SH-162 begins at the US-62/64/SH-16 expressway south of Taft, then proceeds due north for 1.32 miles (2.12 km), ending on the western edge of town.

[1] The route's northern terminus is at Old Taft Road,[2] the old alignment of US-62/64.

[3] On July 10, 1967, however, the state shifted the routes onto the present-day expressway south of town.

[4] SH-162 was created around the same time, allowing Taft to remain connected to the state highway system.

The change to US-62/64/SH-16's alignment was not reflected on the official state highway map until the 1969 edition; this was also the first edition of the state highway map to show SH-162.