The route begins at the junction of 6200 South and 5600 West and heads due north on the latter as a two-lane undivided highway, with wide shoulders on each side.

Past the diamond interchange at SR-201, the route loses two lanes in each direction.

The highway continues in this manner until it terminates at the diamond interchange at I-80.

[3] State Route 172 was formed in 1985 by the Utah Transportation Commission.

[4] The entire route is in Salt Lake County.