Known as International Terminal Boulevard, the state highway runs 1.61 miles (2.59 km) from SR 337 east to Interstate 564 (I-564) within the city of Norfolk.

SR 406 is part of the National Highway System for its entire length due to its role as a facilitator of intermodal freight transport.

SR 406 heads east as a four-lane divided highway, passing between the rail line to the south and the naval reservation to the north.

[1] A short distance east of Ruthven Road, SR 406 reaches its eastern terminus at a partial interchange with I-564 (Admiral Taussig Boulevard).

The interchange, which includes bridges over the wye junction of the rail line to Norfolk International Terminals and the rail spur that serves the naval base, features a loop ramp from northbound I-564 to westbound SR 406 and a standard ramp from eastbound SR 406 to southbound I-564 that splits shortly after joining I-564's alignment, providing access to both directions of I-64 (Hampton Roads Beltway) and US 460 (Granby Street).