State Route 23 is a short route in St. Clair County. Only 12 miles (19 km) long, the route serves as a connector between U.S. Highway 11 in Springville and U.S. Highway 231/U.S. Highway 411 in Ashville. Although signed as a north–south route, as virtually all Alabama state routes are, the orientation of SR-23 is virtually east–west. Besides the junctions with US-11 and US-231/411, the only other route that SR-23 junctions is Interstate 59 near Springville.

Prior to 1953, SR-23 was co-routed with US-11 between Springville and Gadsden, and with US-411 between Gadsden and Centre. Northeast of Centre, SR-23 continued along the route of present-day State Route 9. By 1956, the route assumed its current alignment.

The entire route is in St. Clair County.