U.S. Route 26 in Nebraska
Encyclopedia
U.S. Highway 26 is an east–west highway in western Nebraska
. It enters the state from Wyoming
just west of Henry
. The eastern terminus of U.S. Highway 26 is in Ogallala
at an interchange with Interstate 80
. The highway largely parallels the North Platte River
for the majority of its route in Nebraska and as such, runs at a northwest-southeast angle. The highway also parallels the original paths of the Oregon Trail
, the California Trail
and the Mormon Pioneer Trail.
. After passing through Morrill
, US 26 becomes a divided highway. At Mitchell
, US 26 meets Nebraska Highway 29
. Continuing southeast, US 26 enters Scottsbluff
. Through Scottsbluff, US 26 runs concurrent with Nebraska Highway 71
and Nebraska Highway 92
on a highway which goes through northern Scottsbluff. After NE 71 and NE 92 separate, US 26 continues to Minatare, Nebraska
, where the divided highway ends. The highway runs due east until an intersection with Nebraska Link 62A, when the highway turns south. US 26 passes through Bayard
and, after crossing the North Platte River meets with NE 92 again near Chimney Rock
.
US 26 and NE 92 turn southeast towards Bridgeport
. At Bridgeport, NE 92 separates and US 26 meets U.S. Highway 385. They cross the North Platte River together, and separate. US 26 continues southeasterly on the north side of the North Platte River. At Broadwater
, US 26 begins its third concurrency with NE 92. They run together through Lisco, Oshkosh
, and Lewellen
. At Oshkosh, US 26 meets Nebraska Highway 27
. At Lewellen, US 26 and NE 92 separate for the last time and shortly thereafter, US 26 crosses the North Platte River again. After passing through Ash Hollow State Historical Park
, the highway passes through no communities until meeting Nebraska Highway 61
northwest of Ogallala
. US 26 runs concurrent with NE 61 the rest of its length in Nebraska. The two highways go south to U.S. Route 30
, then the three highways run concurrent into Ogallala. They then separate from US 30, turn south to cross the South Platte River
and US 26 ends at Interstate 80
.
Between 1936 and 1959, there was a U.S. Highway 26N. It went east along today's Nebraska Link 62A, then south along today's US 385 to just north of Bridgeport and east along today's US 26 to Broadwater. In those years, the mainline of US 26 between Bridgeport and Broadwater went on the south side of the North Platte River, along today's Nebraska Highway 92.
From the creation of the highway in 1926 until the 1930s, U.S. Highway 26 went north of the North Platte River east of Lewellen. This alignment went east to Martin, where US 26 met NE 61 and the two highways went south from there into Ogallala. When Lake McConaughy
was built in the 1930s, the current alignment was constructed.
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
. It enters the state from Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
just west of Henry
Henry, Nebraska
Henry is a village in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Scottsbluff, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 162 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Henry is located at ....
. The eastern terminus of U.S. Highway 26 is in Ogallala
Ogallala, Nebraska
Ogallala is a city in Keith County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 4,737 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Keith County. In the days of the Nebraska Territory, the city was a stop on the Pony Express and later along the transcontinental railroad...
at an interchange with Interstate 80
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
. The highway largely parallels the North Platte River
North Platte River
The North Platte River is a major tributary of the Platte River and is approximately long counting its many curves, It travels about distance. Its course lies in the U.S...
for the majority of its route in Nebraska and as such, runs at a northwest-southeast angle. The highway also parallels the original paths of the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
, the California Trail
California Trail
The California Trail was an emigrant trail of about across the western half of the North American continent from Missouri River towns to what is now the state of California...
and the Mormon Pioneer Trail.
Route description
U.S. Highway 26 enters Nebraska from Wyoming, and shortly thereafter enters HenryHenry, Nebraska
Henry is a village in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Scottsbluff, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 162 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Henry is located at ....
. After passing through Morrill
Morrill, Nebraska
Morrill is a village located in the extreme west panhandle of Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Scottsbluff, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area...
, US 26 becomes a divided highway. At Mitchell
Mitchell, Nebraska
Mitchell is a city in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Scottsbluff, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,831 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mitchell is located at ....
