This 290.8-mile journey from Papillion, Nebraska, to Sutherland, Nebraska, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 5 hours and 1 minute to complete. The route primarily utilizes South Washington Street and Highway 370 before merging onto I-80 West. With a projected fuel cost of around $44, this drive offers a straightforward passage through the Great Plains region. It's a practical option for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. The overall feel is that of a typical, functional road trip focused on getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
145.4 miles from Papillion, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
280.4 mi
4h 44m
Highway 370
6.3 mi
9m
N-25
1.7 mi
2m
South Washington Street
1 mi
2m
US 30
0.7 mi
1m
East Lincoln Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
1st Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 280.4 mi, about 4h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Papillion, NE and Sutherland, 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: LincolnUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 80
280 mi·4 hr 44 min·I 80
Use the slight right lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward NE 25: Sutherland, Wallace
7
Turn right onto N-25; I 80 Alt
1.7 mi·2 min·N-25; I 80 Alt
8
At end of road, turn left onto US 30; I 80 Alt
0.7 mi·1 min·US 30; I 80 Alt
9
Arrive at destination
US 30; I 80 Alt
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration, starting your drive in Papillion in the morning is advisable to make the most of daylight. With only one recommended stop, flexibility is key; choose a point that suits your needs for a break. You'll want to keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you navigate off the main interstate sections. The estimated fuel cost of $44 should help you budget accordingly for this 290.8-mile trip. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to signage when transitioning from Highway 370 to I-80 West to ensure a smooth entry onto the interstate.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 145.4 miles from Papillion, NE, or about 2h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 280.4 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 64 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.4 miles or 2h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sutherland, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Papillion, NE so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Papillion, NE
This is one driving day of about 290.8 miles and 5h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Papillion, NE.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 280.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 288.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
5
7.8 mi into trip|~12m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
288.1 mi into trip|~4h 57m in
Take the exit toward NE 25: Sutherland, Wallace
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NE 25: Sutherland, Wallace
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.46 one way
$90.93 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$49.92
$99.83
premium
$4.89
$55.96
$111.92
diesel
$5.61
$64.20
$128.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.2
1
$30.53
$13.96
Efficient EV
72.7
0
$25.45
$11.63
EV Truck/SUV
116.3
1
$40.71
$18.61
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Papillion, NE
Evening
in Papillion on Saturday
Local time
8:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sutherland, NE
Evening
in Sutherland on Saturday
Local time
8:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°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
31 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
5h 1m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile for this route, indicating a significant amount of navigation through local roads and intersections rather than continuous highway cruising. Although I-80 West is part of the itinerary, its share is not quantified, suggesting it's not the dominant feature. The absence of a specified longest stretch implies frequent changes in road type and speed. This road personality means you'll be actively engaged with the driving, managing turns and varying speed limits as you transition between different road segments.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 280.4 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Highway 370. 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 Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 1m 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: 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 1m. Total distance: 290.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 280.4 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 (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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sutherland, NE before the return drive.
