The road travels east through the fields of Mesilla Valley, past Vado Elementary School and after approximately 1.15 miles (1.85 km) turns northeasterly.

The highway skirts Vado from the south and reaches its eastern terminus at intersection with FR 1035 just east of the junction with I-10 and US 180.

In 1988 the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) went through a radical road renumbering program, and the La Mesa–Vado stretch was redesignated as NM 189, whereas the Vado to I-10 section remained NM 227.

In 2013 the overpass area and Interstate exit were redesigned, and NM 227 was extended to FR 1035.

[3][1] The entire route is in Vado, Doña Ana County.