The northern segment runs for 40 miles (64 km) between Nebraska Highway 23 near Farnam and Nebraska Highway 40 south of Arnold.

It runs north through farmland into Cambridge and ends at an intersection with U.S. 6 and U.S.

[1][3] The northern segment of Nebraska Highway 47 begins east of Farnam at an intersection with Nebraska Highway 23.

It goes north through farmland and meets Interstate 80 in Gothenburg shortly after crossing the Platte River.

Highway 47 continues north of Gothenburg and ends south of Arnold at an intersection with Nebraska Highway 40.