Origin
Lincoln, NE
Late night in Lincoln on Tuesday
Local time
4:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lincoln, NE to Beatrice, 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
52m
Distance
40.8 mi
66 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lincoln, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Beatrice, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion through the Great Plains, the drive from Lincoln to Beatrice is an ideal choice. Spanning 40.8 miles, this route typically takes about 52 minutes to complete, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You will primarily navigate via US Highway 77 and South 12th Street. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $6, this commute is both affordable and efficient. Since both cities are located within the Nebraska Great Plains, you can expect a consistent regional landscape throughout your journey. This straightforward connection is best suited for those looking to reach their destination quickly without the need for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 77 | 16.3 mi | 17m |
| US Highway 77 | 8.7 mi | 9m |
| South 12th Street | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| North 6th Street | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| South 13th Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| A Street | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| Warlick Boulevard | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| South 14th Street | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Highway 77
— 16.3 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lincoln, NE and Beatrice, NE.
1
Start on B Street
305 ft
·
15 sec
·
B Street
2
Turn left onto South 37th Street
337 ft
·
16 sec
·
South 37th Street
3
Turn right onto A Street
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
A Street
4
Turn left onto South 13th Street
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
South 13th Street
5
Continue on South 14th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South 14th Street
6
Keep slight right at fork onto Warlick Boulevard
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Warlick Boulevard
7
Turn left onto US 77
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US Highway 77
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 77
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 77
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Continue on US 77
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
South 12th Street
10
Continue on US 77
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
US Highway 77
11
Continue on US 77
16 mi
·
17 min
·
Highway 77
12
Continue on US 77
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
North 6th Street
13
Turn slight right
92 ft
·
13 sec
14
Turn left
81 ft
·
6 sec
15
Turn right
37 ft
·
2 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.4 miles from Lincoln, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 40.8 — 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
|
South 37th Street
Turn left onto South 37th Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
South 13th Street
Turn left onto South 13th Street
Navigation decision point
4
4.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
Warlick Boulevard
Keep slight right at fork onto Warlick Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
9.6 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
US 77 / US Highway 77
Keep slight right at fork onto US 77 / US Highway 77
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
40.8 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.38 one way
$12.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.00 | $14.01 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.85 | $15.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.01 | $18.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.28 | $1.96 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.57 | $1.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.71 | $2.61 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Beatrice, NE
Late night in Beatrice on Tuesday
Local time
4:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
39°F
Hickman, NE
20 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
52m 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 practical, highway-focused drive that keeps you moving toward your destination with minimal fuss. About 61% of your journey is spent on major highways, offering a steady pace for the duration of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 16.3-mile segment on Highway 77. Because this route lacks intermediate stops, the experience is defined by its direct, point-to-point nature. You won't find yourself navigating complex technical roads, as the path remains focused on efficient highway travel across the plains.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.3 mi on Highway 77.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 77 and US Highway 77. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South 37th Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 40.8 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.1 miles (South 37th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (South 13th Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles (Warlick Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
About the Cities
Starting 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
Arriving in Beatrice, NE
Full guide →Beatrice is a city in Eastern Nebraska. A small city of about 12,000, it serves as the seat of Gage County.
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 52m. Total distance: 40.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.3 miles on Highway 77. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Beatrice, NE before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 (South 37th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (South 13th Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles (Warlick Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Homestead National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Beatrice, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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