The eastern terminus of the route is at a junction with US 231 north of Pell City.

At Odenville, the route junctions US 411 and begins a 1-mile (1.6 km) concurrency, turning to the southwest.

[3] SR 174 then diverts from US 411, briefly resuming its southward trajectory.

North of Cook Springs, the route turns eastward, and continues its eastward orientation until it reaches its eastern terminus north of Pell City at US 231.

U.S. roads portal Media related to Alabama State Route 174 at Wikimedia Commons