Ohio State Route 171 is a short east-west route in Carroll County and the southeastern corner of Stark County. The highway begins a few miles north of Carrollton, at Ohio Route 9. The highway soon crosses Ohio Route 43, and it continues west into the hills. After several miles, it curves northwesterly into Waynesburg, in the southeastern corner of Stark County. As Ohio Route 43 also passes through Waynesburg, Ohio Route 171 can be considered a southern alternate to Ohio Route 43, bypassing Malvern, which is served by Ohio Route 43 but not Ohio Route 171. Anyway, the western end of Ohio Route 171 occurs in Waynesburg at Ohio Route 183.