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Trip from Omaha, NE to Crete, NE

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 36m

Distance

82.1 mi

132 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 29m ★
6 AM
1h 36m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 40m
3 PM
1h 42m
5 PM
1h 50m
8 PM
1h 32m

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

seat of Douglas County, and largest city in State of Nebraska, United States

Omaha, NE

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Crete, NE, NE

Crete, NE

Yuliya Duzhaya

Trip Overview

Omaha, NE to Crete, NE is 82.1 miles and takes about 1h 36m via I 80 and Highway 103, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive keeps you within the familiar Great Plains region for its entirety, moving from eastern Nebraska to the south-central part of the state. It's a relatively short trip, making it ideal for a quick commute or a leisurely afternoon excursion. You'll primarily be on well-maintained highways, so expect a consistent and predictable journey.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

41.1 miles from Omaha, NE

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 80 63.9 mi 1h 10m
154th Road 8.4 mi 10m
Highway 103 3.6 mi 4m
Gerald R Ford Expressway 2 mi 2m
East Highway 33 1.6 mi 2m
Saint Mary's Avenue 0.8 mi 2m
Hawthorne Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
East 13th Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 80 — 63.9 mi, about 1h 10m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Harney Street

176 ft · 10 sec · Harney Street
2

Turn right onto South 18th Street

0.1 mi · 29 sec · South 18th Street
3

Turn right onto Saint Mary's Avenue

0.8 mi · 2 min · Saint Mary's Avenue
4

Turn left onto South 29th Street

450 ft · 10 sec · South 29th Street
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Toward I 480 South, US 75 South
6

Merge onto I 480; US 75

1.2 mi · 1 min · Gerald R Ford Expressway
7

Take the exit onto I 480

0.8 mi · 55 sec · Gerald R Ford Expressway
8

Merge onto I 80

64 mi · 1 hr 10 min · I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Exit 388 Toward NE 103: Crete, Pleasant Dale, Doane University
10

Turn left onto N-103; I 80 Alt

0.6 mi · 44 sec · 154th Road
11

Enter roundabout onto N-103

134 ft · 2 sec · 154th Road
12

Continue on N-103

1.4 mi · 1 min · 154th Road
13

Continue on N-103

0.2 mi · 25 sec · North 5th Street
14

Continue on N-103

6.4 mi · 8 min · 154th Road
15

Continue on N-103

3.6 mi · 4 min · Highway 103
16

Turn right onto N-33; N-103

1.6 mi · 2 min · East Highway 33
17

Continue on N-33; N-103

0.3 mi · 39 sec · Hawthorne Avenue
18

Turn right onto N-33; N-103

0.3 mi · 41 sec · East 13th Street
19

Turn right onto Main Avenue

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Main Avenue
20

Arrive at destination

Main Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the short duration of 1 hour and 36 minutes, this trip is perfectly suited for a same-day adventure, offering flexibility in your departure time. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, you won't need to worry extensively about budgeting for gas. Since there are no designated stops mentioned, plan to take breaks as needed, perhaps at one of the highway service areas along I 80 before you exit. Keep an eye out for the transition from the interstate to Highway 103, as this marks the final leg of your journey into Crete.

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 41.1 miles from Omaha, NE, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.9 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 18 miles or 22m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 41.1 miles or 47m 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 19m

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

Before You Leave

+

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

Day 1

Settle into the route from Omaha, NE

This is one driving day of about 82.1 miles and 1h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Omaha, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 63.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Saunders County, Nebraska, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ashland, NE

41 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

Ralston, NE

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ashland, NE

Meal break

The midpoint is around 41.1 miles from Omaha, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63.9 miles.

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 67.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | South 18th Street

Turn right onto South 18th Street

Navigation decision point

4
0.9 mi into trip | ~2m in | South 29th Street

Turn left onto South 29th Street

Navigation decision point

5
1 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the ramp toward I 480 South, US 75 South

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 480 South, US 75 South
5
3.2 mi into trip | ~5m in | I 80

Merge onto I 80

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
67.1 mi into trip | ~1h 15m 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...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.84 one way

$25.67 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $14.09 $28.19
premium $4.89 $15.80 $31.60
diesel $5.61 $18.13 $36.25

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 28.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 24.6 0 $8.62 $3.94
Efficient EV 20.5 0 $7.18 $3.28
EV Truck/SUV 32.8 0 $11.49 $5.25

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (66% 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

Omaha, NE

Night in Omaha on Saturday

Local time

11:14 PM

CDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Crete, NE

Night in Crete on Saturday

Local time

11:14 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

77°F

Ashland, NE

41 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

24 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 87% of the journey taking place on major roads. You'll spend a significant amount of time on I 80, including a continuous stretch of 63.9 miles. After leaving I 80, the drive transitions to local roads like 154th Road and Highway 103, offering a slight change of pace. The overall feel is one of efficient travel, designed for covering ground without many distractions.

87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63.9 mi on I 80.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

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 South 18th 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 13 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 (South 18th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (South 29th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Omaha, NE and Crete, NE, road signs point toward Pleasant Dale and Doane University.

Pleasant Dale

67.1 mi in | ~1h 15m

Doane University

67.1 mi in | ~1h 15m

About the Cities

Starting in Omaha, NE

Full guide →

Omaha is the largest city in the US state of Nebraska, with about 486,000 residents in 2020. Tourist attractions in Omaha include history, sports, outdoors and cultural experiences. Its principal tourist attractions are the Henry Doorly Zoo and the Men's College World Series. The Old Market in Downtown Omaha is another major attraction and is important to the city's retail economy.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 82.1 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 (87%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 63.9 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through NE can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 18th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (South 29th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Crete, NE before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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