The route passes through largely arid terrain, although there are multiple irrigated areas between Buronga and Wentworth in the highway's south.

Creeks to the north of Broken Hill are generally crossed straight across the riverbed, whether the road has been sealed or not.

The highway also roughly follows the route Charles Sturt took when he explored the area, during his search to find the fabled inland sea.

At Adams Street the highway then turns north, keeping the name until it leaves the urban area.

[6] Heading north out of Wentworth, the highway enters arid scrublands and it swings northwest towards the Great Darling Anabranch.

To the north of Coombah lake the road passes to the west of similarly dry Kudgee Lake, the roadway then follows the western side of the Pine Creek creekbed crossing it after some distance, then following it along the eastern side much of the remainder of the way Broken Hill.

Upon reaching the approaches to Broken Hill, the terrain elevation becomes a little more varied from the very flat journey travelled so far, as this area is part of the Barrier Range.

On the southern outskirts of Broken Hill, the highway passes Kanandah Road, which forms part of the heavy vehicle bypass.

The highway continues east almost all the way until the edge of the city, where it turns north at Buck Street.

[6] The highway continues a long distance northwards, through very dry country and crossing the occasional creekbed.

Eventually it reaches Packsaddle Roadhouse, where fuel and supplies can be purchased;[4] roughly halfway between Broken Hill and the Queensland border.

North of Tibooburra it passes through Sturt National Park before reaching its terminus at the Queensland border along the Dingo Fence, at Warri Gate.

[15][16] In June 2018, the NSW Government announced it was investing $145 million to seal the remaining 209 km of the Cobb and Silver City Highways by 2023.