It serves to connect Edgefield and Batesburg-Leesville with Columbia via U.S. Route 1 (US 1).

SC 23 is a two-lane rural highway that travels from Modoc, within the Sumter National Forest and near Lake Strom Thurmond, to Batesburg-Leesville.

The highway travels through mostly either forest or farmland, while connecting with the city and towns of Edgefield, Johnston, Ward, Ridge Spring and Monetta.

[5] The first SC 23 was an original state highway that traveled from SC 3 in Pee Dee, through Latta and Dillon, becoming NC 22 at the North Carolina state line near Rowland.

They curve back to the north-northwest and leave the city limits of Edgefield.