The route begins at Iowa Highway 5 south of Swan and ends at the eastern city limits of Runnells.

The highway's primary purpose is a crossing of the Des Moines River south of Runnells.

The area north of the highway serves as an overflow basin for Lake Red Rock, which is formed by a dam twenty miles (32 km) downstream near Pella.

It continues north into Polk County on another causeway for two miles (3.2 km), where it curves to the northwest towards Runnells.

[1] At the Runnells city limits, Iowa 316 ends abruptly, but the highway continues as McKinney Street.