The southern segment begins northeast of Leigh at N-91 and ends at U.S. Highway 275 north of Stanton.

The northern segment begins south of Carroll at N-98 and ends north of Hartington at an intersection with N-12.

[1][2] The northern segment of N-57 begins south of Carroll at N-98, one mile (1.6 km) west of N-98's intersection with N-35.

It goes north into farmland, through Carroll, and meets U.S. Highway 20 east of Belden.

[1][3] Prior to November 2001, the current segment of N-57 north of its present junction with N-59 was a part of N-15.