The road ends at US 169 in King City, about 20 miles (32 km) from its western terminus.

[2] Route 48 starts at the intersection of US 71 and County Road 43 (CRD 43) and travels eastward.

The road passes by a school and travels through farmland, and turns northeastward at CRD 146.

East of CRD 149, the route shifts southward and crosses over the One Hundred and Two River, the city limit of Rosendale.

[1] The entrance to the J. F. Roberts Octagonal Barn, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is located past the intersection of Routes 48 and B.

[3][4] The road then intersects the northern terminus of Route D, and crosses over the Platte River.

[19][20] Route 48 was resurfaced and shoulders were reshaped in 1974 from Rosendale to King City, which cost $435,278.46 (equivalent to $2,689,210 in 2023).