Its northern terminus is at a trumpet interchange with the U.S. Route 20 (US 20) freeway 0.75 miles (1.21 km) east of Oberlin.

There are no segments of SR 511 that are included as a part of the National Highway System (NHS).

The NHS is a network of highways identified as being most important for the economy, mobility and defense of the nation.

Originally, the highway was routed from its present southern terminus at SR 39 to its western junction with US 20 just south of Kipton.

This extension replaced what was formerly the westernmost portion of SR 10, and coincided the completion of the US 20 freeway heading northeast from the Oberlin area toward Elyria.