SR 189 begins at its intersection with SR 52 in the
central business district of Kinston. From this terminus, the route travels in an easterly direction prior to turning to the north as it exits the town. From this point, SR 189 generally travels in a north-northeast direction where it intersects both
SR 134 and
SR 141 en route to Elba. Within Elba, the route turns north in a
concurrency with
SR 203 and joins
US 84 on the west side of the town. Upon leaving their brief concurrency with US 84, SR 189 and 203 turn north and east in a bypass of Elba. SR 189 then leaves SR 203 ==Major intersections==