Origin
Norfolk, NE
Night in Norfolk on Saturday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Norfolk, 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
2h 28m
Distance
123.4 mi
199 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 19m
★
6 AM
2h 29m
8 AM
2h 49m
10 AM
2h 36m
12 PM
2h 34m
3 PM
2h 37m
5 PM
2h 48m
8 PM
2h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Norfolk, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Lincoln, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 123.4-mile drive from Norfolk to Lincoln, Nebraska, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 28 minutes. Designed as a single-day trip, you can expect a fuel cost of approximately $19 for this route. The drive primarily utilizes local roads, indicated by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile and a highway share of only 7%. Both Norfolk and Lincoln are situated within the Great Plains region, so you'll experience consistent prairie landscapes throughout your travel. This route is ideal for those who prefer a more connected, local feel to their road trips rather than the speed of interstate travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
61.7 miles from Norfolk, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South 13th Street | 43.4 mi | 47m |
| 33rd Avenue | 16.4 mi | 19m |
| 31 Road | 12.2 mi | 14m |
| 23 Road | 10 mi | 11m |
| O Road | 9 mi | 10m |
| Purple Heart Highway | 6.8 mi | 9m |
| Northwest 56th Street | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| Nebraska Highway 79 | 4.8 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
South 13th Street
— 43.4 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Norfolk, NE and Lincoln, NE.
1
Start on South 7th Street
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
South 7th Street
2
Enter roundabout onto West Pasewalk Avenue
33 ft
·
1 sec
·
West Pasewalk Avenue
3
Continue on West Pasewalk Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Pasewalk Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 81
43 mi
·
47 min
·
South 13th Street
5
Turn right onto 45th Avenue
203 ft
·
4 sec
·
45th Avenue
6
Continue on Howard Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Howard Boulevard
7
Turn right onto US 30; US 81
16 mi
·
19 min
·
33rd Avenue
8
Turn left onto N-92
12 mi
·
14 min
·
31 Road
9
Continue on N-92
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
32 Road
10
Turn right onto N-15
9.0 mi
·
10 min
·
O Road
11
Turn left onto N-66
10 mi
·
11 min
·
23 Road
12
Continue on N-66
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
County Road B
13
Continue on N-66
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
South Street
14
Turn right onto N-79
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road 28
15
Continue on N-79
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 79
16
Continue on N-79
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Nebraska Highway 79
17
Continue on N-79
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Northwest 56th Street
18
At end of road, turn left onto US 34; I 80 Alt
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
West US Highway 34
19
Continue on US 34; I 80 Alt
6.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn left onto K Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
K Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
21
Continue on Capitol Parkway
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Capitol Parkway
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn left onto A Street
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
A Street
23
Turn left onto South 37th Street
337 ft
·
17 sec
·
South 37th Street
24
Turn right onto B Street
305 ft
·
10 sec
·
B Street
25
Arrive at destination
B Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 28-minute duration, this 123.4-mile trip is perfectly suited for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. With no designated stops in the data, plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps utilizing towns along the way. The estimated fuel cost is $19, so factor that into your budget. Pay attention to the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile; this means staying alert for frequent turns and road name changes, especially on segments like South 13th Street, which has your longest stretch at 43.4 miles. Ensure your navigation is set up correctly before you depart to smoothly manage the many turns this route entails.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 61.7 miles from Norfolk, NE, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.4 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 27 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.7 miles or 1h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lincoln, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Norfolk, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Norfolk, NE
This is one driving day of about 123.4 miles and 2h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Norfolk, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South 13th Street for about 43.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
62 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 61.7 miles from Norfolk, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 123.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Pasewalk Avenue
Enter roundabout onto West Pasewalk Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
44.1 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
45th Avenue
Turn right onto 45th Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
75.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
|
N-15 / O Road
Turn right onto N-15 / O Road
Navigation decision point
6
120.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 22m in
|
K Street
Turn left onto K Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
123.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 28m in
|
B Street
Turn right onto B Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.29 one way
$38.58 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $21.18 | $42.36 |
| premium | $4.89 | $23.75 | $47.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.25 | $54.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37 | 0 | $12.96 | $5.92 |
| Efficient EV | 30.9 | 0 | $10.80 | $4.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 49.4 | 0 | $17.28 | $7.90 |
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% 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
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Garrison, NE
62 mi in
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
25 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
2h 28m 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 turn-heavy local drive for the majority of this 123.4-mile trip from Norfolk to Lincoln. With only a 7% highway share, you'll be navigating a series of local roads, including stretches on South 13th Street, 33rd Avenue, and 31 Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 43.4 miles on South 13th Street. This means you'll be actively engaged with the road, making frequent turns and adjustments rather than settling into a long, high-speed cruise. The character of the drive is less about covering ground quickly and more about experiencing the local network of roads connecting these two Nebraska cities.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.4 mi on South 13th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near West Pasewalk Avenue.
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 2h 28m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (West Pasewalk Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 44.1 miles (45th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 75.9 miles (N-15 / O Road): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
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 2h 28m. Total distance: 123.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (7%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.4 miles on South 13th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 0.2 miles (West Pasewalk Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 44.1 miles (45th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 75.9 miles (N-15 / O Road): Navigation decision point.
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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