The A180 begins at junction 5 of the M180 in North Lincolnshire, where it picks up traffic from the motorway and the A15 road heading towards the ports of Grimsby and Immingham.

In central Grimsby, the A180 meets the A16 road (to Louth and Boston) at a roundabout, and continues along the front into Cleethorpes.

[11][12] In June 2017, sound levels inside a family car travelling along the road were measured at up to 92 decibels.

[13] In the 2000s, parts of the road that lie close to inhabited areas were resurfaced with tarmac following continued complaints and campaigns.

In March 2018 it was announced that the remaining concrete sections would be resurfaced in three stages at a cost of £10 million.