Origin
Gretna, NE
Late night in Gretna on Tuesday
Local time
3:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gretna, NE to Lincoln, NE
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
36.9 mi
59 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
6 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gretna, NE
DeLuca G
Lincoln, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Gretna, NE to Lincoln, NE is 36.9 miles and takes about 49m via I 80, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive. It's a short journey, ideal for a quick transfer between these two Nebraska cities without much fuss. You'll primarily be on interstate highways, so expect a direct and efficient travel experience. Given the short duration, this route is best suited for a same-day trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 21.9 mi | 21m |
| Cornhusker Highway | 4.8 mi | 8m |
| South Highway 6 | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| US Highway 6 | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| North 33rd Street | 2 mi | 4m |
| South 33rd Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| B Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Highway 31 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 21.9 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gretna, NE and Lincoln, NE.
1
Start on Pontiac Drive
444 ft
·
25 sec
·
Pontiac Drive
2
Turn left onto West Angus Road
127 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Angus Road
3
Turn right onto US 6; N-31; I 80 Alt
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
South Highway 6
4
Continue on N-31; I 80 Alt
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
South Highway 31
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 80 west
6
Merge onto I 80
22 mi
·
21 min
·
I 80
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 6: East Lincoln, Waverly
8
Turn left onto US 6; I 80 Alt
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
US Highway 6
9
Continue on US 6; I 80 Alt
4.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Cornhusker Highway
10
Turn left onto North 33rd Street
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
North 33rd Street
11
Continue on South 33rd Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
South 33rd Street
12
Turn left onto B Street
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
B Street
13
Arrive at destination
B Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.4 miles from Gretna, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 36.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Angus Road
Turn left onto West Angus Road
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 6; N-31; I 80 Alt / South Highway 6
Turn right onto US 6; N-31; I 80 Alt / South Highway 6
Navigation decision point
4
3.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward I 80 west
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 80 west
5
25.8 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the exit toward US 6: East Lincoln, Waverly
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6: East Lincoln, Waverly
4
36.6 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
B Street
Turn left onto B Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.77 one way
$11.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.33 | $12.67 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.10 | $14.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.15 | $16.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.87 | $1.77 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.23 | $1.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.17 | $2.36 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Late night in Lincoln on Tuesday
Local time
3:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Waverly, NE
18 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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
49m 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?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 75% of the route utilizing major highways. You'll experience a solid 21.9 miles on I 80, which forms the longest uninterrupted stretch. Expect a consistent pace for most of the journey, as the main roads are designed for efficient travel. The profile suggests a drive that prioritizes directness over winding backroads, making it predictable and easy to navigate. The transition between Cornhusker Highway and South Highway 6 will likely be smooth, maintaining the efficient character of the drive.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.9 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Cornhusker Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Angus Road.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 49m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West Angus Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 6; N-31; I 80 Alt / South Highway 6): Navigation decision point; at 3.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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.
On the drive from Gretna, NE to Lincoln, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Waverly along the way.
Waverly
25.8 mi in
|
~28m
About the Cities
Arriving in Lincoln, NE
Full guide →“Star City” · Founded 1856
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.
Top landmarks
- • Nebraska State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Nebraska
- • Sheldon Museum of Art — art museum in Lincoln, Nebraska
- • Lincoln Liberty Life Insurance Building — historic building in Lincoln, Nebraska
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 49m. Total distance: 36.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.9 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 0.1 miles (West Angus Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 6; N-31; I 80 Alt / South Highway 6): Navigation decision point; at 3.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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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