Trip from Wakefield, 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 36m

Distance

123 mi

198 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Sparse

1 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min

4 AM

2h 26m ★

6 AM

2h 36m

8 AM

2h 57m

10 AM

2h 44m

12 PM

2h 42m

3 PM

2h 45m

5 PM

2h 56m

8 PM

2h 30m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Wakefield, NE

Obes

seat of Lancaster County, and capital of the State of Nebraska, United States

Lincoln, NE

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 123-mile journey from Wakefield to Lincoln, Nebraska, can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 36 minutes, making it an ideal one-day trip. You'll primarily navigate on Highway 79, Highway 9, and Highway 16, with about 60% of the drive on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this Great Plains crossing is around $19, and you'll encounter one recommended stop along the way. This route offers a mixed driving experience, perfect for a straightforward excursion without needing an overnight stay.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

61.5 miles from Wakefield, NE

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Highway 79	17.8 mi	20m
Highway 9	17.1 mi	25m
Highway 16	15.8 mi	18m
County Road 27	13 mi	15m
County Road 28	9.2 mi	10m
Highway 275	9.1 mi	9m
Purple Heart Highway	6.8 mi	9m
Northwest 56th Street	6.6 mi	7m

Longest stretch: Highway 79 — 17.8 mi, about 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wakefield, NE and Lincoln, NE.

Start on 3rd Street

0.1 mi · 36 sec · 3rd Street

At end of road, turn right onto N-35

0.5 mi · 44 sec · Oak Street

Continue on N-35

1.8 mi · 2 min · Highway 35

Continue on N-16

16 mi · 18 min · Highway 16

At end of road, turn right onto N-9; N-16

0.2 mi · 18 sec · Highway 9

Continue on N-9; N-16

0.9 mi · 1 min · North 4th Street

Continue on N-9; N-16

17 mi · 25 min · Highway 9

Use the straight / left lanes.

At end of road, turn left onto US 275

0.4 mi · 33 sec · Highway 275

Continue on US 275

1.8 mi · 2 min · North Lincoln Street

Continue on US 275

8.6 mi · 9 min · Highway 275

Turn right onto N-91

309 ft · 6 sec · State Highway 91

Continue on N-91

3.7 mi · 4 min · Highway 91

Continue on N-91

0.4 mi · 52 sec · 4th Street

Turn left onto N-79

0.5 mi · 33 sec · Range Line Street

Continue on N-79

15 mi · 17 min · Highway 79

Merge onto US 30; N-79

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Highway 30

Take the exit onto N-79

83 ft · 9 sec · N-79

Continue on US 30; N-79

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Highway 30

Turn right onto N-79

0.9 mi · 1 min · Highway 79

Continue on N-79

0.8 mi · 1 min · North Main Street

Continue on N-79

0.7 mi · 52 sec · Highway 79

Continue on N-79

3.9 mi · 4 min · County Road 25

Continue on N-79

1.8 mi · 2 min · County Road X

Continue on N-79

13 mi · 15 min · County Road 27

Turn right onto N-79; N-92

1.0 mi · 1 min · County Road K

Turn left onto N-79

8.1 mi · 9 min · County Road 28

Continue on N-79

0.9 mi · 1 min · Cedar Street

Continue on N-79

1.1 mi · 1 min · County Road 28

Continue on N-79

1.0 mi · 1 min · Highway 79

Continue on N-79

4.8 mi · 5 min · Nebraska Highway 79

Continue on N-79

6.6 mi · 7 min · Northwest 56th Street

At end of road, turn left onto US 34; I 80 Alt

1.6 mi · 2 min · West US Highway 34

Continue on US 34; I 80 Alt

6.8 mi · 9 min · Purple Heart Highway

Use the straight lane.

Turn left onto K Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · K Street

Use the left / straight lanes.

Continue on Capitol Parkway

1.0 mi · 2 min · Capitol Parkway

Use the straight lane.

