The entire route runs along the western and northern edges of Pembina as a two lane highway.

It turns north and follows the western and northern edges of the small town, acting as a bypass to through traffic.

In the 1950s, US 59 was rerouted onto a new alignment from Lancaster, Minnesota north to a new border crossing with Canada.

Since 2003, Canada-bound traffic on nearby US 75 has been directed to follow MN 171 west into North Dakota, and ND 59 to connect to I-29 to access Canada.

In 2006, the closure became official of the nearby Noyes border crossing on US 75, leaving it a dead end.