Drive or Fly: Fairbury, NE to Lincoln, NE?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for LNK–LNK. At 69 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 35m

Distance

69.3 mi

Total Cost

$50

CO2

28 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$15

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 36m

6m in the air

Air Distance

53 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

14 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fairbury, NE → LNK 80m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 6m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LNK → Lincoln, NE 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Fairbury, NE LNK — Lincoln Airport 54 mi, ~80m drive

Lincoln, NE LNK — Lincoln Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between LNK and LNK. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

2h 48m

55m on road

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

Greyhound US0123S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fairbury, NE → York (YRK6) 78m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 55m

Arrival 10m

Lincoln Bus Depot (LIN6) → Lincoln, NE 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From YRK6 — York 52 mi, ~78m drive

To LIN6 — Lincoln Bus Depot 4 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	1h 35m	3h 36m	2h 48m
Total cost (1 person)	$50	$122	$5
Carbon footprint	28 kg CO₂	14 kg CO₂	3 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

69.3 mi 1h 34m

via US 77, US 136, West Hickory Road

Alternative (+2 min)

75.4 mi 1h 37m

via N-15, I 80, US 6; N-15

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Fairbury, NE to Lincoln, NE with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.