Papillion Creek is a 15.5 miles (24.9 km) tributary

Tributary

A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...

 of the Missouri River

Missouri River

The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...

 in Nebraska

Nebraska

Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....

. Its watershed lies in Washington

Washington County, Nebraska

-National protected areas:*Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge*DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 18,780 people, 6,940 households, and 5,149 families residing in the county. The population density was 48 people per square mile . There were 7,408...

, Douglas

Douglas County, Nebraska

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 463,585 people, 182,194 households, and 115,146 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,401 people per square mile . There were 192,672 housing units at an average density of 582 per square mile...

 and Sarpy

Sarpy County, Nebraska

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 122,595 people, 43,426 households, and 33,220 families residing in the county. The population density was 510 people per square mile . There were 44,981 housing units at an average density of 187 per square mile...

 counties, including parts of the city of Omaha

Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...

. The main branch of Papillion Creek is known as Big Papillion Creek. Some of the tributaries include Little Papillion Creek, Thomas Creek, Cole Creek, Northwest Branch of West Papillion Creek, West Papillion Creek and South Papillion Creek. Papillion Creek empties into the Missouri River south of Bellevue

Bellevue, Nebraska

Bellevue is a city in Sarpy County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 50,137 at the 2010 census. Eight miles south of Omaha, Bellevue is part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area. Originally settled in the 1830s, It was the first state capitol. Bellevue was incorporated in...

 and just north of the mouth of the Platte River

Platte River

The Platte River is a major river in the state of Nebraska and is about long. Measured to its farthest source via its tributary the North Platte River, it flows for over . The Platte River is a tributary of the Missouri River, which in turn is a tributary of the Mississippi River which flows to...

.

Locals often refer to the creek as the "Papio Creek".

Within its watershed lie Glenn Cunningham Lake

Glenn Cunningham Lake

Glenn Cunningham Lake is located in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. The park is located along 96th Street with entrances at State Highway 36, State Street, 96th Street and Rainwood Road. The lake is a part of Little Papillion Creek, which is part of the Papillion Creek watershed.Glenn Cunningham...

, Standing Bear Lake

Standing Bear Lake

Standing Bear Lake, also known as Dam Site 16, is a park located at 6404 North 132nd street in West Omaha, Nebraska.The park has a lake with boating in the summertime, and ice skating in the winter...

, Zorinsky Lake and Wehrspann Lake at the Chalco Hills Recreation Area

Chalco Hills Recreation Area

Chalco Hills Recreation Area is located in northwestern Sarpy County, Nebraska, and approximately west of downtown Omaha. Chalco Hills consists of of which is covered by Wehrspann Lake, an artificial reservoir. The recreation area was opened in 1988 as part of Papio-Missouri River Natural...

, which were created by the Army Corps of Engineers in the aftermath of extensive flooding in 1964 and 1965.