The southern segment of 45.84 miles (73.77 km) runs from U.S. Route 70 (US 70) east of Hot Springs north to Interstate 430 (I-430) in Little Rock.

[2][3] A northern segment of 146.63 miles (235.98 km) runs from I-57 in Cabot north to the Missouri state line, including a lengthy overlap with Highway 25 between Heber Springs and Wolf Bayou.

The route meets Highway 7 in Fountain Lake at a roundabout and continues to northeast as a surface road.

[8] The route passes the Hester-Lenz House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), prior to the Bryant city limits.

[9] An intersection with Highway 183 (Reynolds Rd) near the historic Andrew Hunter House gives access to downtown Bryant as well as I-30.

[9] Continuing east, Highway 5 intersects Highway 835 (Woody Drive) which leads to the Alexander branch of the Arkansas Department of Human Services's Youth Service Center, after which it enters Pulaski County.

The two routes meet Highway 14 in front of the Stone County Medical Center in south Mountain View.

The new section was originally scheduled to open in fall 2022; however, the national supply chain crisis delayed the project.

Issues with a retaining wall also contributed to the delay, moving the completion date to September 18, 2023.