US 61 and US 10 run concurrently as a freeway between Cottage Grove and the city of Saint Paul.

Between I-694 and the central business district of White Bear Lake, the road serves one of the Twin Cities region's major car dealership areas.

Approximately 120 miles (190 km) of US 61 from La Crescent to Cottage Grove in southeast Minnesota is officially designated the Disabled American Veterans Highway.

[2] It originally extended north to the Canadian border at Grand Portage, but it was cut back to its present terminus in 1991.

Segments of the old alignment that parallel MN 61 and I-35 have been designated County Road 61 (CR 61).

The four lane divided highway section between Red Wing and MN 316 near Miesville was completed in 1997.