Its northern terminus is at the South Dakota border north of Butte.

It goes north through farmland into Wood River, where it crosses over U.S. Route 30 in Nebraska (US 30) without an interchange.

It continues north through Cairo, then meets Nebraska Highway 58.

The two highways run concurrent, heading northeast to Dannebrog, where they separate.

N-11 continues north into areas of prairie and meets U.S. Route 20 in Atkinson.