It runs through the CBD and the suburbs of Cairns North and Aeroglen as Sheridan Street, with a speed limit of 60km/h.

After the intersection with Aeroglen Drive, the northerly and southerly directions of the highway become separated by a median and the speed limit increases to 80km/h.

It then continues along the coast through Wangetti, Craiglie and Killaloe, then west between Bonnie Doon in the north and Cassowary and Shannonvale in the south, where it passes the exit to Mossman-Mount Molloy Road (State Route 44) to the south, before turning north-west to its terminus in Mossman.

[9] The highway was closed in December 2023 after heavy rain linked to Cyclone Jasper caused landslips, debris and significant damage north of Palm Cove to Port Douglas.

[11] A project to upgrade the road between Cairns and Smithfield, at a cost of $359 million, was expected to commence construction in June 2022.

[3][4] It starts at an intersection with Captain Cook Highway (State Route 44) at the Bonnie Doon, Cassowary, Shannonvale tripoint.

It runs south as State Route 44, for 28.4 kilometres (17.6 mi) to Mount Molloy, where it ends at an intersection with Mulligan Highway.