US 67 enters the intersection from the south along S. Highland Avenue, then turns east along E. San Antonio Street becoming concurrent with US 90.

After two blocks, SH 17 intersects the beginning of Farm to Market Road 1112 (FM 1112 which proceeds eastward along E. Oak Street which runs parallel to the Union Pacific Railroad.

SH 17 proceeds north an additional two blocks, then turns east along E. Lincoln Street directly in front of the Presidio County Courthouse.

The route follows mostly straight stretches with no sharp turns or steep grades through open ranch land.

Approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Fort Davis, the route intersects the western terminus of SH 166.

SH 118 runs concurrently down State Street through town and past Fort Davis National Historic Site for a distance of 1.3 miles (2.1 km).

Blackfoot Drive merges back with the route as SH 17 leaves town continuing northward through Limpia Canyon in the Davis Mountains with a maximum speed limit of 55 miles per hour (89 km/h).

In Limpia Canyon, the road has many curves, some with recommended speeds as low as 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) as indicated by warning signs.

Continuing northward, the route intersects the eastern terminus of RM 1832 approaching from Buffalo Trails Boy Scout Ranch.

Continuing into Balmorhea, the route passes fields of alfalfa watered from irrigation ditches including one running parallel with the highway.

In Balmorhea, this irrigation channel becomes the centerpiece of a city park along one side of SH 17 here known as Main Street.

After Balmorhea, the route has a speed limit of 55 miles per hour (89 km/h) and passes just north of the foothills of the Davis Mountains and through the small community of Brogado before reaching I-10.

At Saragosa, the route intersects FM 1215 which merges with SH 17 and the speed limit lowers to 55 miles per hour (89 km/h).

The speed limit then increases to 75 miles per hour (121 km/h) as the route passes through cotton fields with occasional oil wells.