SR 56 begins at an
intersection with
US 280/
SR 30 (West Brazell Street) in
Reidsville, in Tattnall County. It travels to the west, crossing over the
Ohoopee River, and enters Toombs County. A short distance after entering the county, the highway curves to the southwest. In
New Branch, it intersects
SR 178. In
Toombs Central is
US 1/
SR 4. The highway continues to the southwest, before curving to the west-northwest. Then, it crosses into Montgomery County and enters
Uvalda. In Uvalda, SR 56 intersects
US 221/
SR 135. South of this intersection, US 221/SR 135 run
concurrent toward
Hazlehurst. In Uvalda, SR 135 splits off, and US 221/SR 56 travel to the north-northwest to
Mt. Vernon, where they have a second intersection with US 280/SR 30 (Spring Street). After leaving town, US 221/SR 56 travel north to an intersection with the southern terminus of
SR 199. West of
Tarrytown, they cross into Treutlen County, before entering
Soperton. In town, they turn to the northeast. In the main part of town, they intersect
SR 15/
SR 29 (Main Street). At this intersection, SR 15 joins the concurrency for a short while. The three routes intersect
SR 78 (Louisiana Street). Here SR 15/SR 78 head to the northwest, while SR 78 heads southeast. A short distance farther to the northeast, they intersect
SR 46 (Metter Road). Just over after leaving town, they intersect the northern terminus of
SR 227. Just before an
interchange with
Interstate 16 (I-16; Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway), the two highways have an intersection with
SR 86. They curve to the north-northeast and enter
Gillis Springs, where US 221/SR 56 intersect the southern terminus of
SR 171. Here, US 221/SR 171 head to the north, while SR 56 departs to the east. Then, it curves to the north-northeast and cross over the Ohoopee River for a second time, crossing into Emanuel County. It heads north, curves to the northeast, and crosses over the
Little Ohoopee River. The highway continues to the northeast and intersects
US 1/
SR 4 (South Main Street), just before entering
Swainsboro. There, it intersects
US 80/
SR 26 (West Main Street)/
SR 57 (Kight Road). The four highways run concurrent to the northeast. At the intersection with
US 1 Business/
SR 4 Business (Main Street), SR 57 splits off to the southeast, along US 1 Business/SR 4 Business south. Approximately later, SR 56 splits off to the north-northeast. It passes through
Modoc and meets
SR 192 in
Summertown. Farther to the northeast, it crosses over the
Ogeechee River into Burke County and
Midville. In town, it intersects
SR 17 (Lee Street). A few blocks later, it meets the southern terminus of
SR 305 (Jones Street). Leaving town, it heads north-northeast and curves to the northeast. SR 56 passes through
rural areas of the county toward
Waynesboro. Just before it enters town, it intersects
SR 24/
SR 80. The three routes head east-northeast into town and curve to the northeast to an intersection with
US 25/
SR 121 (Liberty Street). At this intersection, SR 24 departs to the south-southeast, while SR 56/SR 80 continue through town. Just before leaving Waynesboro, they meet
US 25 Bypass/
SR 121 Bypass. The two routes curve to the north-northeast, to the point where SR 56 and SR 80 split apart. SR 56 continues to the north-northeast and curves to the north-northwest. It curves back to the north-northeast and intersects the northern terminus of
SR 23. Then, it curves around Southland Timber Lake, and meets the western terminus of
SR 56 Spur (River Road). The highway crosses over
McBean Creek into Richmond County and
Augusta. It heads north and northwest, to meet the southern terminus of the now
decommissioned SR 56 Spur (
Tobacco Road), which leads to
Augusta Regional Airport. North-northwest of here is an interchange with
I-520 (
Bobby Jones Expressway). The route continues to the north-northwest, and curves to the northwest, until it meets its northern terminus, a second intersection with US 25/SR 121 (Peach Orchard Road) in the southern part of Augusta. ==Major intersections==