Starting at an intersection with SR 5 in Safford, the route travels northeast through Selma and Maplesville.

At Clanton the highway is concurrent for 8 miles (13 km) with U.S. Route 31 (US 31), including an intersection with Interstate 65 (I-65) near the geographical center of the state.

The route proceeds towards Verbena and then crosses Lake Jordan.

The route continues east-northeast through Rockford, Alexander City, New Site and Roanoke on its way to the Georgia state line, where the road becomes Georgia State Route 34.

Counties traversed by the route include Dallas, Chilton, Coosa, Tallapoosa, Chambers, and Randolph.