It starts from the west coast of the Thai-Malay Peninsula at an intersection with Phetkasem Road (Highway 4) near Amphoe Takua Pa, Phang Nga Province.
It ends at Ban Tha Pae, about 10 km north of Nakhon Si Thammarat town.
Highway 4012 then connects Ban Tha Pae to Nakhon Si Thammarat town.
Route 401 is the main road that connects Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat.
It starts near Amphoe Takua Pa as a two-lane single carriageway.
Then it widens to a four-lane dual carriageway and continues to Surat Thani, Amphoe Kanchanadit.
However, a short section from Phun Phin till the start of the Surat Thani bypass is concrete.