The upper Vyborg road linked the medieval castles of Turku, Häme and Vyborg. The stretch from Turku to Hämeenlinna, the Ox Road of Häme, went via Lieto, Marttila, Koski, Somero and Renko. From Hämeenlinna it continued as the upper Vyborg road along the Salpausselkä ridge to Lahti and from there via Kouvola to Lappeenranta and Vyborg.

In the 18th century the upper Vyborg road became an important route militarily, used first by Sweden and then Russia. The border drawn by the Treaty of Åbo (Turku) ran along the Kymijoki River, which cut across the road. The river was crossed by rowing between the Swedish and Russian border guard posts at Keltti and Ruotsula.

King Gustav III himself rode along the upper Vyborg road, at the head of an attempt to win back south-eastern Finland. The war ended inconclusively, but the battle of Utti, fought by the road in June 1789, marked the spot where Russia would build Utti Fort, the westernmost fort of the road. Davidov, the fortress town of Taavetti, had already been built further east alongside the upper Vyborg road in 1773.

The upper Vyborg road, nowadays Main Road no. 6, still largely follows the old route. The railway to St. Petersburg was constructed alongside it, and was completed in 1870. After Kouvola, however, it follows the route of the lower Vyborg road.