State Route 33 is a 51-mile-long (82 km) route in the northwestern part of the state. The southern terminus of the route is at its junction with U.S. Highway 278 at Double Springs. The northern terminus of the route is at its junction with Alternate US-72 and State Route 20 at Courtland.

From its origin at Double Springs, State Route 33 traverses through the William B. Bankhead National Forest. The route travels in a general north–south trajectory for its duration. North of the Bankhead Forest, the route passes through rural areas of Winston County and Lawrence County.

The current incarnation of State Route 33 was created in 1957, when the route designations for State Route 33 and State Route 36 were swapped.