[2] The highway starts at US-50 near Salina and ends at I-70 near Green River, taking a 163-mile (262 km) scenic route between the Fishlake and Dixie National Forests then through Capitol Reef National Park, along the eastern side of the San Rafael Reef passing Goblin Valley State Park and meeting I-70 again near Green River.

[citation needed] The north easterly section past the San Rafael Reef is open desert with distant views of the Henry and La Sal Mountains.

Past that point, the volume of traffic varies greatly, reaching peaks where the highway coincides with the main streets in the several towns through which it passes.

[4] The number was assigned in 1927 by the state legislature,[5] and in 1935 it was extended northeast from Hanksville to US-6 near Green River.

[6] A realignment in 1961 bypassed Capitol Reef Road between Fruita and Caineville; as part of the construction of I-70, the east end was moved west to that highway's exit 149 in 1964.