its source is approx. 4 km south of murrhardt. it flows northeast before turning west to cross murrhardt. after a further 7 km, sulzbach an der murr is reached. here, at its northernmost point, the lauter joins from the north, coming from spiegelberg. the murr continues southwest, passing oppenweiler to reach backnang, where its narrow valley widens. further towns on its way are burgstall an der murr, kirchberg an der murr, steinheim an der murr, and the community of murr itself, which is located in the district of ludwigsburg.