CR 557 begins at an intersection with Route 47 in Dennis Township, Cape May County, heading northeast on two-lane undivided Washington Avenue into forested areas.

Farther north, the route intersects CR 617 and turns east onto Mill Road, heading into residential areas in the community of Tuckahoe.

At the junction with CR 645, the route turns to the northeast and enters Estell Manor, becoming Broad Street.

CR 557 turns north onto Cumberland Road briefly before reaching an intersection with US 40 in commercial areas.

The road comes to the southern terminus of Route 54 and the eastern end of CR 619, at which point it enters Buena.

[6] This routing bypasses a now-rebuilt bridge over the Beesleys Point Secondary on CR 557 in Estell Manor that had a weight restriction.