Its eastern terminus is also at a T-intersection, this time with SR 97 approximately 5.50 miles (8.85 km) northwest of Lexington.

SR 288 runs exclusively through the rural northern portion of Morrow County.

A few homes soon begin to appear alongside the roadway, as the land on the north side opens up prior to SR 288's crossing of the CSX railway.

The highway soon crosses into North Bloomfield Township, where the rural setting features occasional patches of woods and a few homes amidst the predominant farmlands.

This route has utilized the same alignment through northern Morrow County since it was first established.