Nebraska Highway 87 begins at an intersection with NE 2 in Alliance.

It heads in a northerly direction before turning to the northeast through farmland.

At this point, NE 87 runs concurrently eastward with US 20 for about 11 miles (18 km).

It turns to the northwest slightly before heading directly northward into Whiteclay.

It then terminates at the border with South Dakota, where it continues as SD 407.