The Matsubara Route travels in a northwest to southeast direction from the Chūō ward of Osaka, beginning at a junction with the Loop Route, to a junction with the Hanwa Expressway, Kinki Expressway, and Nishi-Meihan Expressway in the city of Matsubara.

After crossing over the Yamato River into Matsubara, the expressway has a junction with Yamatogawa Route that parallels the river from the junction to its end near Osaka Bay.

The majority of the expressway was completed by 1980 after the opening of an 11.2-kilometer-long (7.0 mi) section.

[3] A mini parking area once operated between Miyake and Matsubara junctions,[4] it has since been removed.

[5] On 21 March 2013, the expressway was linked to the Yamatogawa Route at Miyake Junction.