The highway serves to link U.S. Route 160 (US 160) to the Four Corners Monument.

NM 597 begins at a T-intersection with US 160 in extreme northwestern San Juan County.

Traveling northwesterly, the two-lane highway passes through desert terrain to its northern terminus at a toll booth.

[3] The highway's posted speed limit is 15 miles per hour (24 km/h).

[1] The entire route is in San Juan County.