Origin
Aurora, NE
Night in Aurora on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Aurora, 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
1h 27m
Distance
74.6 mi
120 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 21m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 41m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Aurora, NE
Markku Soini
Lincoln, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 74.6-mile drive from Aurora to Lincoln, Nebraska, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 27 minutes to complete. The journey is heavily highway-focused, with 92% of the route utilizing major roadways like I-80 and Highway 14. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, this is an economical option for travelers. Both Aurora and Lincoln are situated within the Great Plains region, so you'll experience the characteristic open landscapes of this area throughout your drive. This route is ideal for those seeking a straightforward and efficient transit between these two Nebraska communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 64.5 mi | 1h 7m |
| Highway 14 | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Rosa Parks Way | 2 mi | 3m |
| Capitol Parkway | 1 mi | 2m |
| K Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| 16th Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Homestead Expressway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| A Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 64.5 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aurora, NE and Lincoln, NE.
1
Start on 11th Street
437 ft
·
39 sec
·
11th Street
2
Turn right onto M Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
M Street
3
Turn right onto N-14; I 80 Alt
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
16th Street
4
Continue on N-14; I 80 Alt
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway 14
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 80 east
6
Merge onto I 80
64 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
·
I 80
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 397
Toward US 77 South, To NE 2: Beatrice, Nebraska City
8
Continue on US 77
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
·
Homestead Expressway
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Rosa Parks Way
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward Rosa Parks Way, Downtown Lincoln
11
Turn slight left onto Rosa Parks Way
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Rosa Parks Way
12
Continue on K Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
K Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Continue on Capitol Parkway
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Capitol Parkway
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn left onto A Street
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
A Street
15
Turn left onto South 37th Street
337 ft
·
17 sec
·
South 37th Street
16
Turn right onto B Street
305 ft
·
10 sec
·
B Street
17
Arrive at destination
B Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.3 miles from Aurora, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 3.8 and 74.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 east
Navigation decision point
Toward I 80 east
6
68.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Take the exit toward US 77 South, To NE 2: Beatrice, Nebraska City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 397
Toward US 77 South, To NE 2: Beatrice, Nebraska...
6
69.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward Rosa Parks Way
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Rosa Parks Way
7
69.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Rosa Parks Way, Downtown Lincoln
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Rosa Parks Way, Downtown Lincoln
5
74.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
|
B Street
Turn right onto B Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.66 one way
$23.33 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.81 | $25.61 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.36 | $28.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.47 | $32.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.4 | 0 | $7.83 | $3.58 |
| Efficient EV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.53 | $2.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.8 | 0 | $10.44 | $4.77 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Lincoln, NE
Night in Lincoln on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Milford, NE
37 mi in
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
1h 27m 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 predominantly highway-focused experience on this 74.6-mile trip. You'll spend the majority of your time, 92% to be exact, on high-speed interstates and highways, including a significant 64.5-mile stretch on I-80. This means consistent speeds and minimal interruptions for much of the journey. The drive's character is primarily defined by efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways, offering a predictable and direct path between Aurora and Lincoln.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.5 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Highway 14. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 74.6 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 68.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Aurora, NE and Lincoln, NE, road signs point toward To Ne 2: Beatrice and Nebraska City.
To Ne 2: Beatrice
68.5 mi in
|
~1h 15m
Nebraska City
68.5 mi in
|
~1h 15m
About the Cities
Starting in Aurora, NE
Full guide →Grand Island is a city of 51,000 people (2019) in South Central Nebraska. Grand Island has been given the All-America City Award three times (1955, 1967, and 1981–82) by the National Civic League.
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 1h 27m. Total distance: 74.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.5 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 68.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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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