Lincoln, NE Road Trips

Lincoln is the seat (1869) of Lancaster County, in the southeastern part of the state, about 60 miles (95 km) southwest of Omaha. Lincoln was founded in 1859 as the village of Lancaster. Renamed and made Nebraska's state capital in 1867, it's the second-largest city in the state. It's the state's center of government and higher education and is a regional transportation center. Even with a population of 290,000 (2019), it retains a friendly, "small town" feel. There are several threads running through Lincoln's cultural composition. The university and state government have attracted many rural Nebraskans to the city over the years, reinforcing its small town feel. Its position as a college town also helps shape the city's political culture, which is somewhat more liberal than most of the rest of the state. Once a very ethnically homogeneous city, it has become more diverse since the 1980s, welcoming immigrants and refugees from various parts of the globe. There is a long-standing friendly rivalry with Omaha, 57 mi (92 km) to the northeast. Visit Lincoln website

1 Nebraska State Capitol, 1445 K St (on US-34/O St, turn south on 13th St, then east on K St), ☏ +1 402-471-0448. M-F 8AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1-5PM. Home to Nebraska's unicameral government. Completed in 1932 in an Art Deco style and the state's third capitol building. The observation deck on the 14th floor provides views of the entire city. Free guided tours are offered 5 times a day. The interior artwork tells the story of the history of Nebraska. Free admission. (updated Jun 2021) 2 William Jennings Bryan House (Fairview), 1600 S 48th St (in Bryan Medical Center, east campus, near 48th and A St), ☏ +1 402-481-3032. M-Sa 9AM-5PM. Built in 1902 in a combination of Classical Revival and Queen Anne Victorian style. Home of William Jennings Bryan, a prominent politician at the turn of the 20th century. Call at least 48 hours in advance to schedule a guided tour. Free admission. (updated Jun 2021) 3 Sheldon Museum of Art, 1200 R St, ☏ +1 402 472-2461. Large permanent collection as well as traveling exhibits. Collection is primarily American modernist, but the Sheldon's exhibitions and acquisitions are of contemporary art. When it was built during 1961-1963, it was rumored to be the most expensive building in the U.S. on a square-foot basis. Backpacks must be left in the lobby. Free, are lectures. 4 Sunken Gardens, 2600 D St. Pride and joy of citizens since its completion in 1931. Feature a waterfall, several fish ponds and terraces of flora and fauna. Listed in the "300 Best Gardens to Visit in the U.S. and Canada" in the National Geographic Guide to Public Gardens.

1 Lied Center for Performing Arts (pronounced "Leed") or the 2 UNL schools of Music, Theatre, and Film have performances year-round. During the summer, see the Flatwater Shakespeare Company at 3 Wyuka cemetery, musicals at the 4 Pinewood Bowl, classical performances at the 5 Meadowlark Music Festival, or professional theater at 6 Nebraska Repertory Theatre. The Sheldon is the largest gallery in town, but to get a look at the work of local artists, be sure to check out the downtown art galleries. By far the most fun time to do this is the evening of the first Friday of every month, when the galleries put up new work. New art is usually accompanied by food, drinks, and sometimes live music. Music groups that perform all year long include the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra and the Nebraska Jazz orchestra. Some of the best classical music performances can be heard at the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery. Jazz in June (outdoors behind Sheldon Art Gallery). Tu in Jun 7PM. Free. Nebraska Music Festival, Carson Theater on University of Nebraska campus and various other locales throughout town. early Aug. Eclectic representation of music from different cultures. Try Pioneers Park or Wilderness Park for hiking. Most of these are linked together via the bike trails. Some parks are managed by the University, like Nine Mile Prairie, or Spring Creek Prairie, but these are a short drive outside of town. 7 Pioneers Park. Has hiking trails, and some nature centers which are great for kids. (updated Sep 2017) 8 Haymarket Park.

Indoor work sites are smoke-free in Lincoln, so you'll be able to enjoy smoke-free restaurants and bars. 1 Buzzard Billy's, 247 N 8th St Ste 101, ☏ +1 402 475-8822. Cajun style food. Thursday is "Crappy Beer Night" with $1.50 pints or $1.25 cans and discounted appetizers. Try the chicken quesadilla. (updated Apr 2026) 2 Fireworks, 5750 S 86th St, ☏ +1 402 434-5644. Wood-fired cooking. BBQ brisket sandwich and they have an open WiFi AP. Mains $13-30. (updated Apr 2026) 3 Grateful Bread Freakbeat Vegetarian, 1625 S 17th St. Try the soup. They also have gourmet macaroni and cheese and sandwiches. $5-7. (updated Apr 2026) Lazlo's (Two locations). Menu varies between burgers and steaks. Lavosh, a thin, cracker-crust, pizza-like appetizer proper for 3-4 people. A choice of toppings goes on top of melted cheese, chicken, bacon, green peppers, and mushrooms are excellent choices. Associated with the Empyrean Brewing Company so they always have excellent microbrews. Mains $13-40. (updated Apr 2026) 4 Historic Haymarket, 210 N 7th St, ☏ +1 402 434-5636. (updated Apr 2026) 5 South Lincoln, 5900 Old Cheney Rd, ☏ +1 402 323-8500. (updated Apr 2026) Valentino's (Various locations). Voted Lincoln's Best pizza for over 20 years. A known Nebraska pizzeria and buffet for over 50 years. The Watering Hole (The Hole) (Two locations). Famed to have the "best wings in town", serves up a variety of traditional bar food on top of their wings. Those willing to wait a little longer should order their wings grilled. Check the specials board as some days wings are $0.33.