, US 26 meets Nebraska Highway 29
Nebraska Highway 29
Nebraska Highway 29 is a highway in western Nebraska. It runs for . It has a southern terminus at U.S. Highway 26 in Mitchell and a northern terminus at U.S. Highway 20 in Harrison.-Route description:...
. Continuing southeast, US 26 enters Scottsbluff
Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Scottsbluff is a city in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 15,039 at the 2010 census. Scottsbluff is the largest city in the Nebraska Panhandle, and the 13th largest city in Nebraska....
. Through Scottsbluff, US 26 runs concurrent with Nebraska Highway 71
Nebraska Highway 71
Nebraska Highway 71 is a highway in western Nebraska. Its southern terminus is at the Colorado border south of Kimball, as a continuation of Colorado State Highway 71...
and Nebraska Highway 92
Nebraska Highway 92
Nebraska Highway 92 is a highway in Nebraska. Its western terminus is at the Wyoming border west of Lyman, Nebraska and its eastern terminus is in Omaha at the Missouri River, where it enters Iowa. Nebraska Highway 92 is part of a continuous 4-state "Highway 92" which begins in Torrington,...
on a highway which goes through northern Scottsbluff. After NE 71 and NE 92 separate, US 26 continues to Minatare, Nebraska
Minatare, Nebraska
Minatare is a city in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Scottsbluff, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 810 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Minatare is located at ....
, where the divided highway ends. The highway runs due east until an intersection with Nebraska Link 62A, when the highway turns south. US 26 passes through Bayard
Bayard, Nebraska
Bayard is a city in Morrill County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,247 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bayard is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
and, after crossing the North Platte River meets with NE 92 again near Chimney Rock
Chimney Rock National Historic Site
Chimney Rock is a prominent geological rock formation in Morrill County in western Nebraska. Rising nearly 300 feet above the surrounding North Platte River valley, the peak of Chimney Rock is above sea level. During the middle 19th century it served as a landmark along the Oregon Trail, the...
.
US 26 and NE 92 turn southeast towards Bridgeport
Bridgeport, Nebraska
Bridgeport is a city in Morrill County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,594 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Morrill County.-Geography:Bridgeport is located at ....
. At Bridgeport, NE 92 separates and US 26 meets U.S. Highway 385. They cross the North Platte River together, and separate. US 26 continues southeasterly on the north side of the North Platte River. At Broadwater
Broadwater, Nebraska
Broadwater is a village in Morrill County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 140 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Broadwater has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
, US 26 begins its third concurrency with NE 92. They run together through Lisco, Oshkosh
Oshkosh, Nebraska
Oshkosh is a city in Garden County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 887 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Garden County.-Geography:Oshkosh is located at ....
, and Lewellen
Lewellen, Nebraska
Lewellen is a village in Garden County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 282 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lewellen is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land....
. At Oshkosh, US 26 meets Nebraska Highway 27
Nebraska Highway 27
Nebraska Highway 27 is a highway in Nebraska. It is divided into three segments. The southernmost segment begins at the Kansas border and goes north to Haigler. The middle segment begins at Interstate 80 near Chappell and goes north to Oshkosh...
. At Lewellen, US 26 and NE 92 separate for the last time and shortly thereafter, US 26 crosses the North Platte River again. After passing through Ash Hollow State Historical Park
Ash Hollow State Historical Park
Ash Hollow State Historical Park is located near Lewellen, Nebraska. The park comprises two attractions, located . from each other: Ash Hollow Cave and Windlass Hill.-Ash Hollow Cave:...
, the highway passes through no communities until meeting Nebraska Highway 61
Nebraska Highway 61
Nebraska Highway 61 is a highway in western Nebraska. It is a north–south highway with a length of . The southern terminus of Nebraska Highway 61 is at the Kansas border south of Benkelman, where the highway continues south as K-161...
northwest of Ogallala
Ogallala, Nebraska
Ogallala is a city in Keith County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 4,737 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Keith County. In the days of the Nebraska Territory, the city was a stop on the Pony Express and later along the transcontinental railroad...
. US 26 runs concurrent with NE 61 the rest of its length in Nebraska. The two highways go south to U.S. Route 30
U.S. Route 30
U.S. Route 30 is an east–west main route of the system of United States Numbered Highways, with the highway traveling across the northern tier of the country. It is the third longest U.S. route, after U.S. Route 20 and U.S. Route 6. The western end of the highway is at Astoria, Oregon; the...
