Lincoln to Rugby is about 66 miles in a straight line, but by train it takes around two and three quarter hours with two or three changes. There are two main ways: west through Derby and Tamworth, or south through Nottingham, Leicester and Nuneaton. By car, the A46 makes the trip simpler.
Lincoln to Apart Hotel Rugby: key points
- Via Derby
- Change at Derby and Tamworth: the best daytime trains take 2 hours 44 to 2 hours 49 minutes.
- Via Nottingham
- Change at Nottingham, Leicester and Nuneaton: 2 hours 44 to 2 hours 48 minutes.
- Slower options
- Some journeys add Coventry or longer waits and take over three hours.
- Last train
- 20:14 via Derby and Tamworth, arriving 23:28.
- By road
- 77 to 82 miles, using the A46 and the M1.
Two routes that take the same time
On the timetable for Tuesday 15 September 2026, the 10:42 from Lincoln went to Derby, changed for Tamworth and again for Rugby, arriving at 13:26. The 09:42 went the other way, changing at Nottingham, Leicester and Nuneaton, and arrived at 12:26. Both took 2 hours 44 minutes. What mattered more was avoiding the variants with long waits.
| Leaves Lincoln | Changes | Arrives Rugby | Journey |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:37 | Derby, Tamworth | 11:26 | 2 h 49 min |
| 09:10 | Nottingham, Leicester, Nuneaton, Coventry | 12:15 | 3 h 5 min |
| 09:42 | Nottingham, Leicester, Nuneaton | 12:26 | 2 h 44 min |
| 10:42 | Derby, Tamworth | 13:26 | 2 h 44 min |
| 17:40 | Nottingham, Leicester, Nuneaton | 20:28 | 2 h 48 min |
| 20:14 | Derby, Tamworth | 23:28 | 3 h 14 min |
In the evening the Derby route slows down. The 18:08, 19:14 and 20:14 all waited more than 20 minutes at Derby, taking over three hours. If you can leave by 17:40, the route via Nottingham and Leicester reaches Rugby at 20:28.
Three changes leave little room for delays. Check the full journey on National Rail Enquiries before travelling.
Driving from Lincoln
Both route planners head south-west from Lincoln on the A46, which follows the line of the Fosse Way, to join the M1. From there OSRM leaves at Junction 20 for the A426 and Valhalla continues to Junction 18 for the A428; their totals came out at 77 and 82 miles.
There’s free parking when you arrive, with six on-site guest spaces allocated in arrival order under CCTV, and on-street parking on Railway Terrace from 18:00 to 08:00.
Why visitors from Lincoln stay
Close to six hours of rail travel for a return trip makes a same-day visit hard work. Typical reasons for a stay include family weddings in Warwickshire and weeks of contract work.
Somewhere to cook and do the washing
If you are in Rugby for a working week, two things help: every one of our 16 rooms has a kitchenette, and the laundry on the first floor costs nothing to use. Book a week or longer and the room gets a weekly clean too. Compare room types, or read the policies page for check-in and cancellation terms.
Lincoln to Rugby FAQs
How long does the train take from Lincoln to Rugby?
The best journeys we found took 2 hours 44 minutes, changing either at Derby and Tamworth or at Nottingham, Leicester and Nuneaton.
What is the last train from Lincoln to Rugby?
The 20:14, which changes at Derby and Tamworth and arrives at 23:28.
What road do I take from Lincoln to Rugby?
The A46 south-west to the M1, then the M1 towards Rugby. The total is 77 to 82 miles depending on your exit.
Staying over after the journey from Lincoln
Rooms are bookable on our website, and the code DIRECT can be entered when you reserve.
Where this comes from: on 10 September 2026 we checked every Lincoln departure and connection above on traintimes.org.uk, choosing Tuesday 15 September 2026 as the journey date. OSRM’s A46 route came to 77 miles and Valhalla’s to 82; the 66-mile straight line we calculated ourselves.
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