Trip from Albion, NE to Lincoln, NE

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 6m

Distance

122.1 mi

196 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min

4 AM

1h 58m ★

6 AM

2h 7m

8 AM

2h 25m

10 AM

2h 13m

12 PM

2h 11m

3 PM

2h 14m

5 PM

2h 24m

8 PM

2h 1m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Albion, NE

Photography Maghradze PH

seat of Lancaster County, and capital of the State of Nebraska, United States

Lincoln, NE

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 122.1-mile journey from Albion to Lincoln, Nebraska, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 2 hours and 6 minutes to complete. You'll primarily navigate on Highway 14 and Highway 39, with Beaver Street playing a role as you approach your destination. The route is budget-friendly, with an estimated fuel cost of around $19, and it offers a straightforward drive through the heart of the Great Plains region. Given its manageable length and duration, this trip is perfectly suited for a day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your schedule without the need for an overnight stay. It's a practical choice for anyone looking to efficiently cover ground within Nebraska.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

61 miles from Albion, NE

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Highway 14	—	—
Highway 39	—	—
Beaver Street	—	—
Willard Avenue	—	—
South Park Street	—	—
Highway 22	—	—
County Road J	—	—
County Road 130	—	—

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Highway 14 — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Albion, NE and Lincoln, NE.

Start on West State Street

0.3 mi · 36 sec · West State Street

Continue on Highway 14

1.0 mi · 1 min · Highway 14

Keep slight left to continue on Highway 14

0.1 mi · 8 sec · Highway 14

Continue on Highway 39

9.2 mi · 10 min · Highway 39

Continue on Highway 39

0.9 mi · 1 min · Highway 39

Continue on Beaver Street

0.9 mi · 1 min · Beaver Street

Continue on Highway 39

1.5 mi · 1 min · Highway 39

Continue on State Highway 39

8.7 mi · 10 min · State Highway 39

Continue on Willard Avenue

0.4 mi · 42 sec · Willard Avenue

Turn right onto South Park Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Park Street

Continue on State Highway 22

0.5 mi · 35 sec · State Highway 22

Continue on State Highway 39

3.4 mi · 3 min · State Highway 39

Continue on Highway 39

7.1 mi · 8 min · Highway 39

Continue on County Road J

8.8 mi · 10 min · County Road J

Turn left onto County Road 130

5.1 mi · 5 min · County Road 130

Continue on Highway 81 & 92

6.8 mi · 7 min · Highway 81 & 92

Continue on West Park Street

0.8 mi · 52 sec · West Park Street

Continue on County Road 131

2.8 mi · 3 min · County Road 131

Continue on 31 Road

11 mi · 12 min · 31 Road

Turn sharp right onto Road L

410 ft · 12 sec · Road L

Turn left onto 31 Road

2.9 mi · 4 min · 31 Road

Turn right onto O Road

8.0 mi · 9 min · O Road

Turn left onto 23 Road

10 mi · 11 min · 23 Road

Continue on County Road B

3.7 mi · 4 min · County Road B

Continue on South Street

0.3 mi · 37 sec · South Street

Turn right onto County Road 28

1.1 mi · 1 min · County Road 28

Continue on Highway 79

1.0 mi · 1 min · Highway 79

Continue on Nebraska Highway 79

4.8 mi · 5 min · Nebraska Highway 79

Continue on Northwest 56th Street

6.6 mi · 7 min · Northwest 56th Street

At the end of the road, turn left onto West US Highway 34

1.6 mi · 2 min · West US Highway 34

Continue on Purple Heart Highway

6.8 mi · 9 min · Purple Heart Highway

Turn left onto K Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · K Street

Continue on Capitol Parkway

1.0 mi · 2 min · Capitol Parkway

Turn left onto A Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · A Street

Turn left onto South 37th Street

338 ft · 17 sec · South 37th Street

Turn right onto B Street

305 ft · 11 sec · B Street

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

For this 122.1-mile trip, departing in the morning offers ample daylight for your 2-hour, 6-minute drive, making it easy to reach Lincoln without feeling rushed. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps in one of the smaller communities along Highway 14. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated $19 cost suggests it's a fairly efficient route, but it's always wise to top off before leaving Albion. The local, turn-heavy nature of this drive means paying close attention to navigation, especially as you transition onto Beaver Street in Lincoln.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 61 miles from Albion, NE, or about 1h 3m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 27 miles or 28m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 61 miles or 1h 3m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lincoln, NE than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Albion, NE so your first major turns are already loaded.

