How far is Lexington, NE from Crete, NE?

The driving distance from Lexington, NE to Crete, NE is about 164.3 miles (264.4 km), with a travel time of about 02h 54m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 146 miles (235 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 48m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
164.31 mi
02h 54m
Flight
145.99 mi
234.95 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lexington.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
145.99 mi
Kilometers
234.95 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
164.31 mi
Kilometers
264.43 km
Drive Time
02h 54m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 02h 54m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Crete
Thu, Apr 23, 6:09 AM CDT
Return by in Lexington
Thu, Apr 23, 9:03 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lexington
2026-04-23T03:15
Arrive Crete
Thu, Apr 23, 6:09 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 54m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:54 AM to 12:54 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
12:42 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lexington
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Doniphan
NE

Township in Hall County, Nebraska

From Lexington
82 mi
01h 27m
To Crete
82.3 mi
01h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph WNW
Destination
81°F
Thursday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
20 to 25 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Lexington and Crete.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lexington and Crete.

  1. 1

    Start on North Washington Street

    735 ft · 25 sec · North Washington Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East 6th Street

    759 ft · 23 sec · East 6th Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Jackson Street

    813 ft · 15 sec · North Jackson Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Plum Creek Parkway

    2.5 mi · 4 min · Plum Creek Parkway

  5. 5

    Turn left onto I 80 East: Kearney

    1623 ft · 40 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    131.4 mi · 2 hr 11 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward NE 80E Link: Beaver Crossing

    1654 ft · 41 sec

  8. 8

    Turn right onto 420th Road

    8.4 mi · 10 min · 420th Road

  9. 9

    Continue on Highway 80E

    3 mi · 4 min · Highway 80E

  10. 10

    Turn left onto 1st Street

    1 mi · 2 min · 1st Street

  11. 11

    Continue on Highway 6

    5.6 mi · 7 min · Highway 6

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Highway 33

    11 mi · 13 min · Highway 33

  13. 13

    Continue on West 13th Street

    1239 ft · 32 sec · West 13th Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Main Avenue

    925 ft · 25 sec · Main Avenue

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Lexington and Crete.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
15 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 East
132 mi · 80%
Highway 33
11 mi · 7%
420th Road
8.39 mi · 5%
Highway 6
5.58 mi · 3%
Highway 80E
3.04 mi · 2%
Plum Creek Parkway
2.52 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 80 East

Merge slight left

131 mi · 02h 11m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 54m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18.3 mi
146 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Doniphan
01h 27m from Lexington
Leave By
12:42 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Lexington and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Crete.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lexington to Crete?

The road trip is about 164.3 miles (264.4 km) and usually takes 02h 54m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Doniphan is a useful midpoint, sitting about 82 miles from Lexington and 82.3 miles from Crete.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 146 miles (235 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:42 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.87 one way or $43.74 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 51.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Lexington and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Crete.

Stop Ideas Near Doniphan

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Doniphan, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Doniphan.

RAIL

Hastings

21 mi away
501 West First St.
RAIL

Holdrege

92 mi away
100 West Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lexington and Crete. Straight-line distance: 145.99 mi (234.95 km).

Lexington

#1 Lexington

City in Dawson County, Nebraska, United States

Population10,109
Coordinates40.7808400, -99.7415000
Altitude729
CountryUnited States
Crete

#2 Crete

Town in Saline County, Nebraska, United States

Population6,875
Coordinates40.6277800, -96.9614200
Altitude412
CountryUnited States
Start: Lexington (-99.7415, 40.78084)
End: Crete (-96.96142, 40.62778)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 264 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 28m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 06m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 17m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 44m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.8 gal
21.95 L · about $21.87
Round trip
$43.74
11.6 gal · 43.9 L
Estimated CO2
51.5 kg one way
Round trip: 103.1 kg / 227 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $21.87 $43.74
Mid-grade $4.25 $24.67 $49.33
Premium $4.65 $26.99 $53.99
Diesel $5.30 $30.76 $61.53

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Nebraska · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Lexington and Crete. The current time is 03:15:35.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.