Its eastern terminus is at a signalized intersection with SR 7 in downtown Gallipolis.

SR 588 runs entirely within the central part of Gallia County.

No portion of SR 588 is included as a part of the National Highway System, a system of highways that are considered most important for the economy, mobility and defense of the country.

It was originally routed along its present alignment between the Jackson Pike (present-day County Road 35) intersection southeast of Rio Grande and its current eastern terminus at SR 7 in Gallipolis.

[2][3] When the entirety of the US 35 freeway was completed through Gallia County by 1992, SR 588 was extended northwest from its previous western terminus along the former routing of US 35 to its current western terminus at SR 325 in Rio Grande.