Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
19m
Distance
12 mi
19 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Papillion, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Omaha, NE
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Papillion, NE to Omaha, NE covers 12 miles and takes about 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, South 84th Street, Gerald R Ford Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 3.7 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.88 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 19m. Total distance: 12 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
The drive from Papillion, NE to Omaha, NE covers 12 miles and takes about 19m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.2 miles in near I 80.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 12 miles you will encounter 7 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 5.2 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.2 miles (Gerald R Ford Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 480 North, US 75: Eppley Airfield, Downtown, Bellevue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto Gerald R Ford Expressway toward I 480 North, US 75 North: Eppley Airfield, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Harney Street, Dodge Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto Harney Street
Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Papillion, NE and Omaha, NE, road signs point toward Downtown and Bellevue.
Downtown
Bellevue
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| South 84th Street | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Gerald R Ford Expressway | 2 mi | 2m |
| South Washington Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Harney Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| East Lincoln Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Papillion, NE and Omaha, NE.
Start on East Lincoln Street
Turn right onto N-85
Continue on N-85
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork onto Gerald R Ford Expressway
Take the exit
Turn right onto Harney Street
Arrive at destination
Regular Gas
$1.88 one way
$3.75 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.06 | $4.12 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.31 | $4.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.65 | $5.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.26 | $0.58 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.05 | $0.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.68 | $0.77 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Papillion on Friday
Local time
12:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Omaha on Friday
Local time
12:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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