It connects the towns of St. George's, Barachois Brook, Mattis Point, and Stephenville Crossing.

Route 461 begins at an intersection with Route 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) and it heads north to enter St. George's, where it makes a sharp right turn onto Main Street in downtown.

The highway winds its way northeast through neighbourhoods as it follows the coast before crossing a river into Barachois Brook.

Route 461/Route 490 now cross a bridge over an inlet to enter Stephenville Crossing, where the two highways split at a fork in the road, with Route 461 going straight through downtown along West Street and Brook Street.

Route 461 now heads northward through neighbourhoods for a few kilometres to leave town and come to an end shortly thereafter at an intersection with Route 460 (White's Road/Hansen Memorial Highway).