[2][3] It is a north-east to south-west link between the Barkly Highway and the Diamantina Developmental Road, servicing a number of cattle grazing and production areas in northern Queensland.

[1] Cloncurry–Dajarra Road commences at an intersection with the Barkly Highway in Cloncurry, about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) west of the town.

It continues south-west until it meets the Diamantina Developmental Road (here known as Boulia–Mount Isa Highway) 0.7 kilometres (0.43 mi) south-east of the town of Dajarra, where it ends.

[1] Land use along this road is a mixture of stock grazing on native vegetation, nature refuge and railway operations.

[5] Copper was discovered in the Cloncurry area in 1867,[6] and the town was established to service the Great Australia Mine to the south.

There were already many pastoral runs in the surrounding area and further west, and the primary purpose of the railway was the transport of live beef cattle to markets in the east of the state.

Prior to construction of the railway, it is likely that early roads were cut from both Cloncurry and Dajarra to provide access for wheeled vehicles to the pastoral runs and mining settlements.