Nebraska · United States
Where to stay in Lincoln
Lincoln is a city in Nebraska, United States, home to about 291,000 people.
- Best months
- April, September and October
- Nearest airport
- LNK8 km · Lincoln Airport
- Currency
- USDUnited States dollar
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- Language
- Carolinian, Chamorro, Hawaiian
About
About Lincoln
Lincoln is the capital city of the U.S. state of Nebraska. The city covers 103.9 square miles (269.1 km2) and had a population of 291,082 as of the 2020 census (301,522 estimated in 2025).
Lincoln is the seat (1869) of Lancaster County, in the southeastern part of the state, about 60 miles (95 km) southwest of Omaha. Lincoln was founded in 1859 as the village of Lancaster. Renamed and made Nebraska's state capital in 1867, it's the second-largest city in the state. It's the state's center of government and higher education and is a regional transportation center. Even with a population of 290,000 (2019), it retains a friendly, "small town" feel. There are several threads running through Lincoln's cultural composition.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Lincoln
See
- Nebraska State Capitol
- William Jennings Bryan House
- Sheldon Museum of Art
- Sunken Gardens
- Lincoln Children's Zoo
- University of Nebraska State Museum
- International Quilt Study Center & Museum
- Great Plains Art Museum
Do
Lied Center for Performing Arts (pronounced "Leed") or the UNL schools of Music, Theatre, and Film have performances year-round. During the summer, see the Flatwater Shakespeare Company at Wyuka cemetery, musicals at the Pinewood Bowl, classical performances at the Meadowlark Music Festival, or professional theater at Nebraska Repertory Theatre. The Sheldon is the largest gallery in town, but to get a look at the work of local artists, be sure to check out the downtown art galleries. By far the most fun time to do this is the evening of the first Friday of every month, when the galleries put up new work. New art is usually accompanied by food, drinks, and sometimes live music.
- Lied Center for Performing Arts
- UNL schools of Music, Theatre, and Film
- Wyuka cemetery
- Pinewood Bowl
- Meadowlark Music Festival
- Nebraska Repertory Theatre
- Jazz in June
- Nebraska Music Festival
- Pioneers Park
- Haymarket Park
- Memorial Stadium
- Pinnacle Bank Arena
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Lincoln
4 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Capital | 2.4 km | |
| The Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel | 2.1 km | |
| Graduate Lincoln Graduate by Hilton | 2.6 km | |
| The Kindler Hotel | 2.4 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Lincoln
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Lincoln are April, September and October. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; May is the wettest, with about 121 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Lincoln: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Lincoln Airport (LNK), about 8.1 km from the city centre in a straight line; Eppley Airfield (OMA, 86 km) and Central Nebraska Regional Airport (GRI, 138 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
The primary route into the city is I-80, with I-180 serving as a downtown connector. US Highways 6, 34, 77 and Nebraska Hwy 2 also run through Lincoln.
Getting around
Getting around Lincoln is a mixed-bag proposition. If you are planning on staying near the center of town, you probably won't need a rental car. All major necessities except groceries are available in or near downtown. Lincoln does not have any crosstown freeways or expressways. The city is laid out in a grid pattern; a handful of diagonal streets exist. Major through streets are generally located once per mile; there are generally 14 streets to the mile. Traffic can be heavy on major streets and in downtown during rush hour and on football Saturdays.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
LNK · Lincoln Airport
OMA · Eppley Airfield
GRI · Central Nebraska Regional Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Lincoln
Eat
Indoor work sites are smoke-free in Lincoln, so you'll be able to enjoy smoke-free restaurants and bars.
Drink
Largely due to the university, there is much night life to be found (bars now can close at 2AM). O Street is just a few blocks away from popular student housing and is also one of the longest main streets in the U.S. with a portion covered by local drinking establishments, most in the downtown areas between 12th and 16th Sts. The local music scene is also expansive with live bands playing at many bars in the downtown area.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Lincoln: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Lincoln?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Lincoln are April, September and October. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; May is the wettest, with about 121 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Lincoln?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Lincoln Airport (LNK), about 8.1 km from the city centre in a straight line; Eppley Airfield (OMA, 86 km) and Central Nebraska Regional Airport (GRI, 138 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Lincoln?
United States dollar (USD).
Nearby
Destinations near Lincoln
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.