SC 71 begins at an intersection with SC 20 (known as Greenville Street north of here and also known as North Main Street south of here) in the central part of Abbeville and within the southeastern part of Abbeville County.

It begins a curve to the west-southwest before intersecting the southern terminus of SC 28 Conn., which takes on the North Main Street name.

After this point, the highway leaves the city limits of Abbeville and begins to travel through rural areas of the county.

It bends to the west-southwest and crosses over Gill Creek before reaching its northern terminus, an intersection with SC 81 just east of Lowndesville.

They pass Piedmont Technical College's Abbeville County Campus before intersecting SC 28.

They travel through rural areas of the county, passing a United States Department of Agriculture Service Center, the Pete Smith Sports Complex, and the Abbeville County Industrial Park.

They have an intersection with the eastern terminus of Old Calhoun Falls Road and the western terminus of Haigler Street, the former of which leads to the Abbeville County Law Enforcement Center, the Sheriff's and magistrates's offices, and detention center.