The eastern end is 5.69 miles (9.16 km) to the east at an intersection with Main Street in Frankfort village.

The forest surrounds NY 171 for a substantial distance, separating it from more developed areas of the town.

[3] The route then passes under a series of power lines, loosely paralleling the more northerly CR 96 (Higby Road) to the outskirts of the village of Frankfort.

On the eastern side of the highway, NY 171 becomes South Litchfield Street and passes through areas that are mostly residential.

[9] In the late 1960s, a limited-access highway was constructed between Utica and Ilion alongside NY 5S.

[12][13] As a result, NY 171, which does not interchange with the highway, no longer connects to any other signed state routes.