SR 287's routing is somewhat unique in that it forms a nearly C-shaped arch around the southern, western, and northern sides of McMinnville.

It heads northwest through farmland and rural areas as Morrison Viola Road for several miles, where it crosses a bridge over a creek, to enter the town of Morrison along S Fair Street and come to an intersection with SR 55 (Manchester Highway).

SR 287 turns north along Jacksboro Road through rural areas for several miles, where it crosses the Barren Fork River, to pass through the town of Centertown, where it has a short concurrency with US 70S (Nashville Highway/SR 1).

It winds its way northeast as W Green Hill Road through farmland for several miles before turning east and passing just north of the Dibrell community, where it has an intersection with SR 56 (Smithville Highway).

SR 287 now becomes Great Falls Road and continues east to pass through Rock Island State Park, where it passes by the Great Falls Dam and crosses the mouth of the Collins River, before entering the community of Rock Island and come to an end at an intersection with SR 136 (Rock Island Road).