The two lane section begins a few miles south of the intersection with US 90 (SR 16) in the Malbis community.

The southernmost two miles contain two sharp 90 degree turns which require traffic to slow to 25 mph in order to be safely navigated.

The northernmost two miles of the route between US 31 and US 90, including the interchange with I-10 has become heavily commercialized with shopping, dining, and hotels.

SR 181 is used to connect to US 98 east and after crossing over the bridge at Weeks Bay turning south onto CR 49 at Magnolia Springs, Alabama.

This routing is mainly flat and straight through south Baldwin County farm country and the final segment crosses the Bon Secour River just west of SR 59.

Most of the land along SR 181 is rural farmland but since being rechristened as a state route in the 1990s, it has become more heavily traveled and commercially and residentially developed.