The road, located in northwestern Manitoba, is 97.3 kilometres (60.5 mi) long.

PR 493 provides the only road access to Ruttan Mine and the O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation reserve community of South Indian Lake.

Nearly 23 kilometres (14 mi) into the route, it crosses Brehaut Lake at Ruttan Mine.

PR 493 then continues northeast, and crossing causeways over Issett Lake twice, as well as traversing Issett Island.

After crossing a Cable Ferry over Southern Indian Lake, the route reaches its northern terminus in downtown South Indian Lake.