Originally a narrow and often country road with a single lane in each direction it has been periodically widened and (particularly north of Wanneroo) straightened.

Commencing within the City of Stirling, it straddles along the suburbs of Joondanna, Tuart Hill, and Yokine, encountering traffic light controlled intersections of Cape and Royal Streets.

North of Morley Drive, it travels through the suburbs of Balcatta, Westminster, and Nollamara, during which it encounters traffic light controlled intersections at Nollamara Avenue, Amelia Street, Main Street, Balcatta Road, and Victoria Road/Halley Road, eventually reaching a diamond interchange with Reid Highway following a 3.5 km (2.2 mi) run along the aforementioned suburbs.

Reid Highway runs uninterrupted under Wanneroo Road, where both ramp junctions are controlled by traffic lights.

A similar situation exists with Gnangara Road and Whitfords Avenue, except the short stretch between the two intersections carries State Route 83.

After Whitfords Avenue, the road is exclusively within the City of Wanneroo, travelling along the industrial suburb of Wangara to the east and Woodvale to the west for around 2 km (1.2 mi), where there is evidence of new residential developments.

The road continues to travel through Neerabup for 3.1 km (1.9 mi) before reaching a traffic light controlled T-junction with Hester Avenue.

The dual carriage way continues as such for 4.3 km (2.7 mi) until Bernard Road South, reducing to a single carriageway once again.

[2] However, the act of proclaiming the road was not contiguous with its development, and progress on surfacing the track occurred at a slow rate.

[5] However, a subsequent renaming request was passed and the name Indian Ocean Drive was extended down to Yanchep Beach Road in 2011.