At 1.71 miles (2.75 km) in length, it is one of the shortest signed state highways in all of New York.

East of NY 41A, the roadway continues for roughly 400 feet (120 m) to a boat launch on the western shore of Skaneateles Lake, 1.71 miles (2.75 km) from NY 38A.

[4] Signed as a north–south route, it lies that way at the southern end, but about midway along its length the road turns and thence travels east–west.

Excluding its termini, there are only two junctions with other roadways along the entire route.

[5] The origins of NY 359 date back to the assignment of the first state routes in New York in 1924.