The road provides scenic views as it winds through the hills of the Lake Wales Ridge.

It goes through downtown Sebring as "Ridgewood Drive" before continuing north-northwest of the city, entering Avon Park from the east as "Cornell Street."

At a four-way stop, it turns north, following Memorial Drive until it reaches Main Street, then it goes west through Avon Park's downtown until it intersects US 27/98.

It bisects that town, taking the name "Scenic Highway" as it winds through Hillcrest Heights, Babson Park and Lake Wales.

County Road 17 (CR 17) exists as a sort of northern extension of SR 17.