It has many concurrencies along its path, including U.S. 280 from the Alabama state line to Richland; US 27 from Columbus to Cusseta; and especially US 82 from Dawson to a point southwest of Brunswick.

[citation needed] SR 520 begins at the Alabama state line concurrent with US 280.

On the Georgia side of the state line, US 280/SR 520 head east through Columbus to an intersection with US 27/SR 1.

The four highways head east through the city, along Victory Drive to an interchange with Interstate 185 (I-185), and through Fort Benning.

Southeast of Fort Benning, the four highways have an intersection with SR 26 just prior to entering Cusseta.

In town, US 27/SR 1 split from the concurrency, toward Lumpkin, while US 280/SR 520 head southeast to Richland.

At the intersection with US 19/SR 3, which join the concurrency, US 19 Business/US 82 Business/SR 520 Business head south into downtown Albany.

These highways join the concurrency until they leave in town about 1 mile (1.6 km) later.

Approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) later, US 1/US 23/SR 4 depart to the southeast, while US 82/SR 520 head to the east.

Southeast of Waycross is SR 177, which leads to Laura S. Walker State Park and the Okefenokee Swamp.

[1] While not part of the Appalachian Development Highway System, SR 520 is nevertheless designated as Corridor Z.

Some markers also feature the small abbreviation "CORR Z" near the top of the state outline, though this practice is being phased out.

[citation needed] All of SR 520 from the Alabama state line to at least the eastern intersection with US 17/SR 25 near Jekyll Island is part of the National Highway System (NHS), a system of routes determined to be the most important for the nation's economy, mobility and defense.

Almost all of SR 50 from Dawson to Tifton was paved, along with a portion west of Waycross, and the entirety of US 84/SR 50 east of the city.

[16][17] By October 1934, a portion of SR 50 east of Tifton, as well as one west of Alapaha, was paved.

[2][3] In 1989, the sections of US 82 and US 84 east of Waycross were swapped, presumably to make travel less confusing for drivers.

[3][31] On May 5, 2006, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering designated the portion of SR 520 east of US 17 as Interstate 50 for one day, May 7.

AASHTO held their Spring 2006 meeting on Jekyll Island and approved the I-50 designation in conjunction with a vintage car ride to be held on May 7 in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Interstate Highway System.

is a business route of SR 520 that exists almost entirely within the city limits of Albany.