Highway 44 serves as an east–west route between Mabel, Spring Grove, Caledonia, and Hokah in southeast Minnesota.

The section of Highway 44 between Caledonia and Hokah passes through the Richard J. Dorer State Forest.

Beaver Creek Valley State Park is located near the junction of Highways 44 and 76 at the north edge of Caledonia.

The park entrance is located four miles west on County Road 1 via Highway 76.

[2] The route was originally designated as an auto trail named the Southern Minnesota Air Line in a 1919 application.