It parallels the eastern shores of Lake Barkley while traversing the small communities of Donaldson and Linton.

It turns eastward to cross KY 139 and becomes Roaring Springs Road afterwards.

After traversing the town of Roaring Springs, and also paralleling the northwestern boundary of the Fort Campbell Military Reservation, KY 164 turns northeastward before entering Christian County.

KY 164 originally ran from the Tennessee State line northeast of the now-extinct town of Model, and entered the community of Linton via a ferry crossing of the Cumberland River, and then joined its present-day alignment from Linton to near Hopkinsville.

[2] Ferry service was discontinued after the river was impounded to become Lake Barkley in the early 1960s, and KY 164 was rerouted onto Linton Road to Canton.