For most of its length in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA 73 is known as Jefferson Highway.

After leaving Airline Highway it takes a generally northwesterly path until it becomes Government Street at the entrance to downtown Baton Rouge.

As Government Street it proceeds due west to a junction with River Road.

[1] The route of LA 73 was originally called "Clay Cut Road," as it roughly followed the Claycut Bayou through the southern part of East Baton Rouge Parish.

As of 2018, the portion west of LA 948 is under agreement to be removed from the state highway system and transferred to local control.