The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 96 north of the Monroe County village of Pittsford.

The highway, four lanes wide, heads east, skirting the southern edge of the St. John Fisher campus for a half-mile (0.8 km) before connecting to I-490 at exit 25.

Past the expressway, NY 31F begins to straddle the boundary line between the village of East Rochester and the town of Pittsford.

After intersecting NY 153, the primary roadway linking East Rochester and the village of Pittsford, NY 31F passes to the south of the East Rochester Union Free School District campus prior to leaving the vicinity of the village and entering Perinton.

During this stretch, the route passes under the CSX Transportation-owned West Shore Subdivision railroad line, here situated on a large embankment.

At the eastern edge of the commercial strip, NY 31F narrows to two lanes and crosses over the Erie Canal into Fairport, where it becomes West Church Street.

The route resumes its eastward path at an intersection with High Street in the northeast corner of the village, becoming Macedon Center Road in the process.

[3] East of Fairport, the route becomes predominantly rural in nature in a stark departure from its first 6 miles (10 km).

[3] Maintenance of NY 31F is split between the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), the village of Fairport, and Monroe County.