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Albion, NE

This is one driving day of about 122.1 miles and 2h 6m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Albion, NE.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Gresham, NE

61 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Columbus, NE

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Gresham, NE

Meal break

The midpoint is around 61 miles from Albion, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Fattoush Restaurant/مطعم فتوش

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lincoln, Nebraska

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 122.1

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+14022616699

Visit website

The Eatery Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Lincoln, Nebraska

1.2 mi

Pho Nguyenn Vietnamese Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lincoln, Nebraska

1.6 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Mana Games Café

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lincoln, Nebraska

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 122.1

Hours: 10 am–12 pm

+14024136967

Visit website

The Mill Coffee & Bistro

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lincoln, Nebraska

2.7 mi

Fattoush Restaurant/مطعم فتوش

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 122.1

Lincoln, Nebraska

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+14022616699

Visit website

The Eatery Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 122.1

Lincoln, Nebraska

Hours: 8 am–8:30 pm

+14024890396

Visit website

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour Expensive mile 122.1

Lincoln, Nebraska

Hours: 5–8:30 pm

+14024759475

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 122.1

Lincoln, Nebraska

Hours: 4–8 pm

+14022810896

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$19.09 one way

$38.18 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 43 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$20.96	$41.92
premium	$4.89	$23.50	$46.99
diesel	$5.61	$26.96	$53.92

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 42.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	36.6	$12.82	$5.86
Efficient EV	30.5	$10.68	$4.88
EV Truck/SUV	48.8	$17.09	$7.81

Gas CO2

43 kg

EV CO2

14 kg (67% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Albion, NE

Night in Albion on Saturday

Local time

9:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lincoln, NE

Night in Lincoln on Saturday

Local time

9:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

79°F

Gresham, NE

61 mi in

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

26 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 6m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with no highway mileage to speak of. The absence of high-speed highways means you'll be more engaged with the road, encountering frequent turns and changes in direction. While there isn't a designated longest uninterrupted stretch, the local nature of the drive suggests a continuous flow of smaller roads rather than long, monotonous stretches. You'll experience a more intimate connection with the Nebraska landscape as you navigate through various local roads and junctions. This driving personality makes the 2-hour, 6-minute trip feel dynamic rather than passive.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.

37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Main road: Highway 14.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Albion, NE to Lincoln, NE is easy. At 2h 6m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Albion, NE to Lincoln, NE is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

About the Cities

Arriving in Lincoln, NE

Full guide →

Lincoln is the capital and second largest city of Nebraska, U.S. As the state capital, it offers several historical sites, as well as museums, art galleries, and other cultural venues.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 6m. Total distance: 122.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through NE can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Albion, NE to Lincoln, NE is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lincoln, NE before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Explore more options from Albion, NE or browse trips ending in Lincoln, NE.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NE road trips.

Trip from Albion, NE to Lincoln, NE

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Fattoush Restaurant/مطعم فتوش

Mana Games Café

Fattoush Restaurant/مطعم فتوش

The Eatery Restaurant

Pho Nguyenn Vietnamese Restaurant

Banhwich Cafe

Billy's

DISH Restaurant

High Peak Asian Restaurant

Taj Ali | Middle Eastern Restaurant

Mana Games Café

The Mill Coffee & Bistro

University of Nebraska State Museum - Morrill Hall

Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Albion, NE

Lincoln, NE

Same local time

26 degrees cooler at arrival

2h 6m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

About the Cities

Arriving in Lincoln, NE

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a good trip with kids?

Will I have cell service along this route?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Lincoln, NE

More from Albion, NE

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