Its routing is within northern Fayette and southern Fulton County.

Here, the roadway continues to the east as Carnegie Place.

It heads west, and northwest, along Old National Highway to an intersection with SR 314 (W. Fayetteville Road).

The route heads northwest until it intersects SR 138 (Jonesboro Road).

SR 279 heads north into College Park to an interchange with Interstate 285 (I-285, aka Atlanta Bypass).