Half the route comprises highways and the other half provincial roads. The route is some 6,000 kilometres (3,700 mi) long and runs fully across the European continent.
On its way through Europe it crosses several major European routes, such as:
Major towns along the R217 highway (Russia) include Kropotkin, Nevinnomyssk, Mineralnye Vody, Pyatigorsk, Nalchik, Beslan, Grozny, Gudermes, Khasavyurt, Makhachkala, and Derbent on the Caspian Sea. After skirting the Greater Caucasus, the route continues to Baku.