A method and system for extracting and building end-to-end route information in a multi-area Internet protocol (IP) autonomous system (AS) operated according to a link state routing protocol such as the Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) protocol is disclosed. The method and system enables a user, such as a network administrator, to explicitly identify a full set of paths (links and routers) that a given IP packet would potentially traverse from its entry point in the area of the AS where it originates until its exit point in its intended destination or exit area.