SC 185 begins at an
intersection with
US 178 (Old Shoals Junction Road) just southeast of Hodges, within
Greenwood County. It travels to the northwest and nearly immediately enters the
city limits of Hodges. It and US 178 take different paths through the town, and, at one point, are only about 100 feet (30 m) apart. SC 185 curves to the southwest and passes Hodges Elementary School before leaving town. The highway winds its way through
rural areas of the county and enters
Abbeville County just before crossing over Long Cane Creek. Approximately 2,000 feet (610 m) later, it intersects the northern terminus of
SC 203 (Old Douglas Mill Road). It then travels to the northwest, going through
Arborville, before it begins a
concurrency with
SC 20 (Greenville Street). They cross over Park Creek just before entering Due West. At North Main Street, they meet
SC 184, which joins the concurrency. The three highways travel through
Erskine College and pass
Erskine Theological Seminary. Immediately afterward, SC 20/SC 185 splits off onto Anderson Drive. Just after leaving town, the concurrency crosses over Chickasaw Creek. They cross over Little Hogskin Creek and Hogskin Creek before splitting, with SC 185 going to the northwest. The highway crosses over Little River and then enters
Anderson County. After a crossing of Camp Creek, is an intersection with
SC 284 (Trail Road) in
Saylors Crossroads. The highway crosses over Bear and Hencoop creeks before intersecting
SC 413 in
Ebenezer Crossroads. The highway curves to the northwest and crosses over
Rocky River and meets its northern terminus, an intersection with
SC 28 (Abbeville Highway).[4]