The highway is an access road for tourism in the Lake Powell and Cedar Mesa areas, notably bisecting Bears Ears National Monument and providing the only access to Natural Bridges National Monument.

The highway does not serve any cities, but the small town of Hanksville is its western terminus.

The highway forms part of the Trail of the Ancients National Scenic Byway.

A seasonal gas station is in operation at the Hite Marina area during the summer months.

SR-95 was added to the state highway system in 1935 as a spur connecting SR-47 (now US-191) near Blanding with Natural Bridges National Monument.