The Marikina–Infanta Highway starts at the intersection with N11/Circumferential Road 5/Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City, near its boundary with Marikina, as a physical continuation of N59/Aurora Boulevard.

After Masinag, the road ascends towards the Sierra Madre mountain range as an undivided highway passing through Tanay, Santa Maria in Laguna, and Infanta in Quezon.

It starts its ascent towards the Sierra Madre mountain range and traverses the municipalities of Tanay in Rizal, Santa Maria in Laguna, and Infanta in Quezon.

Several establishments, such as the Riverbanks Center, SM City Marikina, Ayala Malls Feliz, Robinsons Metro East, Sta.

Lucia East Grand Mall, and SM City Masinag, are primary landmarks accessible through the road.

[citation needed] In the 1970s, the highway was developed during the administration of Ferdinand Marcos as Marikina Diversion Road.