It runs concurrently with U.S. 281 through St. Paul, crosses the Loup River, and then separates from U.S. 281 and goes straight east, intersects U.S. 30, crosses the Platte River for the first of two times near Clarks and meets U.S. 81 west of Osceola. It is then concurrent with U.S. 81 through Osceola and Shelby, before separating east of Shelby. It then passes through Rising City and then goes straight east until it meets U.S. 77 southwest of Wahoo, Nebraska. It passes through Wahoo concurrent with U.S. 77 and goes east with U.S. 77 until they separate near Mead. After passing the south edge of Yutan, it recrosses the Platte River.