The highway starts at U.S. Route 6 (US 6, known as the Long Mountain Parkway) in Woodbury, and heads to the northeast, ending at an intersection with US 9W and NY 218 in the community of Highlands.

It does not pass through any notable populated areas as most of the land around it is protected either as state parkland or US military reservation.

NY 293 begins at a junction with US 6 in Woodbury less than 2 miles (3.2 km) east of the Thruway, in Harriman State Park.

[4] From there it travels in a roughly east-northeast direction between the Harriman properties and the vast USMA reservation, most of which is only selectively open to the public.

The Long Path hiking trail follows in the woods closely alongside NY 293 near its southern terminus.