At the terminus of SR 117 near Huntsville, US 33 becomes a limited-access, multi-lane highway before reaching US 68 at Bellefontaine where it resumes as a controlled-access freeway, passing Campbell Hill, the highest point in Ohio, and continuing around Marysville.

After I-270, the route loses its controlled-access status and passes through the Dublin Historic District and crosses the Scioto River.

The route continues south on 3rd/4th Streets and then east on Livingston Avenue, heading towards the Columbus neighborhood of Driving Park.

[2] Continuing southeast, the highway enters Ohio's scenic Hocking Hills region near Sugar Grove as an expressway.

As the route approaches Nelsonville, traffic continues on the limited access four-lane bypass that opened October 1, 2013.