The state road runs for just over 96 miles (154 km), passing through five counties in northern Indiana, mostly through rural farm fields and small towns.

The concurrency heads east having an interchange with I-69, before bending north-northeast, crossing over the Salamonie River.

North of the dam SR 5 passes west of Huntington Municipal Airport before an intersection with U.S. Route 224 (US 224).

The northwest bound one-way passes southeast and northeast around the Huntington County Courthouse.

The one-way pairs ends at Park Drive with US 224 and SR 5 heading northwest on Jefferson Street.

SR 5 heads north through Larwill crossing the Chicago, Fort Wayne and Eastern Railroad track and passing through an intersection with US 30.

The road heads north passing through rural Whitley County having a four-way stop with Lincolnway, the former route of US 30, before curving to become east-west.

The road passes east of Pisgah Marsh Fish and Wildlife Area before entering Noble County.

Past Wilmot SR 5 haves a few curves but the road is generally north-south before passing east of Tri-County Fish and Wildlife Area.

North of Tri-County Fish and Wildlife Area the road become northeast-southwest before entering Cromwell.

Past Cromwell SR 5 heads towards Ligonier having an intersection with US 33, north of Stone’s Trace.

After leaving the historic district the road crosses over the Elkhart River before passing under Norfolk Southern railroad tracks.

North of the tracks the road passes through residential properties before making a sharp turn to become east-west.

In LaGrange County SR 5 passes on the west edge of Topeka, as the road continues north towards Shipshewana.

[9][10] An authorized route went north from Ligonier to the Michigan state line along modern SR 5 in 1934.