The western terminus of the route is at SR 220 about two and a half miles (4.0 km) west of Waverly.

Its eastern terminus is at SR 104 nearly two miles (3.2 km) southwest of Waverly.

Starting from a T-intersection with SR 220 southwest of Waverly, SR 552 travels in an east-southeasterly direction, before turning more to the south-southeast, bounded by woods on the north side and the north shore of Lake White on the south side.

The route trends more to the southeast, then curves to the east-southeast, finally bending to the northeast as it enters into its terminal intersection at SR 104 at a sharp angle.

[3] SR 552 was designated in 1937, along the route that it occupies today along the northern edge of Lake White.