SR 273 begins just south of
Anderson at an interchange with
Interstate 5. The roadway then parallels I-5 northeast into central Anderson. Upon exiting a suburban area, the route enters farmland, while paralleling the
Sacramento River. The roadway then enters suburban
Redding, where it turns away from the Sacramento River and zigzags along local roads through downtown, where it meets
State Route 299. Upon exiting downtown, SR 273 crosses the Sacramento River and meets its northern terminus at
Interstate 5 in the suburbs of Redding. SR 273 is part of the
National Highway System, a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the
Federal Highway Administration. ==Major intersections==