SR 209 begins at an intersection with US 51/SR 3 south of Henning. It then proceeds northeastward and enters the Henning city limits and in downtown Henning SR 209 has a brief concurrency with SR 87. It then continues northward and enters Ripley city limits. It has a half-interchange with SR 19 and enters downtown Ripley and serves as the southern terminus for SR 208. After this it mainly enters rural countryside and follows a railroad line for about until it reaches the town of Gates where it has a brief concurrency with SR 180 and ends at an intersection with SR 88 and SR 180.