State Route 290 begins at an intersection with US 95 approximately 22 miles (35 km) north of Winnemucca near the Santa Rosa Range.

The road turns more northerly after about 12 miles (19 km) as it heads into the town of Paradise Valley.

[1] SR 8B had been established as a graveled road by 1932, approximately following the alignment of the present-day highway.

[5] No major changes were made to State Route 8B during its existence.

The route number remained active until the renumbering of Nevada's state highways that began on July 1, 1976.