Origin
Papillion, NE
Afternoon in Papillion on Thursday
Local time
3:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Papillion, NE to Crete, NE
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 27m
Distance
73 mi
118 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 41m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Papillion, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Crete, NE
Yuliya Duzhaya
Trip Overview
The drive from Papillion, NE to Crete, NE covers 73 miles and takes about 1h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, 154th Road, Highway 370 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 50.3 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.41 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 27m. Total distance: 73 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 27m highway drive covering 73 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and 154th Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 50.3 miles on I 80.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 50.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and 154th Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near N-85 / South Washington Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 27m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (N-85 / South Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (N-370 / Highway 370): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
N-85 / South Washington Street
Turn left onto N-85 / South Washington Street
Navigation decision point
5
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
N-370 / Highway 370
Turn right onto N-370 / Highway 370
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
7.3 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Turn left toward I 80 West: Lincoln
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 80 West: Lincoln
6
58 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward NE 103: Crete, Pleasant Dale, Doane University
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 388
Toward NE 103: Crete, Pleasant Dale, Doane Univ...
4
58.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
N-103; I 80 Alt / 154th Road
Turn left onto N-103; I 80 Alt / 154th Road
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Papillion, NE and Crete, NE, road signs point toward Pleasant Dale and Doane University.
Pleasant Dale
58 mi in
|
~1h 6m
Doane University
58 mi in
|
~1h 6m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 50.3 mi | 54m |
| 154th Road | 8.4 mi | 10m |
| Highway 370 | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| Highway 103 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| East Highway 33 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| South Washington Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Hawthorne Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East 13th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 50.3 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Papillion, NE and Crete, NE.
1
Start on East Lincoln Street
197 ft
·
16 sec
·
East Lincoln Street
2
Turn left onto N-85
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Washington Street
3
Turn right onto N-370
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Highway 370
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 80 West: Lincoln
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 80
50 mi
·
54 min
·
I 80
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 388
Toward NE 103: Crete, Pleasant Dale, Doane University
7
Turn left onto N-103; I 80 Alt
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
154th Road
8
Enter roundabout onto N-103
134 ft
·
2 sec
·
154th Road
9
Continue on N-103
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
154th Road
10
Continue on N-103
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
North 5th Street
11
Continue on N-103
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
154th Road
12
Continue on N-103
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Highway 103
13
Turn right onto N-33; N-103
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
East Highway 33
14
Continue on N-33; N-103
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Hawthorne Avenue
15
Turn right onto N-33; N-103
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
East 13th Street
16
Turn right onto Main Avenue
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Main Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Main Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.5 mi from Papillion, NE · 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.5 miles from Papillion, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Crete, NE
The final approach into Crete, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.41 one way
$22.83 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.53 | $25.06 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.05 | $28.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.12 | $32.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.66 | $3.50 |
| Efficient EV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.39 | $2.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.2 | 0 | $10.22 | $4.67 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Crete, NE
Afternoon in Crete on Thursday
Local time
3:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Lincoln, NE
37 mi in
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
25 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 27m 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 Papillion, NE to Crete, NE covers 73 miles and takes about 1h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, 154th Road, Highway 370. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.5 miles from Papillion, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.41 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 27m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (N-85 / South Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (N-370 / Highway 370): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Between Papillion, NE and Crete, NE, road signs point toward Pleasant Dale and Doane University.
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