The main portion of the existing route begins at Vista Del Mar in Los Angeles near the Los Angeles International Airport and ends at the Anaheim–Orange city line at Via Escola where it becomes Cannon Street.

Imperial intersects with the Metro A and C Lines at Wilmington Avenue in Willowbrook at the Willowbrook/Rosa Parks station.

Western terminus coordinates (El Segundo): 33°55′50.91″N 118°26′5.42″W / 33.9308083°N 118.4348389°W / 33.9308083; -118.4348389 Eastern terminus coordinates (Anaheim): 33°50′7.76″N 117°47′43.32″W / 33.8354889°N 117.7953667°W / 33.8354889; -117.7953667 Imperial Highway was built in large part because of lobbying from the Imperial Highway Association, founded in 1929.

A segment in San Diego County was renamed the Great Overland Stage Route of 1849.

)[citation needed] Media related to Imperial Highway at Wikimedia Commons