The state highway begins at an intersection in the center of West Chester, a community within Perry Township.

SR 342 travels due east for the 0.4-mile-long (0.64 km) portion of the route within Tuscarawas County but then shifts east-southeast as it enters Harrison County.

The route travels through hilly terrain but mainly stays near the tops of ridges except when it descends into valleys in order to cross the Atkinson Creek and the Stillwater Creek.

At the Stillwater Creek bridge, the route enters the village of Freeport.

At the intersection of Main Street and Philadelphia Street, SR 342 terminates as SR 800 continues to the south and east of this intersection.