SR 196 begins at an
intersection with
US 23/
US 301/
SR 23/
SR 57 southwest of Glennville. The highway heads southeast and enters Long County. SR 196 heads eastward, traveling through rural areas of the county, before gradually heading southeast once again. Just after entering Liberty County, it turns first to the southeast and then to the northeast until it enters
Hinesville. Just after it enters town, it meets
SR 119 and runs
concurrent with SR 119 into Hinesville, where it departs to the northwest, to enter
Fort Stewart. In the main part of the town, the highway intersects
US 84/
SR 38. Those two highways run concurrent with SR 196 northeast to
Flemington, and heads to the southeast for about , until SR 196 departs to the northeast. It continues heading northeast until it meets its eastern terminus, an intersection with
US 17/
SR 25 southwest of
Richmond Hill. ==Major intersections==