Methods and compositions for detection of enterovirus D in a sample, particularly detection of enterovirus D68, are provided. The methods include contacting a sample with at least one primer (such as a forward primer and/or a reverse primer) capable of specifically amplifying an EV-D68 viral protein 1 (VP1) nucleic acid or a portion thereof and/or a detectably labeled probe capable of specifically hybridizing to an EV-D68 VP1 nucleic acid, under conditions sufficient for specific amplification of the EV-D68 VP1 nucleic acid by the at least one primer and/or under conditions sufficient for specific hybridization of the probe to the EV-D68 nucleic acid. The amplification of the EV-D68 VP1 nucleic acid and/or the hybridization of the probe to the EV-D68 VP1 nucleic acid is detected, thereby identifying presence of EV-D68 in the sample.