With the development of modern economy, the urbanization is accelerating. In order to decrease the shortage of urban rainwater drainage capacity caused by the land hardening and to promote the collection and utilization of urban rainwater, the idea of "sponge city" has been gradually applied in various industries of city construction. The construction of sponge city in the northern cities has a certain specificity because of its climatic factors. As the urban transportation carrier, the municipal roads are the important component to connect each area. By analyzing the specificity of sponge road construction in the northern area, the factors of influencing the design of sponge road in the northern area are proposed, and the design essentials of sponge road in the northern area are summarized. Taking Dongzhan South Road in Hohhot City as an example, the design contents of sponge roads in the northern area are introduced in order to provide the experience and reference for the design and construction of sponge roads in the northern area.