The highway passes through rural areas of Warren and Tippecanoe counties, before ending near West Lafayette.

The eastern segment begins at an interchange with Interstate 65 (I-65) and heads east passing through the cities of Kokomo, Hartford City, and Portland, before ending at the Ohio border, where it continues east as Ohio State Route 119.

SR 26 runs for 150.1 miles (241.6 km) as an almost entirely east–west undivided surface highway in central Indiana.

The road exists in two segments with the first running between the Illinois border, near the town of Ambia, and near West Lafayette.

The road heads east passing through agricultural land, before turning south concurrent with U.S. Route 41 (US 41).

SR 26 passes north of Purdue University Forestry and Natural Resources Farm, before an intersection with US 52/US 231.

[1][3][4] The eastern segment of SR 26 begins, as a continuation of South Street, at an interchange with I-65 on the east side of Lafayette.

The road heads east as a four-lane highway, passing through both commercial and residential properties.

The road enters the downtown area of Rossville passing through an intersection with Plank Street (US 421/SR 39).

[3] In Howard County the road enters Russiaville, passing through town on Main Street.

SR 26 leaves Russiaville and enters rural Howard County, passing through mostly farmland.

In Fairmount SR 26 is routed along Eighth Street and passes through residential part of town.

Before leaving town the street has an at-grade crossing with a Norfolk Southern railroad track.

The two state roads enter Portland on Votaw Street, passing through mostly commercial lots.

Meridian Street heads south passing through the Portland Commercial Historic District, about a block east of the Jay County Courthouse.

SR 26 turns east on Water Street, while US 27 continues south across the Salamonie River.

SR 26 ends at the Ohio–Indiana border, just outside of Fort Recovery, the roadway continues east into Ohio as State Route 119.