The highway connects mostly rural areas of Breathitt, Wolfe, and Morgan counties with Jackson, Vancleve, and Helechawa.

It travels to the north-northwest, leaves Jackson, crosses over Shacks Branch, and intersects the southern terminus of KY 3193.

It crosses over Frozen Boone Fork immediately before an intersection with the northern terminus of KY 541 (Mt.

It curves to the northeast and enters Helechawa, where it crosses State Road Fork, has an interchange with the Mountain Parkway, and begins a concurrency with KY 191.

Right after it crosses over Payton Fork, it intersects KY 705 (Walters Branch Road/Grassy Creek Road).

It heads to the northeast and curves to the north-northeast and meets its northern terminus, an intersection with U.S. Route 460 (US 460).