It extends for 18.71 miles (30.11 km) from the Bruckner Interchange in the Throggs Neck section of the Bronx to the New York–Connecticut state line at Rye Brook.

The roadway is named for the Hutchinson River, a 10-mile-long (16 km) stream in southern Westchester County that the road follows alongside.

The Hutchinson River Parkway proceeds north as a continuation of I-678, entering exit 1A, a small 1-lane ramp to Bruckner Boulevard near Saint Raymond's Cemetery.

Proceeding northbound, exit 5 connects to Colonial Avenue, the continuation of Sandford Boulevard after the Hutchinson River Parkway in the adjacent village of Pelham.

The parkway winds northeast into exit 7, a junction with New Rochelle Road, bending northwest through Nature Study Woods Park.

Crossing through Twin Lakes Park, the parkway enters exit 8, a junction with the northern end of Webster Avenue.

Passing around Reservoir 3, the Hutchinson River Parkway crosses into Eastchester and soon back into New Rochelle near exit 9, which connects to North Avenue.

Proceeding northbound, exit 11 services Hutchinson Avenue, which connects to NY 125 and Quaker Ridge Country Club.

Now in the Quaker Ridge section of Scarsdale, the Hutchinson River Parkway crosses into exit 12, Mamaroneck Road near Saxon Woods County Park.

Leaving the park, the Hutchinson River Parkway enters White Plains, crossing past a median rest area.

Passing Maple Moor Golf Course, the Hutchinson River Parkway enters exit 15A–B, a cloverleaf interchange with I-287 (the Cross Westchester Expressway).

The four-lane parkway winds northeast once again, entering exit 18, a junction with North Ridge Street in Rye Brook.

[9] The original roadway was an undivided freeway, designed with gently sloping curves, stone arch bridges, and wooden lightposts.

[2] In 1930, Robert Moses, an American public official who worked on New York metropolitan area infrastructure, announced plans to build more parkways in the Bronx.

[22][23][24] Modifications in 1984 included the straightening of some curves, increased sight distances, removal of the rustic lightposts, and lengthening of acceleration and deceleration lanes.