It runs from north to south for 70.4 miles (113.3 km), serving the counties of Madison, a small portion of Yazoo, Holmes, and Carroll.

It continues northeast through rural areas for several more miles to come to an intersection and become concurrent (overlapped) with US 51, and they head north to cross the Big Black River into Yazoo County.

The highway turns northward and travels through a mix of farmland and woodlands for several miles, passing through Richland, where it has a short concurrency with MS 14, and Franklin, before entering the Lexington city limits.

MS 17 leaves Lexington and travels through rural areas for several miles, crossing over several small creeks as it passes through Acona before entering Carroll County.

MS 17/MS 35 head straight through downtown along Lexington Street before crossing the Big Sand Creek into neighboring North Carrollton.