A southern route of 4.93 miles (7.93 km) runs north from Highway 69B (AR 69B) at Sage to Zion.

[2][3] Highway 289 begins at AR 69B in Sage approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of Melbourne in Izard County.

The route runs north to the Caney Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

The route runs north to a junction with AR 354 in Horseshoe Bend.

These three routes overlap for 1 mile (1.6 km) east until Kittle when Highway 289 turns north and enters Cherokee Village.