SR 53 begins at an intersection with SR 20 (Scottsville Road) a short distance south of SR 20's interchange with
Interstate 64 in Albemarle County just south of the
independent city of Charlottesville. The state highway heads east and begins to ascend Carters Mountain, which is part of the
Southwest Mountains. Just west of
Michie Tavern, SR 53 winds as it continues to its summit between Monticello to the east and Montalto, also known as the Mountaintop Farm and Patterson Mountain, to the west. A two-way ramp connects SR 53 with the Monticello access road, which passes over the state highway. SR 53 has a few more curves as it descends the mountain to the hamlet of
Simeon, where the highway intersects SR 795 (James Monroe Parkway). SR 795 leads south to the estate of
James Monroe,
Ashlawn-Highland. SR 53 crosses Buck Island Creek near its confluence with the
Rivanna River before entering Fluvanna County. The state highway passes along the western edge of the suburban resort community of Lake Monticello, which is centered around the lake of the same name. The state highway reaches its eastern terminus at US 15 (James Madison Highway) just south of the U.S. Highway's crossing of the Rivanna River in Palmyra, the
county seat. ==History==