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Euxoa oblongistigma belongs to the detersa group of the subgenus Euxoa. They are medium-size (3.0-3.4 cm wingspan) grey-brown moths with lighter brown and black markings. The costa is evenly colored pale grey or buff. The orbicular is narrow and usually elongate, and the reniform is a rather narrow crescent; both are pale buff or grey brown like the costa. There is a long, thick prominent black basal streak connecting to the black claviform. The remainder of the wing is brown, darkest in the terminal area. The subterminal area has several lighter brown streaks crossing it, and usually a tan streak from below the orbicular almost to the anal angle. The hindwings are dirty white, darkening toward the outer margin in males and light smoky brown in females. Sexes similar. The pale buff costa and orbicular spot, the later lacking a white-rimmed dark center, and the prominent black basal streak will separate it from the similar E. olivalis and E. plagigera. In general a darker, less streaky or mottled moth than these otherwise similar species.

From southwestern Saskatchewan west to the southern interior of BC, south to eastern central California and northern New Mexico and east to western North and South Dakota. In Alberta they have been collected in the arid grasslands region north to the Red Deer River.