Origin
Ashland, NE
Morning in Ashland on Monday
Local time
8:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ashland, NE to Papillion, NE
Drive Time
29m
Distance
21.8 mi
35 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 35m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 35m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ashland, NE
Tom Fisk
Papillion, NE
Erik Karits
Trip Overview
The drive from Ashland, NE to Papillion, NE covers 21.8 miles and takes about 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Highway 6, Highway 370, I 80 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 7.5 miles on Highway 6. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.31 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
10.9 miles from Ashland, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 14m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 29m highway drive covering 21.8 miles, with most of the trip on Highway 6 and Highway 370. The longest continuous stretch is about 7.5 miles on Highway 6.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highway 6 is the longest continuous segment at about 7.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 6 and Highway 370. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 6; I 80 Alt / Highway 6.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 21.8 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 6; I 80 Alt / Highway 6): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 8.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 14.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 6; I 80 Alt / Highway 6
Enter roundabout onto US 6; I 80 Alt / Highway 6
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
8.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Turn left toward I 80 east
Navigation decision point
Toward I 80 east
6
14.2 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward NE 370: Papillion, Bellevue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 439
Toward NE 370: Papillion, Bellevue
7
14.7 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NE 370 East: Papillion, Bellevue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 439
Toward NE 370 East: Papillion, Bellevue
5
14.7 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
N-370; I 80 Alt / Highway 370
Merge onto N-370; I 80 Alt / Highway 370
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Ashland, NE to Papillion, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Bellevue along the way.
Bellevue
14.2 mi in
|
~17m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 6 | 7.5 mi | 9m |
| Highway 370 | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| I 80 | 5.3 mi | 5m |
| South Washington Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| South Highway 31 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North 14th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Highway 66 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Lincoln Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Highway 6
— 7.5 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ashland, NE and Papillion, NE.
1
Start on N-66
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
North 14th Street
2
Continue on N-66
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Highway 66
3
Enter roundabout onto US 6; I 80 Alt
224 ft
·
3 sec
·
Highway 6
4
Continue on US 6; I 80 Alt
7.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Highway 6
5
Turn right onto N-31; I 80 Alt
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
South Highway 31
6
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 80 east
7
Merge onto I 80
5.3 mi
·
5 min
·
I 80
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 439
Toward NE 370: Papillion, Bellevue
9
Keep slight right at fork
200 ft
·
6 sec
Exit 439
Toward NE 370 East: Papillion, Bellevue
10
Merge onto N-370; I 80 Alt
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Highway 370
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left onto N-85
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Washington Street
12
Turn right onto East Lincoln Street
197 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Lincoln Street
13
Arrive at destination
East Lincoln Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 10.9 miles from Ashland, NE, or about 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 7.5 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 21.8 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 10.9 miles or 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Papillion, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ashland, NE so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ashland, NE
This is one driving day of about 21.8 miles and 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Ashland, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Highway 6 for about 7.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10.9 mi from Ashland, NE · 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
11 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 21.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 10.9 miles from Ashland, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Papillion, NE
The final approach into Papillion, NE usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Papillion, NE.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.31 one way
$6.62 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $3.65 | $7.30 |
| premium | $4.80 | $4.12 | $8.23 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.84 | $9.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.29 | $1.05 |
| Efficient EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.91 | $0.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.05 | $1.40 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Papillion, NE
Morning in Papillion on Monday
Local time
8:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
77°F
Louisville, NE
11 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
29m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Ashland, NE to Papillion, NE covers 21.8 miles and takes about 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 6, Highway 370, I 80. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.9 miles from Ashland, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.31 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 21.8 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 6; I 80 Alt / Highway 6): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 8.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 14.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Ashland, NE to Papillion, NE, road signs begin pointing toward Bellevue along the way.
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