Velva is located on U.S. 52, which, unlike most even-numbered U.S. highways, runs not primarily east-west but diagonally for just over 2000 miles from Portal, North Dakota, to Charleston, South Carolina. Its route runs through the Twin Cities, Rochester, Dubuque, Dixon Illinois (birthplace of Ronald Reagan) and Indianapolis. Its lowly status is reflected in the fact that at several junctions with state highways and even county roads, the "lesser" roads have the right of way. Not in Minnesota, however, where it runs concurrently with I-94 to the Twin Cities, and then has four-lane almost freeway status all the way through Rochester, until it crosses I-90 in southern Minnesota, where it reverts to being a two lane road. The journey on 52 from southern Minnesota to Dubuque is very scenic.