At Cape Girardeau, the route crosses the Mississippi. Illinois state highways are wide, two-lane roads without shoulders and with moderate traffic. Most of the remaining route uses narrow two-lane county roads, without shoulders but with very little traffic.
In western Kentucky, it follows quiet county roads over short, steep hills. Trace Road, through the Land Between the Lakes recreation area, has two lanes, no shoulders and light to moderate traffic. Commercial vehicles are prohibited, and the 45 mph speed limit is strictly enforced.
In Tennessee, the route tackles tiring climbs and descents, mostly on well-maintained two-lane county and state roads.
Near Shady Grove, it joins the Natchez Trace Parkway, a lightly trafficked two-lane road without shoulders. The Trace corridor is 400 to 1,000 feet wide, with wider rights-of-way in areas of historical, scientific or recreational value.
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