The freeway becomes a highway and passes by the Monterey Regional Airport, intersecting SR 218 at Del Rey Oaks, continuing for 17 miles (27 km) towards Salinas.

The route goes past Pasadera, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Laureles Grade, Corral De Tierra, San Benancio, Toro Park and Spreckels, becoming a freeway for the last 3 miles (4.8 km) before Salinas, eventually turning north.

[citation needed] Highway 68 and the "68" road symbol have become iconic in Pacific Grove skating culture.

[9] Highway 68 is part of the DeAnza Trail, a route that linked all of California's mission settlements during the Spanish colonial period.

[11] There continues to be discussions, but no definitive plans, to either bypass Route 68 or convert the existing road to 4-lanes by building a second roadway alongside the present 2-lane carriageway.

In the fall of 2007, Caltrans is scheduled to begin a $6 million project to implement safety upgrades at three major intersections along Highway 68.

These two roads pass through Fort Ord and the upgrades are using excess land set aside following the base's closure in 1994.

Except where prefixed with a letter, postmiles were measured on the road as it was in 1964, based on the alignment that existed at the time, and do not necessarily reflect current mileage.