NM 57's southern terminus is at the San Juan–McKinley county line where it continues south as Navajo Route 14, and NM 57's northern terminus is at U.S. Route 550 (US 550) northwest of Nageezi.

From 1970 to 1988 the southern terminus was at NM 53 west of Ice Cave.

The segment from Milan to NM 53 around the Ice Cave was removed from the state highway system in 1988.

Then in 1989, the portion of NM 57 between Chaco Canyon and Crownpoint were removed from the state highway system and are now Indian Routes.

The portion in McKinley County from NM 371 eastward to Navajo Route 14 became Navajo Route 9 in a road exchange agreement on July 1, 1989.