Running north, it is five miles (8 km) to the first highway intersection, SH-22, just west of Kenefic.

Highway 48 continues on to the north, passing through the community of Folsom, and at Coleman, SH-48A spurs off to the west, towards the town of Milburn.

SH-48 intersects with SH-9 in northwestern Hughes County, and then turns to the east the junction with SH-99A, just west of Bearden.

The 25 miles (40 km) between US-62 and the SH-16 junction in Bristow is very rural, with no settlements of any size.

SH-48 crosses the Cimarron River and skirts the western edge of Keystone Lake as it travels its final few miles, intersecting with US-412/Cimarron Turnpike just before terminating at US-64, eight miles (13 km) south of Cleveland.