| State: | ND |
| Type: | US |
| Route: | 281 |
| Alternate Name: | American Legion Memorial Highway |
| Map Custom: | yes |
| Map Notes: | US 281 highlighted in red |
| Length Mi: | 267.190 |
| Length Ref: | [1] |
| Established: | 1926 |
| Direction A: | South |
| Terminus A: | at the South Dakota line |
| Junction: |
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| Direction B: | North |
| Terminus B: | at the Canada–United States border |
| Counties: | Dickey, LaMoure, Stutsman, Foster, Eddy, Benson, Towner, Rolette |
| Previous Type: | ND |
| Previous Route: | 256 |
| Next Type: | ND |
| Next Route: | 294 |
U.S. Route 281 (US 281) is a part of the U.S. Highway System that travels from Hidalgo, Texas and Brownsville, Texas, to its northern terminus at the International Peace Garden, north of Dunseith, North Dakota. In the U.S. state of North Dakota, US 281 extends from the South Dakota state line south of Ellendale, North Dakota and ends at the North Dakota–Manitoba border.
In North Dakota, US 281 is a major north–south artery. It enters south of Ellendale and intersects Interstate 94 and US 52 at Jamestown. 281 and 52 remain paired together to Carrington. From there, US 281 continues northward through Sheyenne. Ten miles north of Sheyenne the highway curves in order to go around Devil's Lake, and then continues to west of Minnewaukan. From there it goes to ND at Rocklake. US 281 follows ND 5 westward to Dunseith, where the highway turns north in concurrence with North Dakota Highway 3 to its end at the Canada–United States border in the International Peace Garden. The northernmost section of US 281 passes through North Dakota's Turtle Mountains.
The entire route of US 281 within the state was North Dakota Highway 4.[2] In 1934, US 281 replaced Highway 4 south of Rock Lake. US 281 was extended north to the Canada–United States border between 1939[3] and 1940,[4] replacing the remainder of Highway 4.
Recently, US 281 was rebuilt near Minnewaukan, North Dakota to accommodate flooding close to the city.