# U.S. Route 26 in Nebraska

U.S. Highway 26 (US-26) is an east–west highway in western Nebraska. It enters the state from Wyoming just west of Henry. The eastern terminus of US-26 is in Ogallala at an interchange with Interstate 80 (I-80). The highway largely parallels the North Platte River for the majority of its route in Nebraska and as such, runs at a northwest–southeast angle. The highway also parallels the original paths of the Oregon, California, and Mormon trails.

## Route description

US-26 enters Nebraska from Wyoming and shortly thereafter enters Henry. After passing through Morrill, US-26 becomes a divided highway. At Mitchell, US-26 meets Nebraska Highway 29 (N‑29). Continuing southeast, US-26 enters Scottsbluff. Through Scottsbluff, US-26 runs concurrent with N‑71 and N‑92 on a highway which goes through northern Scottsbluff. After N‑71 and N‑92 separate, US-26 continues to Minatare, where the divided highway ends. The highway runs due east until an intersection with Link L-62A (L-62A), when the highway turns south. US-26 passes through Bayard and, after crossing the North Platte River, meets with N‑92 again near Chimney Rock.
US‑26 and N‑92 turn southeast toward Bridgeport. At Bridgeport, N‑92 separates and US‑26 meets US‑385. They cross the North Platte River together and separate. US‑26 continues southeasterly on the north side of the North Platte River. At Broadwater, US‑26 begins its third concurrency with N‑92. They run together through Lisco, Oshkosh, and Lewellen. At Oshkosh, US‑26 meets N-27. At Lewellen, US‑26 and N‑92 separate for the last time and shortly thereafter, US‑26 crosses the North Platte River again. After passing through Ash Hollow State Historical Park, the highway passes through no communities until meeting N‑61 northwest of Ogallala. US‑26 runs concurrent with N‑61 the rest of its length in Nebraska. The two highways go south to US‑30, then the three highways run concurrent into Ogallala. They then separate from US‑30, turn south to cross the South Platte River and US‑26 ends at I‑80.

## History

From the creation of the highway in 1926 until the 1930s, US-26 went north of the North Platte River east of Lewellen. This alignment went east to Martin, where US‑26 met N-61 and the two highways went south from there into Ogallala. When Lake McConaughy was built in the 1930s, the current alignment was constructed.

## Major intersections

| County | Location | mi | km | Destinations | Notes |
| Sioux | Henry | 0.00 | 0.00 | US 26 west / California National Historic Trail / Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail / Oregon National Historic Trail / Pony Express National Historic Trail – Torrington, Casper | Continuation into Wyoming |
| Scotts Bluff | Mitchell | 13.68 | 22.02 | N-29 north (19th Avenue) | |
| Scotts Bluff | Scottsbluff | 21.64 | 34.83 | N-92 west – Gering | West end of N-92 overlap |
| Scotts Bluff | Scottsbluff | 22.26 | 35.82 | N-71 north / CR 21 | West end of N-71 overlap |
| Scotts Bluff | Scottsbluff | 25.67 | 41.31 | N-71 south / N-92 east – Gering, Kimball | East end of N-71/N-92 overlap |
| Scotts Bluff | Minatare | 31.91 | 51.35 | L-79E south / CR 29 – Melbeta | |
| Morrill | West Bayard Precinct | 41.95 | 67.51 | L-62A east – Alliance | Former US-26N |
| Morrill | Bayard | 48.89 | 78.68 | N-92 west – Gering, Scottsbluff, Scotts Bluff National Monument | West end of N-92 overlap |
| Morrill | Bridgeport | 61.42 | 98.85 | US 385 south / N-92 east / California National Historic Trail / Pony Express National Historic Trail | East end of N-92 overlap; west end of US 385 overlap |
| Morrill | Bridgeport | 62.42 | 100.46 | US 385 north – Alliance | East end of US 385 overlap |
| Morrill | Broadwater | 76.49 | 123.10 | N-92 west – Sidney | West end of N-92 overlap |
| Garden | Oshkosh | 106.05 | 170.67 | N-27 south to US 30 | |
| Garden | Lewellen | 118.89 | 191.33 | N-92 east – Lake McConaughy | East end of N-92 overlap |
| Keith | Ogallala | 144.90 | 233.19 | N-61 north – Lake McConaughy | West end of N-61 overlap |
| Keith | Ogallala | 148.02 | 238.22 | US 30 west – Sidney | West end of US 30 overlap |
| Keith | Ogallala | 150.01 | 241.42 | US 30 east / Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail / Oregon National Historic Trail | East end of US 30 overlap |
| Keith | Ogallala | 150.79 | 242.67 | I-80 / N-61 south – Sidney, North Platte, Grant | National eastern terminus; east end of N-61 overlap; I-80 exit 126; highway continues south as N-61 |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Concurrency terminus ||||||

## Related routes
### US-26N

U.S. Highway 26N (US-26N) existed from 1939 to 1959. It went east along today's L-62A, then south along today's US-385 to just north of Bridgeport and east along today's US‑26 to Broadwater. In those years, the mainline of US‑26 between Bridgeport and Broadwater went on the south side of the North Platte River, along today's N-92.