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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Gretna, Nebraska
Gretna
Spend a half‑day to a full day in Gretna; add a night at Red Lion if you need a base.
Gretna is a small city on I‑80 with a few attractions—Holy Family Shrine, Vala's Pumpkin Patch, Schramm Park—and limited dining and lodging, so a day visit plus optional overnight is sufficient.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Gretna
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $50–$80 excl. bed · Mid $80–$120 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police 911 · Fire and ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $2–$3 |
| BBQ plate (We'll Smoke U) | $10–$15 |
| Pumpkin patch entry | $14–$18 per person |
| State park entry | $8 per car (non‑resident) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- OMA · Eppley Airfield (Omaha)
- Nearest commercial airport, about 45 min drive east
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car is primary; I‑80 and US‑6 give easy access to Lincoln (≈30 min) and Omaha (≈45 min). No public transit in town.
See and do
Known for
- Holy Family Shrine
- Vala's Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard
- Schramm Park State Recreation Area
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln, Nebraska | Drive west on I‑80, about 30 min | ≈45 min total |
| Omaha, Nebraska | Drive east on I‑80, about 45 min | ≈1 h total |
| Ashland, Nebraska | Drive south on US‑6, about 20 min | ≈30 min total |
Sleep
- Red Lion Inn & Suites Gretna
- Cheap rooms, 5‑min from I‑80 exit, $66/night (2026 estimate).
- KOA West Omaha/NE Lincoln
- RV and cabin site, 6 mi south on US‑6, price varies.
Language
English everywhere, with strong regional accents; Spanish is the second language in the Southwest, Texas, Florida, California and New York. Some words differ from British English: restroom (toilet), check (bill), gas (petrol), trunk (boot), first floor (ground floor).
- Measurements are imperial: miles, Fahrenheit, gallons, pounds. 100 km ≈ 62 miles; 30 °C ≈ 86 °F.
- Small talk with strangers is normal and friendly; it is not a sales tactic.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Limited dining hours; most restaurants close early Sunday.
- No hotels inside Gretna; stay in nearby La‑Vista or campgrounds.
- Check seasonal opening dates for Vala's Pumpkin Patch (late Sep–Oct).
Gretna is low‑risk; typical rural US safety concerns apply.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Gretna, Nebraska yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Holy Family Shrine
- Vala's Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard
- Schramm Park State Recreation Area
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Gretna (Nebraska), revision 5306291 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5306291
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/gretna-nebraska). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.