, many of which are toll-free, scenic, and not known for their heavy traffic. That said, you could experience some bumps in the road when driving to Nebraska, so it’s best to be prepared.

Nebraska might not be known as a road-trip destination, but driving to America’s Heartland offers a rather pleasant (albeit long) drive with lots of wonderful sights and stops along the way. But no matter how nice, every road trip requires you to understand your destination’s driving laws and plan a route that will get you from point A to point B with minimal problems.

We're here to explore Nebraska’s driving laws and make sure you’re aware of some helpful road trip tips. We’ll cover ways to avoid traffic, Nebraska’s road conditions, and the laws you need to be aware of to make your drive to Nebraska as safe and fun as possible.

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The best routes for driving to Nebraska

The best route to Nebraska depends on your starting point, the time of the year you hit the road, and what stops you’re planning to make along the way.

Here are four popular ones:

New York City—

Omaha

(18 hours):Surprisingly, driving from the bright lights of broadway to the more pastoral Omaha only takes 18 hours. Baseball fans should use this opportunity to stop at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

Austin

—Lincoln (11 hours): Roll down your windows, blare some country and western music, and coast along the 1-35N. This is a pleasant and relaxing drive!

Seattle—Nebraska City (25 hours): This drive is a long one, so make sure you have a great lineup of podcasts and a ton of playlists ready to go. Any West Coast road trip should include some stops to take in the beautiful nature—and maybe a sunset or two.

Denver—Columbus (7 hours): By road trip standards,

Denver

Columbus

isn’t a terribly long road trip. Once you’re in Columbus, be sure to check out the Andrew Jackson Higgins National Memorial and Pawnee Plunge Water Park.

MORE:

10 best road trip cars to rent

How good are Nebraska’s roads?

Traffic aside, the roads in Nebraska are considered to be good.That said, road repairs happen regularly throughout the year so it’s a good idea to research road closures and construction that might impact your route or plans in the state.

Does Nebraska have toll roads?

No,Nebraska does not have toll roads. But the state does have three toll bridges at Bellevue, Decatur, and Plattsmouth.The cost for most toll bridges in Nebraska is $1 to $3 depending on the vehicle you drive.

Use this

free toll calculator

to budget how much money you’ll need for tolls on your road trip.

How bad is Nebraska traffic?

Nebraska ranks well for urban congestion. This means that, for the most part, drivers in the city don’t experience exceptionally bad traffic. In fact, Nebraska drivers tend to get stuck in less traffic than drivers in

Colorado

If you want to avoid the worst traffic, steer clear of these areas:

Minden

Aurora

Wahoo

Key Takeaway Nebraska doesn’t suffer from a lot of urban congestion, though Minden is considered the worst city for traffic.

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What are Nebraska’s speeding laws?

There are two types of speed limits in Nebraska: absolute speed limits and basic speeding laws.

Absolute speed limits are the posted speed limit on a road or in an area. You can not drive faster than the absolute speed limit. Nebraska’s absolute speed limit in business districts is 20 mph and 15 mph in urban area construction zones.

Basic speeding law mandates that drivers must never go faster than what is safe under road and weather conditions, regardless of the posted limit. Drivers must slow down at crossings, curves, and hillcrests, for example.

Fines for speeding in Nebraska

Nebraska’s speeding laws are pretty standard. They break down as follows:

10 to 15 miles over — $75 fine

15 to 20 miles over — $125 fine

25 to 35 miles over — $200 fine

Over 35 miles over — $300 fine

Nebraska uses a points system, which means that most driving infractions will

add points to your driving record

and increase your insurance rates. To keep your costs low, try

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The traffic tickets that have the greatest effect on your car insurance rates

What are Nebraska’s alcohol laws?

Nebraska’s alcohol laws stipulate that if you’re driving with a BAC of 0.08% or higher, you’re driving while intoxicated. The limit is just 0.02% for drivers

21 years old or younger

. In these cases, no other evidence is necessary to support a DUI conviction.

If you’re charged with a

DUI

, you could face severe consequences such as fines, license suspensions, or even jail time. Keep it safe: if you’ve had anything to drink, don’t drive.

So, what if you’re just driving with alcohol in the car? In Nebraska, you

cannot drive with an open container in your hands

—but you can have open containers in the hatchback area of a car without a trunk. You must place open containers of alcohol behind the last upright row of seats to comply with this law.

Can you use headphones while driving in Nebraska?

It is legal to drive with headphones in Nebraska. That said, driving while wearing headphones isn’t recommended, as it can be distracting or disorienting and may prevent you from hearing honking or other sounds that warn of impending danger.

Safety needs to be the top priority. If you must drive with headphones, use an earpiece or headset that covers only one ear.

What are some of Nebraska’s best road trips?

Driving laws, traffic, routes—there’s a lot to know before visiting Nebraska. But there’s one other thing… road trips are a lot of fun!

There are tons to see and do in Nebraska. The state has nine scenic byways that feature rolling hills, lush forests, and ancient rock formations.

Some of the most popular road trips in Nebraska include:

Sandhills Journey Byway—This rural route is filled with dunes and sandhills. At night, you can stare into the infinite sea of stars.

Gold Rush Highway—Follow the old trail through the stunning countryside and enjoy river valleys.

Loup Rivers Byway—If you like long stretches of farmland then take a road trip along this byway. Stop at

Dannebrog

, the Danish capital of Nebraska, for some authentic cuisine.

Make sure you choose some podcasts for your long drives. Start with this list of the

best podcasts for long road trips

to find a few that can help pass the time as you explore nature and soak in the history of the state.

MORE:

Car loans in Nebraska 2022

How to find affordable car insurance in Nebraska

Long road trips—even to easy driving states like Nebraska—can result in highway hypnosis or drowsiness. Wherever you’re destination might be, you need the right protection for you, your passengers, and your vehicle. Use

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FAQs

What are the best and worst cities for driving in Nebraska?

The best driving cities in Nebraska—based mostly on traffic and road conditions—are Fremont, Norfolk, Beatrice, and Valley. Incidentally, the worst are Minden, Aurora, and Wahoo.

How long does it take to drive across Nebraska?

It takes about 7 hours to drive through Nebraska. There are long rural stretches, so make sure you take the trip with a full tank of gas.

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