SR 539 is also known as Kathleen Road, and is one of the main routes connecting downtown Lakeland with Interstate 4 (I-4).

One block after the southern terminus, the route encounters the intersection with Florida State Road 548, also known as George Jenkins Boulevard and the Lakeland In-Town Bypass.

[3] Historically, the route that became SR 35A also included Old Dade City Highway, and ran as far north as Branchborough.

The southern terminus was truncated to Lake Wire when FL 563 was extended south into Lakeland Civic Center.

The route was realigned in the late-2000's as part of the construction for the western extension of SR 548,[4][5] and two of the former segments of SR 539 were converted into local streets known as "People's Lane" north of the Lakeland In-Town Bypass, and "Prospect Street" south of the bypass.