Driving I-80 across the state in April (Omaha, Lincoln: construction, restaurants)

[Tom Tom]

Plan on driving I-80 across the state the last week in April. How is the weather that time of year. Is this an easy trip?
Thanks,
Tom Tom

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by Tom Tom

Plan on driving I-80 across the state the last week in April. How is the weather that time of year. Is this an easy trip?
Thanks,
Tom Tom

Generally good weather. VERY easy trip.

[Dave1215]

If you are not in a hurry and can spare a little extra time then might want to get OFF the interstate and travel across the state. The state has tons of variety lots of cool geography, but unfortunatly I-80 sits in a river valley across the entire state. Pick the most boring part of the state and put all the travelers there.

[tpabes]

You might encounter rain or severe t-storm, but otherwise no weather worries. Expect construction especially between Omaha and Lincoln. Good stopping towns in my opinion: Omaha, Lincoln, York, Kearney, Lexington, North Platte, Ogalalla, Sidney. Other decent gas/eat stops: Seward, Aurora, GI/Hastings exit, Cozad, Gothenburg, Kimball. Its a little over 450 miles across the state, 75 mph speed limit. I'm guessing your just going to drive through as I see your post also on Iowa and Wyoming forums, but if your interested in tourist stops, let us know. Otherwise have a safe trip.

[Katiana]

Just set the cruise control for 75 (I won't encourage speeding, LOL!) and you're off! There may be a lot of trucks on the road, and of course, you never know when there's construction.

[Chris19]

April is generally a decent month to drive on I-80. I would be more concerned with going in March with winter's last hurrah. There may be an occasional snow but the chances generally diminish quickly after the very late part of March or very early April. Most of the times it is general rain and is usually easy to handle.

I agree with the prior posts on going 75 and that the interstate goes through the least scenic part of the state.

When I pass through Nebraska, generally getting on I-80 at the Grand Island/Hastings exit and stopping occasionally until taking I-76 towards Denver, I find the gas stations closest to the interstates in places such as Kearney and North Platte tend to be higher than those further away (but it is a convenience vs. cost tradeoff). I usually fill up inside Grand Island to save 15 or 20 cents a gallon.

Nebraska has more sizable cities located along I-80 than Iowa, but there are sufficient number of places to stop, stretch, eat, and stay with each state. Wyoming, one needs to plan more carefully with towns and stops being further apart than Iowa and Nebraska. You will find the Nebraskans be friendly people.

In regards to speed. On the interstate, 75 is the speed limit and when there is a gap in truck traffic, it is good to set the cruise at 75. I would not chance any more than 5 over. I have seen in the past when motorists, especially out-of-staters, go 85 mph or 90 mph and then get pulled over 5-10 miles ahead.

You will be fine going through Nebraska.

[itsMeFred]

It'll be flat, boring and fast. I80 is not a "drive." It's just the fastest way to get from here to there.

[Katiana]

I agree that gas near the interstates runs higher than in Omaha, which is usually our first fuel stop. Ogallala is that way, too. Some of us were just talking about that at a party yesterday, LOL. I will say it's sometimes quite a ways off the highway to these towns where it is cheaper. If time is of the essence, it's better to pay more for one tankful and get going again, IMO.

[SiouxlandLoisLane]

Originally Posted by itsMeFred

It'll be flat, boring and fast. I80 is not a "drive." It's just the fastest way to get from here to there.

I think I agree with Mr. Fred, here.

Tom you'll find this to be the easiest road trip you'll ever take... and like Fred says, probably TOO easy. Bring along some jarring music to keep you awake and make lots of coffee stops!

[ehenningsen]

I have really grown to like North Platte..

Not far to the north, you have the scenic Sand Hills, and to the south you have what looks like the rockies foothills.

Plus North Platte has great restaurants, especially the whiskey creek chain!