The southern portion of the loop has shopping centers, restaurants, and interchanges, while at the north side of the loop, it is rural and turns into a highway, with side streets, and one traffic light for Kings Row.

On the north side of town, the loop runs next to the C. H. Collins Athletic Complex.

The road begins at an interchange with Interstate 35 (I-35) on the northwestern corner of Denton and loops around the north, east and southeast sides of the city before ending at another intersection with I-35E adjacent to Denton's shopping mall.

Loop 288 is signed as a truck route for traffic traveling east on US Highway 380 (US 380) towards McKinney.

Loop 288 was designated on September 21, 1955, from US 77 north to US 380 (then State Highway 24, SH 24).