In the last years of the route's existence, it was a 2.167 miles (3.487 km) state road in Bushnell, Florida, which ran from Interstate 75 (I-75) at exit 314 to U.S. Highway 301 (US 301).

After crossing the Withlacoochee River, it wound through western Sumter County along part of the DeSoto Trail.

Northeast of Center Hill, SR 48 crossed the Sumter–Lake county line and was named Leesburg Highway.

The route includes former segments of Florida State Roads 2, 22, 23, 210, 212, and 214, designated SR 48 as part of the 1945 great renumbering.

Sometime during the late 20th Century, FDOT began turning maintenance of SR 48 over to Citrus, Sumter, and Polk Counties.

In the early 21st century, FDOT widened SR 48 to four lanes between east of CR 316A and Interstate 75 and made other improvements in front of a Walmart Supercenter.