The road is a former cattle route that stretches in an east-west direction almost 660 kilometres (410 mi) through the Kimberley between the towns of Derby and the Kununurra and Wyndham junction of the Great Northern Highway. The road but runs nearby at 16°06.108'S 126°31.075'E. The Gibb River Road is one of the two major roads which dissect the Kimberley region—the other being the extreme northern section of Great Northern Highway which runs further to the south.

Derby is a 24 hour drive north east of Perth and a 2 hour drive east of Broome. It can also be reached via flights from Broome. Broome is a 2.5 hour flight from Perth. Kununurra is a 3 hour flight north east of Perth. By road it is a 33 hour drive.