Near Dorchester it joins with U.S. Highway 6 for about 10 miles (16 km) before splitting off again, and then crossing Interstate 80 south of Seward.

It continues north and crosses the Platte River just before reaching Schuyler, and then U.S. Highway 30.

It continues north from there where, near Pilger, it travels east for 2 miles (3.2 km) along with U.S. Highway 275.

Then it heads back north and passes through Wayne before joining U.S. Highway 20 for 3 miles (4.8 km) near Laurel.

It overlaps NE 12 for 7 miles (11 km) past Maskell and then heads back north where it crosses the Missouri River via the Vermillion-Newcastle Bridge into South Dakota and changes to South Dakota Highway 19.