It begins at U.S. Highway 71 (US 71) in northern Milford and ends at the Minnesota border northwest of Spirit Lake, where it continues onward as Minnesota State Highway 86.

Iowa Highway 86 begins at an intersection with US 71 north of Milford.

It heads westward from this point before turning northward, passing through Wahpeton.

Further north, it reaches the Minnesota state border, where the highway terminates.

The project consisted of reducing the severity of the two sharp curves located at the state line, right-of-way widening, and "flattening" the road by cutting down the high points and filling in the low points.