The road connects the southern suburbs of Soweto with Springs on the East Rand via Lenasia, Alberton and Brakpan.

The R554 is then cosigned with the intersecting R82 for 800 metres northwards, crossing the Klip River, before the R554 becomes its own road eastwards.

It becomes co-signed with the R103, heading east-south-east as Heidelberg Road, meeting the N3 at an interchange just before Roodekop, where it changes its street name to the Nederveen Highway.

It passes through the southern part of Germiston and Boksburg, where it meets the R21 south of Sunward Park.

It then goes through the southern part of Brakpan and then to Springs, where it reaches its eastern terminus at a junction with the R51 in the suburb of Wright Park (just south-west of the town centre).