The 13.8 miles (22.2 km)-long road traverses portions of Smith and Macon Counties.

[1][2] SR 80 begins in Smith County just west Carthage at an intersection with SR 25 on the banks of the Cumberland River.

It then goes north as a 2-lane country road, having an intersection with SR 85, about 2 miles west of Defeated, just after passing through Monoville.

It then crosses into Macon County shortly afterwards.

It then winds through some more hills before having an intersection with Defeated Creek Road, a back road to Defeated.