SR 216 follows the former route of US 11 through eastern Tuscaloosa County.

[2] SR 216 starts in eastern Tuscaloosa at University Boulevard (SR 215) and Veterans' Memorial Drive and ends just as it crosses over I-20/59 and US 11 and SR 5 in Bucksville, just short of the Tuscaloosa-Jefferson county line.

The highway passes through the coal-mining country of eastern Tuscaloosa County.

The largest towns on the highway are Brookwood and Lake View.

The highway is mostly narrow and windy and is known for the high number of fatal accidents on the Brookwood-to-Tuscaloosa stretch.