How far is Papillion, NE from Chadron, NE?

The driving distance from Papillion, NE to Chadron, NE is about 437.9 miles (704.8 km), with a travel time of about 08h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 375.4 miles (604.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 33m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
437.93 mi
08h 46m
Flight
375.44 mi
604.21 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Papillion.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
375.44 mi
Kilometers
604.21 km
Flight Time
00h 45m

Driving Distance

Road route
437.93 mi
Kilometers
704.78 km
Drive Time
08h 46m

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 08h 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chadron
Thu, Apr 23, 9:20 AM MDT
Return by in Papillion
Thu, Apr 23, 7:07 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Papillion
2026-04-23T01:34
Arrive Chadron
Thu, Apr 23, 10:20 AM CDT
Route Timing
08h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:47 PM to 3:17 PM MDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
6:26 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Papillion
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Stuart
NE

Township in Holt County, Nebraska

From Papillion
218.6 mi
04h 23m
To Chadron
219.3 mi
04h 23m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
16 to 20 mph SSW
Destination
62°F
Thursday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
30 to 35 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Papillion and Chadron.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Papillion and Chadron.

  1. 1

    Start on East Lincoln Street

    60 m · 13 sec · East Lincoln Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Washington Street

    1.5 mi · 3 min · South Washington Street

  3. 3

    Continue on South 84th Street

    3.3 mi · 6 min · South 84th Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 80 West

    1797 ft · 45 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight right

    1.7 mi · 2 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 680 North

    1.3 km · 1 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight right

    1.1 mi · 1 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward Pacific Street

    593 ft · 14 sec

  9. 9

    Continue on Pacific Street

    123 m · 10 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Pacific Street west

    49 m · 6 sec

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Pacific Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · Pacific Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto South 120th Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · South 120th Street

  13. 13

    Take the ramp left toward US 6 West

    1855 ft · 45 sec · West Dodge Road

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto West Dodge Road

    10.1 mi · 12 min · West Dodge Road

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    19.7 mi · 21 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right

    1284 ft · 35 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight left

    143 m · 15 sec

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Highway 77

    7.6 mi · 8 min · Highway 77

  19. 19

    Continue on Highway 275

    23 mi · 25 min · Highway 275

  20. 20

    Continue on South Lincoln Street

    1.8 mi · 2 min · South Lincoln Street

  21. 21

    Continue on Highway 275

    7 mi · 8 min · Highway 275

  22. 22

    Continue on Front Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · Front Street

  23. 23

    Continue on Highway 275

    5.9 mi · 8 min · Highway 275

  24. 24

    Continue on E Avenue East

    2749 ft · 1 min · E Avenue East

  25. 25

    Continue on Avenue E West

    2531 ft · 1 min · Avenue E West

  26. 26

    Continue on Highway 275

    23.5 mi · 27 min · Highway 275

  27. 27

    Continue on East Omaha Avenue

    3.3 mi · 4 min · East Omaha Avenue

  28. 28

    Continue on Highway 275

    2 mi · 2 min · Highway 275

  29. 29

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Highway 275

    62 m · 3 sec · Highway 275

  30. 30

    Exit the roundabout onto Highway 275

    18.8 mi · 22 min · Highway 275

  31. 31

    Continue on Front Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · Front Street

  32. 32

    Continue on Highway 275

    12.2 mi · 14 min · Highway 275

  33. 33

    Continue on L Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · L Street

  34. 34

    Continue on East 11th Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · East 11th Street

  35. 35

    Continue on Highway 275

    8.1 mi · 9 min · Highway 275

  36. 36

    Continue on Miles Street

    2496 ft · 32 sec · Miles Street

  37. 37

    Continue on Highway 275

    9.6 mi · 11 min · Highway 275

  38. 38

    Continue on Front Street

    2978 ft · 38 sec · Front Street

  39. 39

    Continue on Highway 275

    7.6 mi · 9 min · Highway 275

  40. 40

    Continue on Highway 20/275

    12.4 mi · 15 min · Highway 20/275

  41. 41

    Continue on East Douglas Street

    1.1 mi · 3 min · East Douglas Street

  42. 42

    Continue on Highway 20

    17.3 mi · 21 min · Highway 20

  43. 43

    Continue on South Hyde Street

    2765 ft · 59 sec · South Hyde Street

  44. 44

    Continue on East 5th Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · East 5th Street

  45. 45

    Continue on Highway 20

    36.8 mi · 44 min · Highway 20

  46. 46

    Continue on US Highway 20

    8.5 mi · 10 min · US Highway 20

  47. 47

    Continue on East 4th Street

    43.1 mi · 51 min · East 4th Street

  48. 48

    Continue straight

    109.7 mi · 2 hr 12 min

  49. 49

    Continue on US Highway 20

    10.3 mi · 12 min · US Highway 20

  50. 50

    Continue on South 1st Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · South 1st Street

  51. 51

    Continue on US Highway 20

    19.3 mi · 24 min · US Highway 20

  52. 52

    Turn right

    13 m · 3 sec

  53. 53

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Papillion and Chadron.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
53 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
3 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
East 4th Street
153 mi · 35%
Highway 275
118 mi · 27%
Highway 20
54.2 mi · 12%
US Highway 20
38.2 mi · 9%
West Dodge Road
30.3 mi · 7%
Highway 20/275
12.4 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

East 4th Street

Continue straight

110 mi · 02h 12m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
08h 46m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
17h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+62.5 mi
375.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Stuart
04h 23m from Papillion
Leave By
6:26 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Papillion and Chance Rain Showers near Chadron.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Papillion to Chadron?

The road trip is about 437.9 miles (704.8 km) and usually takes 08h 46m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Stuart is a useful midpoint, sitting about 218.6 miles from Papillion and 219.3 miles from Chadron.

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

The direct path is about 375.4 miles (604.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 62.5 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $58.26 one way or $116.52 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 137.3 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Papillion and Chadron, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Papillion and Chance Rain Showers near Chadron.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Papillion and Chadron. Straight-line distance: 375.44 mi (604.21 km).

Papillion

#1 Papillion

City in and county seat of Sarpy County, Nebraska, United States

Population20,293
Coordinates41.1544400, -96.0422400
Altitude308
CountryUnited States
Chadron

#2 Chadron

City in Nebraska

Population5,250
Coordinates42.8294200, -102.9999100
Altitude1030
CountryUnited States
Start: Papillion (-96.04224, 41.15444)
End: Chadron (-102.99991, 42.82942)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 705 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)14h 35m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 17m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 15m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
15.45 gal
58.5 L · about $58.26
Round trip
$116.52
30.9 gal · 117 L
Estimated CO2
137.3 kg one way
Round trip: 274.6 kg / 605 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $58.26 $116.52
Mid-grade $4.25 $65.71 $131.42
Premium $4.65 $71.90 $143.81
Diesel $5.30 $81.95 $163.89

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

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Papillion, NE and Chadron, NE. The current time in Papillion is 01:34:19, although it is 00:34:19 in Chadron.

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.