The majority of the road follows the path of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad (now part of the Norfolk Southern Railway).

[2] SR 57 is signed as a primary highway for most of its length, excluding the section between its western terminus and the split with US 72 in Collierville, which is secondary.

Poplar Avenue has an interchange with I-240 in East Memphis and soon enters Germantown, where it is briefly overlapped with SR 177.

In the city of Memphis, the road is locally known for its narrow lanes of traffic and hazardous storm grates along its edges.

After half a mile, East Old State Line Road turns slightly left before reentering SR 57.

East of Middleton, SR 57 goes through the town of Pocahontas, where it passes over the Norfolk Southern Railway for the fourth and final time.

SR 57 enters McNairy County and passes north of Big Hill Pond State Park.

East of Michie, the road junctions with SR 22, which is the most direct route to Shiloh National Military Park.

When SR 57 enters the town of Counce, it crosses a railroad spur of the Kansas City Southern Railway.