It runs for approximately 266 km between Mareeba and Cooktown, on the east coast of Cape York Peninsula where it terminates.

[2][3] Named after bushman James Venture Mulligan the sealed highway follows the old Cooktown Developmental Road and was completed in 2006.

Since it was sealed, travelling time from Cairns to Cooktown has reduced from 6 to 3½ hours.

[2][3] It starts at an intersection with Mulligan Highway (State Route 81) in Mareeba.

It runs south-west as State Route 27, for 44.5 kilometres (27.7 mi) to Dimbulah, where it transitions to Burke Developmental Road.