The highway lies in the Kashmir valley for the first 68 km (up to Qazigund), then passes through a series of mountains up to Udhampur.

In the mountains, the highway is often closed for days during winter due to heavy snowfall and the resulting landslides and avalanches.

Notable attractions along the route are the mountaintop park at Patnitop and the town of Kud with its sweets shops that make "desi ghee patisa".

Personnel at either control room can provide road conditions and give recommendations on the advisability of travel.

This closed the highway for a week, leading to rationing of petrol and diesel fuel throughout the Kashmir Valley.