It is about 7 miles (11 km) south of Carlisle, within the civil parish of Hesket It is operated by Moto (it was owned and operated by Esso when the northbound base opened in 1972).

For a time in the 1990s the service area was briefly renamed Carlisle.

Southwaite has entrances from both the northbound and southbound carriageways of the motorway, and there are facilities built on both sides.

A pedestrian footbridge connects the two sections of the service area.

Both sides have a Burger King restaurant, WHSmith, M&S Simply Food and a Costa Coffee.