The southern SH-82 begins at SH-1 and SH-63 in Le Flore County west of Talihina.

It then heads north from there, entering Latimer County and running along the west side of Bengal.

From there, SH-82 continues north until the southern section ends at a junction with SH-9 in Stigler.

Six miles north of Vian, SH-82 runs through Box before meeting SH-100 and forming a concurrency with it on the east shore of Lake Tenkiller.

SH-82 runs through downtown Tahlequah before meeting SH-51 SPUR in the northwestern part of the city.