The state highway, which serves the southwestern corner of Worcester County, has been isolated from the rest of the state highway system since the northern terminus was rolled back from U.S. Route 13 Business (US 13 Business) in the 1990s.

Cedar Hall Wharf Road continues south as a county highway to a boat ramp on the Pocomoke River.

MD 371 heads northeast as a two-lane undivided road through farmland and forest.

After the Pocomoke Beltway, which leads to US 13 and US 113, splits off to the east, the state highway turns north and passes Dun Swamp Road.

[6][7] The state highway originally continued into Pocomoke City and ended at US 13 (later MD 675 and US 13 Business).