Route 438 begins just south of Main Brook at an intersection with Route 432 and immediately winds its way east through hilly terrain for nearly 20 kilometres (12 mi). It now enters the community of Croque, where it makes a left onto a straighter path northward at the western end of the community. The highway passes through more hilly terrain before arriving at the coastline and St. Julien's (also known as Grandois), where Route 438 comes to a dead end at the northern edge of town.[1]