State Route 53 also known as the Clearlake Expressway, connects SR 29

California State Route 29

State Route 29 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California that travels in a north–south direction from State Route 20 in Upper Lake to Interstate 80 in Vallejo.-Route description:...

 and SR 20 via the city of Clearlake

Clearlake, California

Clearlake is a city located in Lake County, California. Clearlake is located north-northwest of Lower Lake, at an elevation of 1417 feet...

. It runs in a north–south direction east of Clear Lake. The entire length of the highway is a California Scenic Highway.

Route description

SR 53 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System

California Freeway and Expressway System

The California Freeway and Expressway System is a system of existing or planned freeways and expressways in the U.S. state of California. It is defined by the Streets and Highways Code.-List of roads in the system:*State Route 1 *State Route 2...

 and is eligible for the State Scenic Highway System

State Scenic Highway System (California)

The State Scenic Highway System is a list of highways, mainly state highways, that have been designated by the California Department of Transportation as scenic highways. The California State Legislature, primarily through Section 263 of the Streets and Highways Code, makes highways eligible for...

. However, it is not a scenic highway as designated by Caltrans.

SR 53 begins at California State Route 29

California State Route 29

State Route 29 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California that travels in a north–south direction from State Route 20 in Upper Lake to Interstate 80 in Vallejo.-Route description:...

 in the town of Lower Lake

Lower Lake, California

Lower Lake is a census-designated place in Lake County, California, USA. Lower Lake is located east-southeast of Kelseyville, at an elevation of 1371 feet...

, near Anderson Marsh State Historic Park

Anderson Marsh State Historic Park

Anderson Marsh State Historic Park is a California State Historic Park and nature reserve preserving a tule marsh, archaeological sites of the Pomo people, and historic ranch structures. It is located in Lake County, California, USA...

. The highway then heads northward along Clear Lake, the largest freshwater lake located entirely in California. It bypasses the center of Clearlake, California

Clearlake, California

Clearlake is a city located in Lake County, California. Clearlake is located north-northwest of Lower Lake, at an elevation of 1417 feet...

, instead going through the neighborhood of Highlands Harbor, and ends at California State Route 20 north of the city limits.

Major intersections

Note: Except where prefixed with a letter, postmiles were measured in 1964, based on the alignment as it existed at that time, and do not necessarily reflect current mileage.

The entire route is in Lake County

Lake County, California

Lake County is a county located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of California, north of the San Francisco Bay Area. It takes its name from Clear Lake, the dominant geographic feature in the county and the largest natural lake wholly within California...

.
{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Postmile

!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|Lower Lake

Lower Lake, California

Lower Lake is a census-designated place in Lake County, California, USA. Lower Lake is located east-southeast of Kelseyville, at an elevation of 1371 feet...

|0.00
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Clearlake

Clearlake, California

Clearlake is a city located in Lake County, California. Clearlake is located north-northwest of Lower Lake, at an elevation of 1417 feet...

|1.47
|Old State Highway, Dam Road
|Former SR 53 north
|-
|
|Old Highway
|Former SR 53 south
|-
|
|7.45
|, Northshore Resorts
|