas Near Lexington

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

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

RAIL

Holdrege

49 mi away
100 West Ave.
RAIL

McCook

99 mi away
101 Norris Ave.
RAIL

Hastings

116 mi away
501 West First St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sidney and Lincoln. Straight-line distance: 330.01 mi (531.1 km).

Sidney

#1 Sidney

City in Nebraska, United States

Population6,235
Coordinates41.1427600, -102.9779800
Altitude1246
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: 11th Avenue (-102.977924, 41.142761)
End: B Street (-96.66696, 40.799868)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 558 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 46m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.24 gal
46.32 L · about $46.16
Round trip
$92.31
24.48 gal · 92.64 L
Estimated CO2
108.8 kg one way
Round trip: 217.6 kg / 480 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $46.16 $92.31
Mid-grade $4.25 $52.06 $104.11
Premium $4.65 $56.96 $113.93
Diesel $5.30 $64.92 $129.84

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 Sidney, NE and Lincoln, NE. The current time in Sidney is 20:59:55, although it is 21:59:55 in Lincoln.

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.