The 0.5-mile-long (0.80 km) route is the shortest primary state highway in Texas, and it is perhaps the only one partially locked at night.

[2] As of January 2023[update], it is signed only within the cemetery, while the Comal Street portion is unsigned.

At the time, the 22-acre (8.9 ha) site, located just east of current Downtown Austin, had no road access.

In 1977, the eastern section of Loop 343, including the routing along 7th Street, was decommissioned, disconnecting SH 165 from the rest of the state highway system.

However, the Texas State Cemetery and SH 165 are located just six blocks east of Interstate 35 (I-35).