The road is the main street through the town of Battle Mountain, and is also designated Interstate 80 Business (I-80 Bus.).

The route heads briefly passes through a portion of the Te-Moak Tribe Indian reservation as it turns southeast into the town.

The highway parallels the Union Pacific Railroad right through the middle of the Battle Mountain business district.

SR 304 has a junction with State Route 305, which connects to Austin in southern Lander County, as well as State Route 806, providing access to mining districts north of the town.

[5] The adoption of the U.S. Highway System in 1926 by the Bureau of Public Roads created US 40 in Nevada,[citation needed] which was also routed along Front Street through Battle Mountain.