It is generally a two-lane surface road providing a connecting route between Waupaca, Shawano, Gillett and Oconto.

[4] WIS 22 passes through the southeast corner of Portage County for about one mile (1.6 km) as it turns eastward.

[5] The highway stairsteps northeast for about nine miles (14 km), passing around Rural and King as it proceeds toward Waupaca.

The two highways then turn east onto Royalton Street southeast of the city center and follow the Little Wolf River's south branch northeast.

[6] WIS 22 passes northwest of the small communities of Adams Beach and Belle Plaine as it turns northeast and approaches Shawano.

In 2014, an 8.1-mile stretch of STH 22 between Gillett and Oconto Falls was honored with the Sheldon G. Hayes Award for being the smoothest asphalt pavement in the country.

[9] The highway crosses US 141 in Stiles Junction eight miles (13 km) west of its eastern terminus at US 41 in Oconto.