Known for much of its length as Urbanna Road, the state highway runs 2.98 miles (4.80 km) from SR 33 near Saluda north to SR 602 in Urbanna in central Middlesex County.

The state highway heads north as two-lane undivided Urbanna Road, which passes through a mix of forest and farmland.

The state highway makes a right-angle turn north onto Cross Street and, two blocks later, a right-angle turn west onto Virginia Street.

SR 227 follows Virginia Street west to its western terminus at the western town limit of Urbanna west of Waverly Road.

The roadway continues as SR 602 (Old Virginia Street) to U.S. Route 17 (Tidewater Trail) northwest of Saluda.