Most of SH-34 has followed the same basic corridor since its inception, with the exception of the portion of highway north of Woodward.

For much of its extent, State Highway 34 passes through rural areas, running through the plains of western Oklahoma.

[3] US-283 splits off to the northwest two miles (3 km) after that, and SH-34 continues north, crossing into Beckham County.

[3] North of this junction, SH-34 lies along the Roger Mills–Custer county line, which it continues to follow as it passes through the east side of Hammon, where it meets State Highway 33.

North of town, the route crosses over the Washita River, and shortly thereafter turns northeast to fully enter Custer County.

[3] The highway passes through Sharon north of Vici, then joins US-183/US-270/SH-3 four miles (6 km) southeast of Woodward.

The highway then turns back to the north, where it is 10 miles (20 km) to its terminus at the Kansas state line.

[2] At that time, the highway began at the free bridge over the Red River north of Quanah, Texas, and followed what is today SH-6 to the point that is now SH-34's southern terminus.

Its 1931 alignment did not differ significantly from that of the present day (although it followed US-66 through Elk City prior to the establishment of I-40) until it got to Woodward.

It then began a concurrency with US-60 in Buffalo, turning east and connecting with its final segment, bringing it to the Kansas state line.

[2] The new alignment continued due north out of Buffalo to the Kansas state line along a new road.

[9] SH-34 remained in place; the two highways were concurrent from northwest of Eldorado to the Red River bridge, where they both ended.

[2][9] The final modification to SH-34 occurred just under a month later, on February 2, 1987, when SH-34 was realigned in Elk City to follow I-40 instead of the old alignment of the now-dead US-66, which had become a business loop of I-40.

[10] The highway begins at the west edge of Willow and follows Main Street east as it bisects the town.

[11] SH-34C is a 4.52-mile (7.27 km) spur connecting SH-34 with Boiling Springs State Park north of Woodward.