The highway travels in a C-shape from a point approximately 11 miles (18 km) southeast of Varnville northwest and north to Barnwell, and then northeast to Swansea.

After crossing into the county, SC 3 turns north and intersects US 301 approximately seven miles (11 km) southwest of Allendale.

[7] Just after the county line, SC 3 turns northeast and intersects US 278 just before the Salkehatchie River, approximately two miles (3.2 km) south of Barnwell.

It then heads northward, crossing the South Fork of the Edisto River, where it enters Orangeburg County.

Approximately seven miles (11 km) northeast of the county line, SC 3 meets its northern terminus, at its second intersection with US 321 in the southern part of Swansea.

In that same year, the southern terminus was extended southward a short distance to Barton.

In 1972, the southern terminus was moved southeast to Grays, giving us the current SC 3 routing.