Turn left onto A Street

0.4 mi · 59 sec · A Street

Turn left onto South 37th Street

337 ft · 17 sec · South 37th Street

Turn right onto B Street

305 ft · 10 sec · B Street

Arrive at destination

B Street

Trip Plan

With a duration of just over two and a half hours, this trip offers plenty of flexibility. You can depart Wakefield anytime, but an early start will give you ample time to reach Lincoln and explore. Plan for one stop, perhaps midway, to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without significant turns is 17.8 miles on Highway 79, so be sure to refuel before that if needed. The total fuel cost is estimated at $19, so budgeting is simple for this short Nebraska drive.

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.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 61.5 miles from Wakefield, NE, or about 1h 18m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 17.8 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 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 61.5 miles or 1h 18m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 5m

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 Wakefield, 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 Wakefield, NE

This is one driving day of about 123 miles and 2h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Wakefield, 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 Highway 79 for about 17.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Wahoo, NE

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

Macy, NE

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Monterey, NE

Meal break

The midpoint is around 61.5 miles from Wakefield, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Fattoush Restaurant/مطعم فتوش

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lincoln, Nebraska

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 123

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+14022616699

Visit website

The Eatery Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Lincoln, Nebraska

1.2 mi

Pho Nguyenn Vietnamese Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lincoln, Nebraska

1.6 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Mana Games Café

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lincoln, Nebraska

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 123

Hours: 10 am–12 pm

+14024136967

Visit website

The Mill Coffee & Bistro

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lincoln, Nebraska

2.7 mi

Fattoush Restaurant/مطعم فتوش

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 123

Lincoln, Nebraska

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+14022616699

Visit website

The Eatery Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 123

Lincoln, Nebraska

Hours: 8 am–8:30 pm

+14024890396

Visit website

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour Expensive mile 123

Lincoln, Nebraska

Hours: 5–8:30 pm

+14024759475

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 123

Lincoln, Nebraska

Hours: 4–8 pm

+14022810896

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 123 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | N-35 / Oak Street

At end of road, turn right onto N-35 / Oak Street

Navigation decision point

18.2 mi into trip | ~21m in | N-9; N-16 / Highway 9

At end of road, turn right onto N-9; N-16 / Highway 9

Navigation decision point

47 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in | N-91 / State Highway 91

Turn right onto N-91 / State Highway 91

Navigation decision point

120.4 mi into trip | ~2h 29m in | K Street

Turn left onto K Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

123 mi into trip | ~2h 36m in | B Street

Turn right onto B Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$19.23 one way

$38.46 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 43 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$21.11	$42.23
premium	$4.89	$23.67	$47.34
diesel	$5.61	$27.16	$54.31

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 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	36.9	$12.92	$5.90
Efficient EV	30.8	$10.76	$4.92
EV Truck/SUV	49.2	$17.22	$7.87

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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Wakefield, NE

Night in Wakefield on Saturday

Local time

11:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lincoln, NE

Night in Lincoln on Saturday

Local time

11:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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 36m 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 mixed drive on this route, with 60% of your travel occurring on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 17.8 miles on Highway 79, offering a chance to settle in. The roads here are generally straightforward, blending faster highway sections with local road segments as you make your way across the Great Plains. This varied character means you won't be stuck in a monotonous interstate grind, providing a dynamic driving experience.

60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 17.8 mi on Highway 79.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near N-35 / Oak Street.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 2h 36m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (N-35 / Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 18.2 miles (N-9; N-16 / Highway 9): Navigation decision point; at 47 miles (N-91 / State Highway 91): 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 36m. Total distance: 123 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (60%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 17.8 miles on Highway 79. 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.

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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Trip from Wakefield, NE to Lincoln, NE

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Fattoush Restaurant/مطعم فتوش

Mana Games Café

Fattoush Restaurant/مطعم فتوش

The Eatery Restaurant

Pho Nguyenn Vietnamese Restaurant

Banhwich Cafe

Billy's

DISH Restaurant

High Peak Asian Restaurant

Taj Ali | Middle Eastern Restaurant

Mana Games Café

The Mill Coffee & Bistro

ChargePoint Charging Station

University of Nebraska State Museum - Morrill Hall

Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Wakefield, NE

Lincoln, NE

Same local time

25 degrees cooler at arrival

2h 36m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

About the Cities

Arriving in Lincoln, NE

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Will I have cell service along this route?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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