SH 88 begins at Colfax Avenue (I-70 Bus., US 40, and US 287) in Denver and heads south along Federal Boulevard until it reaches Belleview Avenue, where it becomes an expressway as it continues east until it reaches Interstate 25 in the Denver Tech Center.

SH 88 is a 19.171-mile (30.853 km) long highway, starting at a cloverleaf intersection at Colfax Avenue (U.S. Route 40) and Federal Boulevard in Denver.

Continuing south, it interchanges at US 285's final exit as a freeway entering Sheridan.

SH-88 continues east with a 40 mph speed limit on Arapahoe Road with three lanes in each direction passing through Centennial and north of Centennial Airport with a 55 mph speed limit until it reaches its eastern terminus at Parker Road (State Highway 83) in Foxfield.

Arapahoe Road didn't become an expressway until it was built east to Peoria Street in 1977 and the final stretch to SH 83 (Parker Rd.)