, then the three highways run concurrent into Ogallala. They then separate from US 30, turn south to cross the South Platte River
South Platte River
The South Platte River is one of the two principal tributaries of the Platte River and itself a major river of the American Midwest and the American Southwest/Mountain West, located in the U.S. states of Colorado and Nebraska...
and US 26 ends at Interstate 80
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
.
History
From the creation of the highway in 1926 until the 1930s, U.S. Highway 26 went north of the North Platte River east of Lewellen. This alignment went east to Martin, where US 26 met NE 61 and the two highways went south from there into Ogallala. When Lake McConaughy
Lake McConaughy
Lake McConaughy is a reservoir on the North Platte River. It is located north of Ogallala, Nebraska, United States, near U.S. Highway 26 and Nebraska Highway 61. The reservoir was named for Charles W. McConaughy, a grain merchant and mayor of Holdrege, Nebraska, one of the leading promoters of...
was built in the 1930s, the current alignment was constructed.
Major intersections
| County | Location | Mile | Junction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Sioux County, Nebraska -National protected areas:* Agate Fossil Beds National Monument* Nebraska National Forest * Oglala National Grassland -Demographics:... |
Henry Henry, Nebraska Henry is a village in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Scottsbluff, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 162 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Henry is located at .... |
0.00 | Wyoming border | |
| Scotts Bluff Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska -National protected area:* North Platte National Wildlife Refuge* Scotts Bluff National Monument-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 36,951 people, 14,887 households, and 10,167 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 16,119... |
Mitchell Mitchell, Nebraska Mitchell is a city in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Scottsbluff, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,831 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mitchell is located at .... |
13.67 | ||
| Scottsbluff Scottsbluff, Nebraska Scottsbluff is a city in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 15,039 at the 2010 census. Scottsbluff is the largest city in the Nebraska Panhandle, and the 13th largest city in Nebraska.... |
21.63 | West end of NE 92 overlap | ||
| 22.25 | West end of NE 71 overlap | |||
| 25.66 | East end of NE 71/NE 92 overlap | |||
| Minatare Minatare, Nebraska Minatare is a city in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Scottsbluff, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 810 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Minatare is located at .... |
31.90 | |||
| Morrill Morrill County, Nebraska -History:Morrill County was formed in 1908 "carved out of Cheyenne County". It was named after Charles Henry Morrill, a president of the Lincoln Land Company.-Demographics:... |
41.94 | |||
| Bayard Bayard, Nebraska Bayard is a city in Morrill County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,247 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bayard is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.... |
48.88 | West end of NE 92 overlap | ||
| Bridgeport Bridgeport, Nebraska Bridgeport is a city in Morrill County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,594 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Morrill County.-Geography:Bridgeport is located at .... |
61.42 | East end of NE 92 overlap, west end of US 385 overlap | ||
| 62.42 | East end of US 385 overlap | |||
| Broadwater Broadwater, Nebraska Broadwater is a village in Morrill County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 140 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Broadwater has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:... |
76.49 | West end of NE 92 overlap | ||
| Garden Garden County, Nebraska -History:Garden County was formed in 1909 by popular vote. Voters in the general election of November 2, 1909, approved making the northern part of Deuel County into its own county... |
Oshkosh Oshkosh, Nebraska Oshkosh is a city in Garden County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 887 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Garden County.-Geography:Oshkosh is located at .... |
106.05 | ||
| Lewellen Lewellen, Nebraska Lewellen is a village in Garden County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 282 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lewellen is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land.... |
118.89 | East end of NE 92 overlap | ||
| Keith Keith County, Nebraska -History:Keith County was formed in 1873. It was named after Morrill C. Keith, the grandfather of Governor Keith Neville.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 8,875 people, 3,707 households, and 2,535 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile... |
Ogallala Ogallala, Nebraska Ogallala is a city in Keith County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 4,737 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Keith County. In the days of the Nebraska Territory, the city was a stop on the Pony Express and later along the transcontinental railroad... |
144.90 | West end of NE 61 overlap | |
| 148.02 | West end of US 30 overlap | |||
| 150.01 | South end of US 30 overlap | |||
| 150.79 | Eastern terminus, I-80 exit 126 | |||