Route 172 is a state highway in the Mark Twain National Forest, specifically in Wayne County, Missouri.

The route runs for 8.97 miles (14.44 km) eastward as a two-lane highway through dense forests.

The route progresses eastward as a two lane highway through dense forests, soon weaving from northeast to the southeast.

For the mile-long concurrency, the surroundings remain dense forests until Route 172 forks eastward in a small clearing.

The surroundings return to dense forests for Route 172, intersecting with an access road to Deer Run Acres and crossing into the outer edges of Lake Wappapello State Park.