SR 61 begins in Roane County as a primary highway in the city of Rockwood at an intersection with US 27/US 70/SR 29/SR 1.

They then proceed north as a four-lane divided highway and have a junction with the short SR 382, providing access to Roane State Community College, and cross into Harriman.

US 27/SR 61 continue north to have an interchange with I-40 (Exit 347), with only US 27 signed, and enter the "South Harriman" neighborhood.

They continue through downtown, still as a four-lane, and junction with SR 328, a loop route through the town of Oakdale.

SR 61/SR 62 then bypass downtown to the north and east as a four-lane divided highway with partially controlled access and crosses into Anderson County.

It goes through some farmland in the communities of Batley and Marlow on a nearly 4-mile-long (6.4 km) straightaway before becoming slightly curvy before coming to an intersection with SR 95.

SR 61 then goes through the community of Andersonville before becoming extremely curvy and narrow, and enters Union County.

It then runs alongside Norris Lake for a few miles and passes Big Ridge State Park before intersecting with SR 170 in New Loyston.

Harvey H. Hannah of Oliver Springs was the Tennessee Chairman of the State Railroad and Public Utilities Commission for 30 years.