[5] These landscapes were featured in stories from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Willa Cather recounting life on the Nebraska Plains during the end of the 19th century.

The highway leaves Edison headed east before turning to the southeast as it runs parallel to the river through agricultural fields on its way to Oxford.

This 13,250-acre (5,360 ha) reservoir is one of the largest bodies of water within the North American Central Flyway and is a primary stopping point during migration for millions of birds including bald eagles, golden eagles, pelicans, osprey, ducks, geese, and gulls.

The highway then continues east for another 10 miles (16 km) before entering Riverton, a small village on the Republican River.

The highway continues east passing the community of Inavale before arriving at an intersection with US 281 in the Webster County seat of Red Cloud.

It was also the childhood home of author Willa Cather whose early novels recounted life during the homestead frontier in the late 19th century.

[9] The highway leaves Red Cloud, continuing due east for about 10 miles (16 km) before coming to an intersection with N-78 just north of Guide Rock.

US 136 then continues due east through corn, sorghum, soybean, and wheat fields for the next 14 miles (23 km) before meeting up with N-14 north of Superior.

[10] The two highways run concurrently to the north for 4 miles (6.4 km) before US 136 breaks off and continues its easterly trek.

[11] The highway continues to the east, running parallel to Spring Creek as it approaches an intersection with US 81 just south of Hebron, home to the world's largest porch swing.

For the next 20 miles (32 km), the highway continues to pass through the vast agricultural fields of southeastern Nebraska.

The Rock Island Depot was constructed in 1913 at a cost of $40,000 (equivalent to $907,384 in 2023[13]) to accommodate increased passenger and freight loads.

The depot is an example of Renaissance Revival architecture with brick pilasters topped with stone trim, a hipped roof of red clay tile, overhanging eaves and decorative brackets.

After leaving Fairbury, the highway begins to meander in a general northeasterly direction, a stark contrast to its almost due east path prior.

The highway then continues into Johnson County where it begins to parallel Yankee Creek as it passes the communities of Crab Orchard and Vesta before entering the city of Tecumseh.

For the next 8.5 miles (13.7 km) the highway travels through rural agricultural fields before entering Nemaha County and meeting up with N-105 south of Johnson.

Meanwhile, US 136 begins a slight descent into Brownville as it travels down rolling loess hills into the Missouri River Valley.

The section of these trails across Jefferson and Thayer County generally paralleled the present day US 136 corridor within a few miles to its north.