The route length is 47.474 kilometres (29.499 mi) and connects the population centers in Pingtung to the mountainous aboriginal townships of Sandimen and Wutai.

The highway continues eastbound towards Changzhi, where it meets Freeway 3.

The road continues toward the mountains, passing through Yanpu, Neipu, Sandimen, and ends at Wutai.

A stretch of the highway in Wutai was severely damaged by Typhoon Morakot in 2009 and was closed to traffic ever since.

The initial plan was to extend the highway from Wutai to Chihpen in Beinan, Taitung, but was formally abandoned in 2011 due to environmental concerns.