U.S. Route 161

U.S. Highway 161
US 161 highlighted in gray
Route information
Auxiliary route of US 61
Maintained by Iowa DOT
Length185 mi (298 km)
ExistedJuly 1, 1926 (1926-07-01)–January 1938
Major junctions
South endMissouri state line south of Keokuk
Major intersections
North end US 61 at Key West
Location
CountryUnited States
StateIowa
CountiesLee, Henry, Washington, Johnson, Linn, Jones, Dubuque
Highway system
Iowa 160 Iowa 163

U.S. Highway 161 (US 161) was a 185-mile (298 km) U.S. Numbered Highway in Iowa, United States, that ran from Keokuk to Dubuque by way of Cedar Rapids. It was designated in 1925 and signed in 1926 along two primary highways. The route began at the Mississippi River with U.S. Route 61 (US 61) southwest of Keokuk ran north through Mount Pleasant and Iowa City to Cedar Rapids. There, it turned to the northeast through Anamosa and Monticello towards Dubuque. The route ended at US 61 in Key West, a few miles west of Dubuque.

The route changed very little while it was in service. It was paved from end to end by the summer of 1932. In January 1938, it was removed from the United States Numbered Highway System. From Keokuk to Cedar Rapids, it was replaced by U.S. Route 218, which was extended southward. From Cedar Rapids to Key West it was replaced by U.S. Route 151, which was extended westward.