The road runs a total distance of just under 14 miles (23 km), on a mixture of rural and urban residential/commercial streets.

This section is rural and fairly winding, although some curves were straightened in the 1970s when container traffic began using the road, most notably the series of bends in Thistleton at the B5269 turnings to Singleton and Elswick.

It continues north-west as Mains Lane for a further 1.5 miles (2.4 km), passing the A588 turning to Shard Bridge and Over Wyre, then sharing with the A588 until Skippool, where the A588 diverts south-west towards Poulton-le-Fylde via Breck Road.

Broadwater Roundabout is surmounted by a statue of Eros, a copy of that standing in Piccadilly Circus, London.

It eventually terminates at the Ash Street roundabout, near Fleetwood Freeport, where it joins the A587 (53°55′09″N 3°00′52″W / 53.9191°N 3.0144°W / 53.9191; -3.0144 (A585 road (northern end))).