The northern segment, which is 20.20 miles (32.51 km) long, runs from an interchange with U.S. Route 22 (US 22) in Bloomingdale to SR 7 in Empire.

After following the ridgeline for about two miles (3.2 km), SR 152 descends to a valley formed by the Dry Fork southwest of Smithfield.

The road soon enters the Smithfield village limits and it heads northeast through the mostly residential neighborhood on Main Street.

[3] The northern segment starts at its southern end at a diamond interchange with US 22 partially in the village Bloomingdale and Wayne Township.

North of this intersection, SR 152 begins to curve to the northeast and enters the village of Richmond on Walnut Street.

The easternmost intersection with SR 213 is in the unincorporated community of Knoxville where a small cluster of homes and a fire station are present.

At an intersection with CR 68 adjacent to a Methodist church's cemetery, SR 152 curves to the east and begins a long 500-foot (150 m) descent into the village of Empire.

At the bottom of the slope, the road, which is known as Stewart Street in Empire, crosses a Norfolk Southern railroad and travels for one block through a residential neighborhood.