The route connects the small town of Cheneyville in southeastern Rapides Parish with Interstate 49 (I-49) and points along rural LA 115.

[2][3][4] 1.6 miles (2.6 km) across the parish line, LA 181 passes through an interchange with I-49, which connects to Alexandria on the north and Opelousas on the south.

[2][5][6] The route is classified as a rural minor collector by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (La DOTD) with an average daily traffic volume of 620 in 2013.

[3][5][14][15] La DOTD is currently engaged in a program that aims to transfer about 5,000 miles (8,000 km) of state-owned roadways to local governments over the next several years.

[16] Under this plan of "right-sizing" the state highway system, the entire route of LA 181 is proposed for deletion as it does not meet a significant interurban travel function.