In addition to serving several communities directly, Highway 117 also provides a shortcut between U.S. Route 65 and Interstate 80 east of Des Moines.

Outside of Colfax, State Street is Jasper County Road F48, which connects Mitchellville and Newton.

After 3⁄4 mile (1.2 km), the highway turns north towards downtown Colfax where it crosses an Iowa Interstate Railroad line and the South Skunk River.

North of Colfax, Iowa 117 passes through rolling farmland with houses dotted along the road.

Three miles (4.8 km) from Mingo, the highway begins curving to the north and west, parallel to Indian Creek.