The highway extends 22.3 miles (35.9 km) from Englishtown Road (CR 527) in Old Bridge to Ocean Avenue (Route 36) in Sea Bright.

Past this intersection, the route narrows back to two lanes and passes through wooded residential areas before it crosses the intersection of Tennent Road (CR 3) and comes to a partial interchange with Route 18; missing movements are provided by Tennent Road (CR 3).

The road crosses the intersection of Route 79 and runs through a mix of fields and woods with some homes, heading to the east-northeast.

The route passes to the north of Thompson Park and enters Middletown at the intersection of Everett Road (CR 52).

CR 520 curves southeast and heads east to a roundabout at the entrance road to Brookdale Community College.

Farther east, the route intersects Swimming River Road/Middletown-Lincroft Road (CR 50) in a commercial area, at which point it widens to four lanes.

Following this, the route becomes a divided highway again and runs past a few businesses before it crosses the Swimming River and becomes the border between Red Bank to the north and Tinton Falls to the south.

Immediately after the railroad tracks, Route 35 splits to the northwest on Maple Avenue and CR 520 continues north on two-lane Broad Street for one block before it turns east onto Pinckney Road, with CR 11 continuing north on Broad Street.