The highway connects Cades and rural areas of northeastern Williamsburg County.

SC 512 begins at an intersection with U.S. Route 52 (US 52; Williamsburg County Highway) in Cades, Williamsburg County, where the roadway continues as Cade Road.

It travels to the east-southeast and immediately enters the main part of Cades, where it crosses over some CSX railroad line.

It continues to the east-southeast and crosses over McNamee and Paisley swamps before it intersects SC 261 (Hemingway Highway).

They pass Battery Park Elementary School before traveling through Indiantown.