MS 617 starts near parking lots in an industry area inside the Port of Pascagoula.

[2][3] Immediately after that, the road meets US 90 at a trumpet interchange, reaching its northern terminus.

[5] The route is legally defined in Mississippi Code § 65-3-3,[6] and is maintained by MDOT.

[8][9] It was removed from the maps in 1984,[10][11] and was added back in 1993–94 as Mississippi Highway 993 (MS 993), with a new interchange at US 90.

[12][13] On July 1, 2002, the Mississippi Legislature designated the route MS 617, and named it as "Jerry St. Pe' Highway".