The route goes from its southern terminus of US-89/US-91 and heads on a northerly path through the west side of Logan.

This more direct route became the main state highway through the area in the 20th century, carrying SR-1 (US-91) north of and SR-101 (now SR-165) south of Logan.

[7][8] The state legislature designated two routes in 1969 that served the areas east of Logan's Main Street, following in part the old road from the 19th century.

State Route 238 began at SR-165 in Nibley, and headed east on 200 South into Millville, then north on that city's Main Street, becoming Providence's 200 West.

[10] In order to "benefit the long term mobility of the whole region", the Cache Metropolitan Planning Organization and Utah Department of Transportation decided in 2007 that a new western bypass of US-91 through the area would help reduce traffic through downtown Logan.

[citation needed] On the other hand, 2500 North (Airport Road), which SR-252 uses to get back to US-91, has a longer history.