The two-lane road starts at State Highway 71 (SH 71) in New Taiton, heads east through farmlands and oil fields and ends at Future Business Interstate 69/U.S.

Near Saint John Nepomucene Catholic Church, the highway turns to the northeast before going east.

The Wharton County Youth Fair Grounds are situated on the northeast corner of the crossroads which are controlled by a four-way stop sign.

[2] From the fair grounds until its end, FM 961 goes in a straight line to the southeast past several more oil wells.

After continuing 5.9 miles (9.5 km) from the FM 960 junction, the highway comes to the Future I-69/US 59 underpass.