The route is unpaved for its entire length and becomes impassable for automobiles in the winter outside of a short portion immediately outside of Nome.

The route began as a collection of informal trails connecting Nome with mining communities established on the peninsula at the beginning of the 20th century.

However, the road had fallen below state standards by the 1960s and 70s and projects were undertaken to update the highway and replace river-crossing ferries with bridges.

The road has been studied since the 1950s as part of a potential Fairbanks-Nome Highway; the expected cost of such a project has consistently prevented any development.

[2][4] There are four important landmarks that are listed in the United States National Register of Historic Places within the Nome Census Area.