Known as Little Creek Road, the state highway runs 2.65 miles (4.26 km) from SR 165 east to U.S. Route 60 (US 60) within the independent city of Norfolk.

The state highway heads east as a five-lane road with a center left-turn lane through a densely populated area of the northeastern part of Norfolk.

The state highway reaches its eastern terminus at US 60 (Shore Drive) adjacent to Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek and the boundary between the cities of Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

The roadway continues east as Midway Road onto the amphibious base.

Thus the State Route 170 designation was freed for a renumbering of the former SR 168 in Norfolk, from Hampton Boulevard (SR 337) near the old ferry southeast on Taussig Boulevard and east on Little Creek Road to US 60.