Lincoln, NE to Terrytown, NE is 399.1 miles and takes about 7h 16m via I 80 and US 26, with a fuel budget near $63 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent landscape for much of the trip. Given its predominantly highway nature, you can expect a relatively straightforward transit. With only two recommended stops and a mostly highway profile, this is a solid option for a single-day excursion across Nebraska.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
199.5 miles from Lincoln, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
270.2 mi
4h 33m
US 26
90.7 mi
1h 48m
Highway 26 West
24.2 mi
28m
North Spruce Street
2.2 mi
3m
Rosa Parks Way
1.9 mi
3m
South Beltline Highway East
1.4 mi
2m
Lockwood Road
1.2 mi
1m
Capitol Parkway
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 270.2 mi, about 4h 33m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 124 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~833 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,214
Quietest
2 AM
~115 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lincoln, NE and Terrytown, 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
0.4 mi·54 sec·A Street
4
Turn slight right onto Capitol Parkway
1.2 mi·2 min·Capitol Parkway
5
Continue on L Street
0.9 mi·2 min·L Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Continue on Rosa Parks Way
1.9 mi·3 min·Rosa Parks Way
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward US 77 north, To I 80
8
Merge onto US 77
0.8 mi·57 sec·Homestead Expressway
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 80 West: Grand Island
10
Merge onto I 80
270 mi·4 hr 33 min·I 80
Use the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward US 26, NE 61: Ogallala, Grant
12
Turn right onto US 26; N-61
0.7 mi·1 min·South Highway 26/61
13
Continue on East A Street
0.4 mi·49 sec·East A Street
14
At end of road, turn left onto East 8th Street
330 ft·9 sec·East 8th Street
15
Turn right onto North Spruce Street
2.2 mi·3 min·North Spruce Street
16
Turn left onto N-61
24 mi·28 min·Highway 26 West
17
Continue on US 26
60 mi·1 hr 11 min·US 26
18
Turn left onto US 26; US 385
1.0 mi·1 min·US 26; US 385
19
Turn right onto US 26; N-92
30 mi·35 min·US 26; N-92
20
Continue on Old Oregon Trail
0.2 mi·17 sec·Old Oregon Trail
21
Turn right onto Lockwood Road
1.2 mi·1 min·Lockwood Road
22
Continue on 21st Avenue
0.6 mi·49 sec·21st Avenue
23
Turn left onto South Beltline Highway East
1.4 mi·2 min·South Beltline Highway East
24
Turn left onto 10th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·10th Street
25
Turn right onto McGuire Street
67 ft·2 sec·McGuire Street
26
Arrive at destination
McGuire Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour drive, consider departing Lincoln in the morning to ensure you have ample daylight for the entire trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $63, plan to refuel before you leave or at your first stop to avoid any mid-drive concerns. Since this is a single-day trip with only two suggested stops, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition from I 80 onto US 26 West, as services might become less frequent.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 199.5 miles from Lincoln, NE, or about 3h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 270.2 miles.
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 88 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 199.5 miles or 3h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Terrytown, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lincoln, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lincoln, NE
This is one driving day of about 399.1 miles and 7h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 miles from Lincoln, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 270.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 276.6 — 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|South 37th Street
Turn left onto South 37th Street
Navigation decision point
5
4.5 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit toward US 77 north, To I 80
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 77 north, To I 80
5
5.6 mi into trip|~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 West: Grand Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 West: Grand Island
5
6.4 mi into trip|~13m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
276.6 mi into trip|~4h 46m in
Take the exit toward US 26, NE 61: Ogallala, Grant
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 26, NE 61: Ogallala, Grant
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$61.88 one way
$123.75 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg140 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$67.85
$135.69
premium
$4.93
$77.43
$154.86
diesel
$5.60
$87.97
$175.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$62
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$87–$112
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 139.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
119.7
1
$41.91
$19.16
Efficient EV
99.8
1
$34.92
$15.96
EV Truck/SUV
159.6
1
$55.87
$25.54
Gas CO2
140 kg
EV CO2
47 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Aug 19, 2026
Origin
Lincoln, NE
Late night
in Lincoln on Wednesday
Local time
12:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NE 3 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 19 at 1:13AM CDT until August 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Hastings NE
Destination
Terrytown, NE
Night
in Terrytown on Tuesday
Local time
11:12 PM
MDT
Current temp
58°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
W 5 to 10 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued August 19 at 1:13AM CDT until August 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Hastings NE
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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
10 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
7h 16m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Scotts Bluff National Monument
National Monument
Towering 800 feet above the North Platte River, Scotts Bluff has served as a landmark for peoples from Native Americans to emigrants on the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails to modern travelers. Ri...
3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 399.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 97% highway, meaning you'll spend almost all of your time on high-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 270.2 miles on I 80. You'll transition from I 80 to US 26 West, marking the end of the high-speed interstate cruising and the beginning of more rural road travel. Expect a noticeable change in the density of exits and the general pace of traffic as you move onto US 26 West.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 270.2 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US 26. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South 37th Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 16m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 13 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South 37th Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,879 ft1,197 ft
Total Climb
3,008 ft
Total Descent
327 ft
Highest Point
3,879 ft
~399.1 mi in
Elevation Range
2,681 ft
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 Lincoln, NE to Terrytown, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Grant along the way.
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
The longest stretch is about 270.2 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Terrytown, NE before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Scotts Bluff National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.3 hours each way, a round trip means 14.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Terrytown, NE before the return drive.
