The route is a mostly two-lane undivided road that passes through a mixture of suburban residential, urban commercial, and open rural areas.

Route 79 begins at an intersection of US 9 in Freehold Township, heading north on South Street, a two-lane divided highway that soon becomes an undivided road.

[1][3] Here, the route heads northeast on West Main Street to run concurrently with CR 537 for a short distance.

Route 79 crosses back into Freehold Township, where it continues through suburban residential areas, with intermittent farms and woods.

[1][3] Past this interchange, Route 79 heads through a mix of homes and businesses, narrowing back into a two-lane undivided road.

Route 79 continues north through wooded neighborhoods and enters Matawan, where it becomes Main Street.

On June 7, 1701, a patent was granted to John Johnstone for a road from old Oysterbank Landing (Matawan Creek) to Wickatunk.