The route runs through the Western, Central, Greater Accra and Volta regions of Ghana.

Major towns and cities along the route of the N1 include Elubo, Sekondi-Takoradi, Cape Coast, Yamoransa, Winneba, Kasoa, Accra, Tema, Dawhenya, Aveyime-Battor, Kase, Dabala, Akatsi, Denu, Sogakope, and Aflao.

The N1 begins at the border with Ivory Coast at Elubo and proceeds southeast through the town of Esiama, where the road splits and the N1 continues east to Apemenyim.

At the Market Circle, the N1 continues north along the Cape Coast - Takoradi road to Nkwanta, where it crosses into the Central Region.

At Tokor, the N1 branches south into Denu and continues to the border town of Aflao, where it crosses into Togo as the Togolese N2 route.