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Trip from Crete, NE to Hastings, NE

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 36m

Distance

77.5 mi

125 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 29m ★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 40m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 32m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Crete, NE, NE

Crete, NE

Yuliya Duzhaya

city in and county seat of Adams County, Nebraska, United States

Hastings, NE

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Crete, NE to Hastings, NE covers 77.5 miles and takes about 1h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Highway 6, East Highway 6, Highway 33 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 32.5 miles on Highway 6. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.12 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.

Midpoint

38.8 miles from Crete, NE

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 77.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (85%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 36m highway drive covering 77.5 miles, with most of the trip on Highway 6 and East Highway 6. The longest continuous stretch is about 32.5 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 22 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 32.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 6 and East Highway 6. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near N-33; N-103 / West 13th Street.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 36m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (N-33; N-103 / West 13th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (N-33; N-103 / West Highway 33): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 11.4 miles (US 6; N-15 / Highway 6): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | N-33; N-103 / West 13th Street

Turn right onto N-33; N-103 / West 13th Street

Navigation decision point

4
0.4 mi into trip | ~0m in | N-33; N-103 / West Highway 33

Keep slight left at fork onto N-33; N-103 / West Highway 33

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

4
11.4 mi into trip | ~14m in | US 6; N-15 / Highway 6

At end of road, turn left onto US 6; N-15 / Highway 6

Navigation decision point

5
76.5 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in | US 6 Business / South Elm Avenue

Turn right onto US 6 Business / South Elm Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
77.3 mi into trip | ~1h 36m in | US 6 Business / West 3rd Street

Turn left onto US 6 Business / West 3rd Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Highway 6 32.5 mi 37m
East Highway 6 22.7 mi 26m
Highway 33 10 mi 11m
East South Street 5 mi 7m
1st Street 1.3 mi 2m
North French Avenue 1.2 mi 2m
D Street 1.1 mi 2m
West Highway 33 0.9 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Highway 6 — 32.5 mi, about 37m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Crete, NE and Hastings, NE.

1

Start on Main Avenue

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Main Avenue
2

Turn right onto N-33; N-103

0.2 mi · 24 sec · West 13th Street
3

Keep slight left at fork onto N-33; N-103

0.9 mi · 1 min · West Highway 33
4

Continue on N-33

10.0 mi · 11 min · Highway 33
5

At end of road, turn left onto US 6; N-15

5.6 mi · 6 min · Highway 6
6

Continue on US 6

1.3 mi · 2 min · 1st Street
7

Continue on US 6

7.7 mi · 8 min · Highway 6
8

Continue on US 6

0.8 mi · 1 min · East South Boundary Street
9

Continue on US 6

6.3 mi · 7 min · Highway 6
10

Continue on US 6

1.1 mi · 2 min · D Street
11

Continue on US 6

6.1 mi · 7 min · Highway 6
12

Continue on US 6

0.6 mi · 58 sec · South Street
13

Continue on US 6

6.9 mi · 7 min · Highway 6
14

Continue on US 6

1.2 mi · 2 min · North French Avenue
15

Continue on US 6

23 mi · 26 min · East Highway 6
16

Continue on US 6

4.9 mi · 6 min · East South Street
17

Keep slight right at fork onto US 6

0.1 mi · 17 sec · East South Street
18

Turn right onto US 6 Business

0.2 mi · 23 sec · South Elm Avenue
19

Turn left onto US 6 Business

0.5 mi · 56 sec · East 2nd Street
20

Turn straight onto US 6 Business

266 ft · 10 sec · North Minnesota Avenue
21

Turn left onto US 6 Business

0.3 mi · 31 sec · West 3rd Street
22

Arrive at destination

US 6 Business

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 38.8 miles from Crete, NE, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.5 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 17 miles or 20m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 38.8 miles or 48m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hastings, NE than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Crete, NE so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Crete, NE

This is one driving day of about 77.5 miles and 1h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Crete, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Highway 6 for about 32.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 38.8 mi from Crete, NE · 48m into the drive

Downtown McCool Junction, NE, NE

Mid-route town

Meal stop

McCool Junction, NE

39 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

Milford, NE

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

McCool Junction, NE

Meal break

The midpoint is around 38.7 miles from Crete, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Hastings, NE

The final approach into Hastings, NE usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Homestead National Historical Park

Homestead National Historical Park

National Historical Park

The Homestead Act of 1862 transformed the world. Millions were invited to file claims including families, women, immigrants, and formerly enslaved people. Over 10 percent of the United States was home...

24 mi from route ~61 min detour Free
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.12 one way

$24.23 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $13.30 $26.61
premium $4.89 $14.91 $29.83
diesel $5.61 $17.11 $34.22

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23.3 0 $8.14 $3.72
Efficient EV 19.4 0 $6.78 $3.10
EV Truck/SUV 31 0 $10.85 $4.96

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (67% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Crete, NE

Night in Crete on Friday

Local time

10:21 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hastings, NE

Night in Hastings on Friday

Local time

10:21 PM

CDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

3 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 36m 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 Crete, NE to Hastings, NE covers 77.5 miles and takes about 1h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Highway 6, East Highway 6, Highway 33. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 38.8 miles from Crete, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.12 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 is a straightforward 1h 36m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (N-33; N-103 / West 13th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (N-33; N-103 / West Highway 33): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 11.4 miles (US 6; N-15 / Highway 6): Navigation decision point.

The route from Crete, NE to Hastings, NE does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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