The road crosses the Northeast Branch Anacostia River in a wooded area before it comes to a roundabout at University Research Court/Haig Drive.

The route crosses into College Park and curves north, running past business parks and passing to the east of the College Park–University of Maryland station that serves MARC's Camden Line and Washington Metro's Green Line.

The route runs past commercial development before it curves west and heads between Paint Branch Stream Valley Park to the north and residential areas to the south.

The road turns to the north and runs between commercial development to the west and wooded areas of the park to the east.

MD 431 curves northwest and becomes a divided highway before it reaches its terminus at an intersection with US 1 (Baltimore Avenue) on the eastern edge of the University of Maryland at College Park campus.