# Nebraska Highway 61

Nebraska Highway 61 (N-61) is a 234.82-mile (377.91 km) state highway in western Nebraska, United States. The southern terminus of N-61 is at the Kansas border south of Benkelman, where the highway continues south as K-161. The northern terminus is at the South Dakota border north of Merriman, where the highway continues north as South Dakota Highway 73.

## Route description

Nebraska Highway 61 begins at the Kansas border south of Benkelman. It goes north through farmland for one mile (1.6 km), then intersects U.S. Highway 34, with which it overlaps through Benkelman. It goes north from Benkelman to Enders Reservoir State Recreation Area, where it intersects U.S. Highway 6. They overlap north, then west into Imperial. At Imperial, Highway 61 turns north and continues north until an intersection with Nebraska Highway 23, where Highway 61 and Highway 23 turn west to go to Grant. At Grant, Highway 61 goes north and continues north until Interstate 80 at Ogallala. At I-80, an overlap with U.S. Highway 26 begins and they go north across the South Platte River and intersect U.S. Highway 30.
Nebraska Highway 61, U.S. 26 and U.S. 30 then go west out of Ogallala, then Highway 61 and U.S. 26 turn north. Three miles later, U.S. 26 goes west while Highway 61 goes east. Highway 61 then turns north to cross the North Platte River via Kingsley Dam at the eastern end of Lake McConaughy. It then intersects Nebraska Highway 92 and the two highways overlap as they enter the Sand Hills until Arthur. After Arthur, Highway 61 goes north until Nebraska Highway 2. They overlap going west into Hyannis, then Highway 61 continues north until Merriman. At Merriman, Highway 61 intersects U.S. Highway 20 and overlap in town. Highway 61 continues north from Merriman past the Bowring Ranch State Historical Park and ends at the South Dakota border.

## Major intersections

| County | Location | mi | km | Destinations | Notes |
| Dundy | ​ | 0.00 | 0.00 | K-161 south – Bird City, KS | Continuation into Kansas |
| Dundy | ​ | 1.32 | 2.12 | US 34 west – Haigler | South end of US 34 overlap |
| Dundy | Benkelman | 4.30 | 6.92 | US 34 east – Stratton, McCook | North end of US 34 overlap |
| Chase | Enders | 30.35 | 48.84 | US 6 east – Wauneta, McCook | South end of US 6 overlap |
| Chase | Imperial | 39.92 | 64.25 | US 6 west – Holyoke, CO | North end of US 6 overlap |
| Perkins | Grant | 63.80 | 102.68 | N-23 east – Madrid | South end of N-23 overlap |
| Perkins | Grant | 66.89 | 107.65 | N-23 west (A Street) – Venango | North end of N-23 overlap |
| Keith | Ogallala | 86.12 | 138.60 | US 26 begin / I-80 – North Platte, Sidney | South end of US 26 overlap, I-80 exit 126 |
| Keith | Ogallala | 86.90 | 139.85 | US 30 east (1st Street) | South end of US 30 overlap |
| Keith | Ogallala | 88.89 | 143.05 | US 30 west (Lincoln Highway) – Sidney | North end of US 30 overlap |
| Keith | Ogallala | 92.01 | 148.08 | US 26 west – Scottsbluff | North end of US 26 overlap |
| Keith | Lemoyne | 103.23 | 166.13 | N-92 west – Scottsbluff | South end of N-92 overlap |
| Arthur | Arthur | 128.68 | 207.09 | N-92 east – Tryon | North end of N-92 overlap |
| Grant | Hyannis | 160.58 | 258.43 | N-2 east – Mullen | South end of N-2 overlap |
| Grant | Hyannis | 162.29 | 261.18 | N-2 west (Railroad Street) – Alliance | North end of N-2 overlap |
| Cherry | Merriman | 229.26 | 368.96 | US 20 west – Gordon, Chadron | South end of US 20 overlap |
| Cherry | Merriman | 229.29 | 369.01 | US 20 east – Valentine | North end of US 20 overlap |
| Cherry | ​ | 234.82 | 377.91 | SD 73 north – Martin, SD | Continuation into South Dakota |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Concurrency terminus ||||||