Nebraska
Base Info

Front Plate Required: No

Area Codes: 308, 402

License Plates:

2011 - 2016
Car
2023 - Present
Car
2017 - Present
Car

Windshield Stickers:

None

Road and Highway Signs:

County Roads:

None

Highways:

Highway Adoption:

Historical:

City Symbols:
South Sioux City
Transit
Buses
Lincoln
Startran
Omaha
metro
Bus Stop Signs
Lincoln
Startran
Omaha
metro
Bike Sharing
Lincoln
Omaha
Tolley / Streetcars
None
Identification

Nebraska has two primary area codes: 402 in roughly the populated east end and 308 in the unpopulated west. They updated their primary license plate in 2023, so older coverage may have the 2017 or even 2011 standard plate. The yellow diamond sign that says "Prepare to Stop When Flashing" with a pair of lights on top is unique to Nebraska.

2011 license plate

2017 license plate

2023 license plate

402 in Omaha

308 in North Platte

Prepare to Stop When Flashing

Highways are marked with either flat yellow bollards or white circle bollards. Important signs have a single white reflector on either or both sides of the post. Warning diamonds are either plain yellow or black with yellow reflectors and state highways post green distance markers every mile.

Flat yellow bollard

White circle bollard

White reflector on signpost

Yellow diamonds

Green distance marker

Black diamond with yellow reflectors

On interstate highways, black and yellow warning stripe signs are wider than standard. On state and US highways, it has a thin yellow border. Bridge crossings are marked with a number on a green plate, usually attached to the post of a warning stripe sign, and drainage is marked by a flat plate with three reflectors, either yellow or blue.

Wide warning stripes sign

Bridge marker & yellow border on stripes

Drainage marker

Geography

Nebraska's geography looks similar to the other midwestern plains states, especially Kansas. Most of the population lives in the east, where you can find both Lincoln and Omaha. Both cities are grid-based and make heavy use of concrete instead of asphalt for major thoroughfares.

Rolling grasslands

Population density map

Concrete for major roads

The east end has more trees and is scattered with small towns, many based around railways. The middle to west end are the stereotypical rolling grasslands and occasional farm. County roads and smaller designation roads are often made of gravel or dirt.

Small railway town

Unpaved county roads

Interstates

Nebraska's interstate highway system is made of concrete near the major cities, but is made from asphalt across the plains. They use a unique mile marker that inverts the green & white colors for the fractional distance. Bollards are white, but can be either plastic or metal. Unlike Mississippi, the bridge marker doesn't always appear on the columns below an interstate overpass, but will always be listed on the bridge above.

Nebraska mile marker

Rebar bollards

Black plastic bollards

Interstate overpass bridge marker

Similarities

Minnesota also uses black diamonds with yellow reflectors.

Black diamond with yellow reflectors

External Links & Credits

Nebraska County Road Grid Types by Drazi.

A Guide to Corn in the USA by schitaco.