The highway connects Albuquerque to Santa Fe and comprises most of the Turquoise Trail, a National Scenic Byway which also includes NM 536 (Sandia Crest Scenic Byway).

The highway continues northeast and briefly cuts through Sandoval County by entering from the south and leaving from the east.

It intersects NM 344 west of Oro Quay Peak,[3] both of which are located south of the ghost town of Golden.

[4]State Road 10 (NM 10) had been established before 1927 between Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

By 1927, part of NM 10 was replaced by US 470 from Tijeras to Albuquerque, but the northern terminus remained at US 85 in Santa Fe.