Sutherland to Lincoln is 247.5 miles and takes about 4h 18m via I 80, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Nebraska, traversing the Great Plains region from start to finish. Expect a straightforward, highway-focused drive that's well-suited for a single-day journey. With minimal stops recommended, it's a practical option if you're looking to cover ground efficiently between these two points. Plan for a consistent pace as you head east.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
123.7 miles from Sutherland, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
238.6 mi
4h 2m
Rosa Parks Way
2 mi
3m
N-25
1.8 mi
2m
Capitol Parkway
1 mi
2m
K Street
1 mi
2m
Homestead Expressway
0.7 mi
<1m
1st Street
0.7 mi
1m
A Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 238.6 mi, about 4h 2m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 52 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~867 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,217
Quietest
2 AM
~115 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Sutherland, NE and Lincoln, NE.
1
Start on US 30; I 80 Alt
0.7 mi·1 min·1st Street
2
Turn right onto N-25; I 80 Alt
1.8 mi·2 min·N-25; I 80 Alt
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 80 east
4
Merge onto I 80
239 mi·4 hr 2 min·I 80
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi·44 sec
Exit 397Toward US 77 South, To NE 2: Beatrice, Nebraska City
6
Continue on US 77
0.7 mi·55 sec·Homestead Expressway
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward Rosa Parks WayUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward Rosa Parks Way, Downtown Lincoln
9
Turn slight left onto Rosa Parks Way
2.0 mi·3 min·Rosa Parks Way
10
Continue on K Street
1.0 mi·2 min·K Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Continue on Capitol Parkway
1.0 mi·2 min·Capitol Parkway
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn left onto A Street
0.4 mi·59 sec·A Street
13
Turn left onto South 37th Street
337 ft·17 sec·South 37th Street
14
Turn right onto B Street
305 ft·10 sec·B Street
15
Arrive at destination
B Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 18m estimated drive time, departing Sutherland in the morning allows ample daylight to reach Lincoln. With only one recommended stop and a high highway share, you can maintain a steady pace. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 238.6-mile stretch on I 80, as services may be spaced out. The $39 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting, but consider checking local prices. Since this is a manageable one-day trip, you have flexibility; consider a mid-morning start to avoid early rush hour if any exists in Lincoln upon arrival.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 123.7 miles from Sutherland, NE, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 238.6 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 54 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.7 miles or 2h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 27m
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 Sutherland, 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 Sutherland, NE
This is one driving day of about 247.5 miles and 4h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Sutherland, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 238.6 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 247.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.5 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 80 east
Navigation decision point
Toward I 80 east
6
241.4 mi into trip|~4h 6m in
Take the exit toward US 77 South, To NE 2: Beatrice, Nebraska City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 397
Toward US 77 South, To NE 2: Beatrice, Nebraska...
6
242.6 mi into trip|~4h 8m in
Take the exit toward Rosa Parks Way
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Rosa Parks Way
7
242.8 mi into trip|~4h 8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Rosa Parks Way, Downtown Lincoln
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Rosa Parks Way, Downtown Lincoln
5
247.4 mi into trip|~4h 18m in|B Street
Turn right onto B Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.55 one way
$73.10 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$40.35
$80.70
premium
$4.72
$45.95
$91.91
diesel
$4.80
$46.73
$93.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.3
0
$25.99
$11.88
Efficient EV
61.9
0
$21.66
$9.90
EV Truck/SUV
99
1
$34.65
$15.84
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Sutherland, NE
Late night
in Sutherland on Sunday
Local time
4:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
97°F
Sunny
NE 0 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:09AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS North Platte NE
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:09AM CDT until July 20 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS North Platte NE
Destination
Lincoln, NE
Late night
in Lincoln on Sunday
Local time
4:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
96°F
Sunny
SSW 5 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:09AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS North Platte NE
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:09AM CDT until July 20 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS North Platte NE
91°F
Wood River, NE
124 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
1 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
4h 18m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is overwhelmingly a highway-focused experience, with 97% of the journey on interstate. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on I 80, covering a considerable longest stretch of 238.6 miles without needing to exit. This means consistent speeds and a predictable road surface for most of the trip. While the profile is primarily highway, the initial and final segments utilize local roads like Rosa Parks Way and N-25, offering a brief change of pace before merging onto the main interstate.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 238.6 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Rosa Parks Way. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 18m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 241.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 242.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Sutherland is a small town in Lincoln County, Nebraska. The 2005 population was 1,223, and Sutherland has been named the fastest growing community in Nebraska outside of the Omaha/Lincoln metro area.
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 238.6 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 23 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 2.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 241.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 242.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Lincoln, NE, but most travelers stay overnight.
