The highway's southern terminus is in the northwestern Columbus suburb of Dublin at a roundabout intersection with U.S. Route 33 (US 33) and SR 161.

SR 257 continues north to Hard Road, and past Thaddeus Kosciuszko Park.

After crossing the Franklin–Delaware county line, the next major junction is with SR 750 at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and the O'Shaughnessy Dam.

[7] SR 257 continues north to signaled intersection with US 42 and runs concurrently with US 42 for about 1 mile within Concord Township.

Originally, the highway was routed along its present southernmost alignment along the eastern banks of the Scioto River between Dublin and its northeastern junction with US 42.