NY 254 begins at the southbound ramp of Adirondack Northway (I-87) exit 19[4] north of Glens Falls in the town of Queensbury.

As it passes along the north side of the mall, NY 254 curves to the southeast before veering back to the northeast ahead of an intersection with the four-lane US 9 (Upper Glen Street).

The route continues past US 9;[5] however, maintenance of the highway is transferred from the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) to Warren County at the US 9 junction.

Now co-designated as CR 47,[6] NY 254 progresses eastward along the four-lane Quaker Road, serving as a northerly bypass of the city of Glens Falls.

Along this stretch, NY 254 heads through undeveloped land before entering another area of commercial development as it approaches the outskirts of Hudson Falls.

[8] As River Street, NY 254 heads to the southeast for a short distance before terminating at an intersection with US 4 in downtown Hudson Falls.

[11] In the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, the NY 30 designation was reassigned elsewhere while US 4 was reconfigured to continue south from Hudson Falls to East Greenbush.