NY 215 is largely a rural connector highway, except for the final 0.5-mile (0.8 km) in the city of Cortland.

Virgil Creek ends south of the Virgil–Cortlandville town line; however, NY 215 continues on, initially rising in elevation before heading downhill as it crosses into Cortlandville.

[4] It finally levels off upon reaching the base of the valley, where the road passes through a stretch of significant development just outside the Cortland city limits, its first in the town heading northbound.

The amount of development increases substantially over the next several blocks in the city, where it becomes Owego Street.

[7] Following the transfer, NY 90 was truncated on its southern end to its junction with US 11 in the village of Homer north of Cortland.