Origin
Omaha, NE
Night in Omaha on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
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
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Omaha, NE
Wikimedia Commons
Crete, NE
Yuliya Duzhaya
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 .
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Omaha, NE and Crete, NE.
Start on Harney Street
Turn right onto South 18th Street
Turn right onto Saint Mary's Avenue
Turn left onto South 29th Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 480; US 75
Take the exit onto I 480
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Turn left onto N-103; I 80 Alt
Enter roundabout onto N-103
Continue on N-103
Continue on N-103
Continue on N-103
Continue on N-103
Turn right onto N-33; N-103
Continue on N-33; N-103
Turn right onto N-33; N-103
Turn right onto Main Avenue
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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 checkTop 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.
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.
Turn right onto South 18th Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto South 29th Street
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I 480 South, US 75 South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
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
Regular Gas
$12.84 one way
$25.67 round trip
| 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Omaha on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in Crete on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Doane University
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).
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.
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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