The highway connects Mount Carmel with rural areas of McCormick and Abbeville counties.

It travels to the north-northeast and immediately curves to the northeast along the western edge of Sumter National Forest.

It crosses over Lott Creek, and then curves to the east-southeast and leaves Mount Carmel and enters the forest proper for a very short distance.

Right after the county line, SC 823 crosses over Bowie Branch and White Creek.

It then meets its northern terminus, an intersection with SC 72 at a point southwest of Abbeville.