[1] The R54 begins at a junction with the N12 national route approximately 9 kilometres north-east of Potchefstroom, North West.

[1] Next, the R54 reaches a 4-way-junction with the R82 road (Voortrekker Street) from Johannesburg at the northern end of Vereeniging Central, right next to the R59 Sybrand van Niekerk Freeway Off-ramp.

[1] The R54 makes a 21 km journey, crossing the Suikerbosrand River, to meet the R549 road near the north-western corner of the Vaal Dam.

[1] Just before the N3 Interchange, the R54 meets a road which provides access to the town of Villiers in the Free State via a small bridge that only allows cars going one direction to cross it at a time (using a traffic light system).

This is the only alternative way to cross the nearby Vaal River (Mpumalanga-Free State Border) into the town of Villiers apart from the N3.