Its northern terminus is at NY 178 in the extreme southwestern corner of the town of Adams.

It travels north through the small village on Main Street, then enters the surrounding town of Ellisburg.

CR 75 enters the hamlet from the west and exits to the north while NY 289 continues to the northeast, following Sandy Creek.

Before exiting Belleville, NY 289 passes the back road to Belleville–Henderson Central School.

The entirety of NY 289 was assigned as part of the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York.