Nebraska Highway 61 begins at the Kansas border south of Benkelman.

It goes north through farmland for one mile (1.6 km), then intersects U.S. Highway 34, with which it overlaps through Benkelman.

It goes north from Benkelman to Enders Reservoir State Recreation Area, where it intersects U.S. Highway 6.

They overlap going west into Hyannis, then Highway 61 continues north until Merriman.

Highway 61 continues north from Merriman past the Bowring Ranch State Historical Park and ends at the South Dakota border.