The highway extends 66.83 miles (107.55 km) from Kingwood Avenue (Route 12) in Frenchtown to Lakeside Road (CR 511) in West Milford.

[1][3] Following this intersection, CR 513 enters more developed areas, passing between the Hunterdon Developmental Center to the west and businesses to the east.

After crossing the South Branch Raritan River, the road enters commercial areas and CR 513 splits from Route 173 by turning northwest onto Leigh Street.

The route continues past homes and businesses, becoming Halstead Street at another crossing of the South Branch Raritan River.

[1][3] Past the reservoir, CR 513 splits from Route 31 and continues east on two-lane undivided West Main Street, entering residential areas.

The route briefly heads east on Church Street before turning north onto Fairview Avenue and entering residential areas.

The road heads into Lebanon Township and enters more mountainous and forested areas as it passes near Voorhees State Park.

The roadway forms the border between Lebanon Township to the northwest and Califon to the southeast as it passes businesses and intersects the western terminus of CR 512.

The route heads north through more rural areas with some homes prior to making a turn to the northeast and runs between woods to the northwest and farms to the southeast.

The road passes some homes and businesses prior to continuing into a mix of farms and woods and reaching the CR 625 junction.

After this point, the route turns northeast as a two-lane road and runs through the commercial downtown before heading east into residential areas.

A short distance later, the route heads northeast onto Reservoir Road and passes a mix of woods and homes.

Upon reaching the commercial center of Rockaway, the route intersects CR 644 and turns north onto Wall Street.

The section running from Long Valley to Chester was originally created as part of the Washington Turnpike, which stretched from Morristown to Philipsburg.