Origin
Lincoln, NE
Night in Lincoln on Saturday
Local time
9:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lincoln, NE to Omaha, 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 9m
Distance
57.7 mi
93 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lincoln, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Omaha, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Lincoln and Omaha is a straightforward 57.7-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 9 minutes. Because the distance is so short, this trip is perfect for a quick day trip rather than an overnight excursion. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-80, making this a highly efficient transit between these two Great Plains hubs. With fuel costs estimated at around $9, it is an economical drive for any schedule. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a change of scenery, you can expect a very manageable experience that keeps you within the same region for the entire duration.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 46.2 mi | 48m |
| North 56th Street | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Cornhusker Highway | 2 mi | 3m |
| North 33rd Street | 2 mi | 4m |
| Gerald R Ford Expressway | 2 mi | 2m |
| South 33rd Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Harney Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| B Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 46.2 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lincoln, NE and Omaha, NE.
1
Start on B Street
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
B Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto South 33rd Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
South 33rd Street
3
Continue on North 33rd Street
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
North 33rd Street
4
Turn right onto US 6
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Cornhusker Highway
5
Turn left onto L-55X
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
North 56th Street
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 80 east
7
Merge onto I 80
46 mi
·
48 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 480 North, US 75: Eppley Airfield, Downtown, Bellevue
9
Keep slight left at fork onto Gerald R Ford Expressway
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Gerald R Ford Expressway
Toward I 480 North, US 75 North: Eppley Airfield, Downtown
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 2A
Toward Harney Street, Dodge Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto Harney Street
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Harney Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Arrive at destination
Harney Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.8 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 0.3 and 56.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South 33rd Street
At end of road, turn right onto South 33rd Street
Navigation decision point
5
8.4 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
54.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 480 North, US 75: Eppley Airfield, Downtown, Bellevue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 480 North, US 75: Eppley Airfield, Dow...
6
54.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
Gerald R Ford Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto Gerald R Ford Expressway toward I 480 North, US 75 North: Eppley Airfield, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 480 North, US 75 North: Eppley Airfiel...
8
56.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward Harney Street, Dodge Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 2A
Toward Harney Street, Dodge Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.02 one way
$18.04 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.90 | $19.81 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.10 | $22.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.74 | $25.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.06 | $2.77 |
| Efficient EV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.05 | $2.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.1 | 0 | $8.08 | $3.69 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Omaha, NE
Night in Omaha on Saturday
Local time
9:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Gretna, NE
29 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
1 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
1h 9m 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 drive is defined by a heavy reliance on major infrastructure, with 84% of your time spent on highways. You will settle into a steady rhythm on I-80, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 46.2 miles. While the route begins with local navigation via North 56th Street and Cornhusker Highway, the experience quickly shifts to a fast-paced interstate grind. Expect a functional, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding backroads or scenic detours. It is a classic Great Plains transit, offering wide horizons and a consistent flow behind the wheel.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.2 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and North 56th Street. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near South 33rd Street.
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 57.7 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 0.3 miles (South 33rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.4 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Lincoln, NE and Omaha, NE, road signs point toward Downtown and Bellevue.
Downtown
54.5 mi in
|
~1h 4m
Bellevue
54.5 mi in
|
~1h 4m
About the Cities
Starting 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.
Arriving in Omaha, NE
Full guide →Omaha is the largest city in the US state of Nebraska, with about 486,000 residents in 2020. Tourist attractions in Omaha include history, sports, outdoors and cultural experiences. Its principal tourist attractions are the Henry Doorly Zoo and the Men's College World Series. The Old Market in Downtown Omaha is another major attraction and is important to the city's retail economy.
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 9m. Total distance: 57.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.2 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 0.3 miles (South 33rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.4 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Omaha, 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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