It links the M6 motorway east of Athlone, County Westmeath with junction 6 of the M8 motorway at Kilnoe near Horse and Jockey in County Tipperary, 96.625 kilometres (60.040 mi) to the south (map).

The government legislation that defines the N62, the Roads Act 1993 (Classification of National Roads) Order 2012 (Statutory Instrument 53 of 2012), provides the following official description: The road commences at junction 8 on the M6 east of Athlone and continues for a short distance as a dual carriageway forming a short section of the Athlone bypass.

Following the roundabout junction with the R446 towards Athlone town, the road is a single carriageway two-lane throughout.

The quality of the surface, pavement and alignment varies, but it has no stretch of fully realigned 'two-lane with hard shoulders' section.

[citation needed] Road marking and signage is good to excellent on most of the route.