The primary access to Shades State Park is located along SR 234.

Its eastern portion goes from the U.S. Route 36/State Road 67 concurrency in McCordsville, Indiana.

Its primary job was to provide cities and towns across the northern side of Greater Indianapolis with heavy commerce, but also served as a northern route between SR 37 and SR 267; however, with the advent of modern interstates, its designation was removed in the 1970s.

At that point, it turned west again and proceeded through Carmel, then Zionsville, and ended on SR 267.

Because of its proximity to many places, it supplied heavy commerce to areas such as Noblesville, Fishers, Carmel, Homeplace, Zionsville, Whitestown and Fayette.