Largely due to the university, there is much night life to be found (bars now can close at 2AM). O Street is just a few blocks away from popular student housing and is also one of the longest main streets in the U.S. with a portion covered by local drinking establishments, most in the downtown areas between 12th and 16th Sts. The local music scene is also expansive with live bands playing at many bars in the downtown area. 1 The Bar, 1644 P St. A popular college bar. Known for a nice outdoor area and a late last call. (updated Apr 2026) 2 Barrymore's, 140 N. 13th St. A little bit off the beaten path, offers a more sophisticated place for a drink. Great atmosphere, directly behind the stage of the Rococo theatre, a bit of a speakeasy with the old theatrical fly system still abound. Serves a variety of martinis and has a nice decor with incredibly high ceilings. (updated Apr 2026) 3 Duffy's, 1412 O St (downtown), ☏ +1 402 474-3543. live music W and Su. Regional beers on tap. Has a beer garden and a stage. Fish bowls are great to share with friends. Their stage has been graced by acts from Nirvana to 311. Popular on St. Patrick's Day. Free amateur comedy workshop on Monday nights. (updated Apr 2026) 4 Iguana's, 1426 O St. College bar where on Monday nights one can pick an NFL team they think will win, and awarded free shots each time that team scores. Attached to the back is a small cocktail bar, Voda, which serves specialty martinis. (updated Apr 2026) 5 Jake's, 101 N 14th St Suite 1. Jake's features beer taps and a large selection of fine whiskey, scotch and bourbon.

1 Embassy Suites Lincoln, 1040 P St, ☏ +1 402 474-1111. Upscale accommodations to the MarketPlace district. 2 Marriott Cornhusker Hotel, 333 S 13th St, ☏ +1 402 474-7474. (updated Jan 2019)

The primary route into the city is I-80, with I-180 serving as a downtown connector. US Highways 6, 34, 77 and Nebraska Hwy 2 also run through Lincoln. 1 Lincoln Municipal Airport (LNK IATA) (just off I-80 Exit 399, 4 mi (7 km) northwest of downtown). United Airlines fly from Denver and Chicago. (updated Nov 2023) It is often cheaper to fly into Eppley Airfield Airport (OMA IATA) in Omaha, and hop onto a shuttle from there to Lincoln where it makes stops at some of the major hotels. For shuttle information see #By shuttle. Amtrak serves Lincoln on its daily California Zephyr route between Chicago and the West Coast. Westbound train stops around midnight; eastbound train stops around 3:30AM. Trains no longer arrive at the historical railway station in Haymarket district, instead they now call at the much less grandiose 2 Lincoln Amtrak station on 277 Pinnacle Arena Drive. Downtown is within walking distance, just a few blocks to the east. Two bus companies serve Lincoln: Arrow Stage Lines and Burlington Trailways. Lincoln's intercity bus station is southeast of 11th St and Cornhusker Hwy. Navigator Airport Express, ☏ +1 308 234-6066, [email protected]. Formerly Eppley Express. Provides limited shuttle service between Lincoln and several Nebraska cities including Omaha, Kearney, Grand Island, Hastings and York. Service is limited to specific days and times depending upon your destination. Reservations available on-line. (updated Apr 2026) Omalink, ☏ +1 402 475-5465.

Getting around Lincoln is a mixed-bag proposition. If you are planning on staying near the center of town, you probably won't need a rental car. All major necessities except groceries are available in or near downtown. Lincoln does not have any crosstown freeways or expressways. The city is laid out in a grid pattern; a handful of diagonal streets exist. Major through streets are generally located once per mile; there are generally 14 streets to the mile. Traffic can be heavy on major streets and in downtown during rush hour and on football Saturdays. StarTran service runs on weekdays and Saturdays (but only until 6:30PM). Individual fares are $1.75 (have exact change)/seniors $0.85/trips in the downtown zone or on the Star Shuttle are $0.25. Monthly passes are $45; various discounts are available. Passes can be purchased at many businesses around town (primarily grocery stores and banks). Lincoln's trail system extends throughout the city. A cyclist can travel across the city in an hour or less. Bike rentals at 3 Monkeywrench Cycles (233 N Antelope Valley Pkwy Suite A) For a map of bike trails see Great Plains Trails Network.