Although the route followed a mostly north–south alignment, it was considered an east–west highway by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT).

The route winded eastward, and southwestward through Hammond, passing to a general southeastern direction.

After the intersection with South Hammond Road, NY 185 entered the hamlet of Rossie, where it served as the main street as a two-lane roadway.

Within the hamlet, NY 185 intersected with County Route 8 (Brassie Corners–Rossie Road), where the designation terminated.

[2][3] It was extended north from Rossie to NY 37 in the mid-1930s,[6][7] but truncated on its south end to the hamlet in the late 1940s.