Meridian Highway
US-81 — Nebraska's north-south historic highway from Kansas to South Dakota.
The Meridian Highway, established in 1911 and following what is now US-81, runs north-south through the heart of Nebraska from the Kansas border to South Dakota. It was one of the first named auto trails in America, predating the Lincoln Highway. The route passes through some of Nebraska's most productive agricultural counties and historic communities.
Route Information
- Nebraska Length: ~300 miles
- Route: US-81, Kansas border to South Dakota border
- Designation: Historic Highway Corridor
- Established: 1911
Counties & Towns (South to North)
Nuckolls County
Superior — Kansas border entry
Thayer County
Fillmore County
York County
Seward County
Saunders County
Platte County
Boone County
Antelope County
Pierce County
Wayne County
Cedar County
Hartington · Coleridge — South Dakota border
Points of Interest
- Meridian Bridge (historic design replicated across Nebraska)
- York College campus
- Columbus riverfront and Loup River
- Wahoo — birthplace of Darryl Zanuck, Sam Crawford, and Howard Hanson
History
The Meridian Highway was one of America's first named auto trails, promoted in 1911 by a consortium of Good Roads boosters. It ran from Winnipeg, Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, following the 97th meridian of longitude through the center of the continent. Nebraska's segment connected Kansas wheat country to the Dakotas along a route that had seen Native American travel, military roads, and early settler traffic.
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Lodging · Dining · Fuel & Services · Outdoor Recreation
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