The highway's southern terminus is at SR 61 approximately 4.5 miles (7.2 km) north of Sunbury.

It travels northeast to its junction with SR 229, less than 0.25 miles (0.40 km) northeast of the village limits of Sparta.

No part of the route is inclusive within the National Highway System.

SR 656 has not experienced any major changes to its routing since its inception.

[3][4] Media related to Ohio State Route 656 at Wikimedia Commons