diff --git a/public/app/features/alerting/unified/components/rule-viewer/RuleViewer.tsx b/public/app/features/alerting/unified/components/rule-viewer/RuleViewer.tsx
index e5d5463ebf2..5a4b4da2178 100644
--- a/public/app/features/alerting/unified/components/rule-viewer/RuleViewer.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/alerting/unified/components/rule-viewer/RuleViewer.tsx
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ const RuleViewer = () => {
   // we want to be able to show a modal if the rule has been provisioned explain the limitations
   // of duplicating provisioned alert rules
   const [duplicateRuleIdentifier, setDuplicateRuleIdentifier] = useState<RuleIdentifier>();
+  const { returnTo } = useReturnTo('/alerting/list');
   const { annotations, promRule, rulerRule } = rule;
 
   const hasError = isErrorHealth(promRule?.health);
@@ -119,7 +120,7 @@ const RuleViewer = () => {
           health={promRule?.health}
           ruleType={promRule?.type}
           ruleOrigin={ruleOrigin}
-          returnToHref="/alerting/list"
+          returnToHref={returnTo}
         />
       )}
       actions={<RuleActionsButtons rule={rule} rulesSource={rule.namespace.rulesSource} />}
diff --git a/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/DataSourceGroupLoader.test.tsx b/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/DataSourceGroupLoader.test.tsx
index 0064e7f953d..c1fe5eeec29 100644
--- a/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/DataSourceGroupLoader.test.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/DataSourceGroupLoader.test.tsx
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ describe('DataSourceGroupLoader', () => {
 
       promGroup.rules.forEach((rule, index) => {
         const ruleLink = within(ruleListItems[index]).getByRole('link', { name: `prom-only-rule-${index + 1}` });
-        expect(ruleLink).toHaveAttribute('href', createViewLinkV2(groupIdentifier, rule));
+        expect(ruleLink).toHaveAttribute('href', expect.stringContaining(createViewLinkV2(groupIdentifier, rule)));
       });
     });
 
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ describe('DataSourceGroupLoader', () => {
       expect(ruleListItems).toHaveLength(1);
 
       const ruleLink = within(ruleListItems[0]).getByRole('link', { name: 'mimir-rule-1' });
-      expect(ruleLink).toHaveAttribute('href', getRuleLink(groupIdentifier, rulerRule));
+      expect(ruleLink).toHaveAttribute('href', expect.stringContaining(getRuleLink(groupIdentifier, rulerRule)));
     });
 
     it('should render Edit and More buttons for rules that are present in ruler and prometheus', async () => {
diff --git a/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/DataSourceGroupLoader.tsx b/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/DataSourceGroupLoader.tsx
index 5e8bce32165..a9430c488e1 100644
--- a/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/DataSourceGroupLoader.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/DataSourceGroupLoader.tsx
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ export function DataSourceGroupLoader({ groupIdentifier, expectedRulesCount = 3
             rule={rule}
             groupIdentifier={groupIdentifier}
             application={dsFeatures?.application}
+            showLocation={false}
           />
         ))}
       </>
@@ -194,6 +195,7 @@ export function RulerBasedGroupRules({
             actions={
               <RuleActionsButtons rule={rulerRule} promRule={promRule} groupIdentifier={groupIdentifier} compact />
             }
+            showLocation={false}
           />
         ) : (
           <RuleOperationListItem
@@ -204,6 +206,7 @@ export function RulerBasedGroupRules({
             rulesSource={groupIdentifier.rulesSource}
             application={application}
             operation={RuleOperation.Creating}
+            showLocation={false}
           />
         );
       })}
@@ -216,6 +219,7 @@ export function RulerBasedGroupRules({
           rulesSource={groupIdentifier.rulesSource}
           application={application}
           operation={RuleOperation.Deleting}
+          showLocation={false}
         />
       ))}
     </>
diff --git a/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/DataSourceRuleListItem.tsx b/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/DataSourceRuleListItem.tsx
index f93e63d3d92..3fc7eb8a808 100644
--- a/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/DataSourceRuleListItem.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/DataSourceRuleListItem.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import React from 'react';
 import { DataSourceRuleGroupIdentifier, Rule, RuleIdentifier } from 'app/types/unified-alerting';
 import { PromRuleType, RulerRuleDTO, RulesSourceApplication } from 'app/types/unified-alerting-dto';
 
+import { createReturnTo } from '../hooks/useReturnTo';
 import { Annotation } from '../utils/constants';
 import { fromRule, fromRulerRule, stringifyIdentifier } from '../utils/rule-id';
 import { getRuleName, getRulePluginOrigin, rulerRuleType } from '../utils/rules';
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ export interface DataSourceRuleListItemProps {
   groupIdentifier: DataSourceRuleGroupIdentifier;
   application?: RulesSourceApplication;
   actions?: React.ReactNode;
+  showLocation?: boolean;
 }
 
 export function DataSourceRuleListItem({
@@ -29,13 +31,15 @@ export function DataSourceRuleListItem({
   groupIdentifier,
   application,
   actions,
+  showLocation = true,
 }: DataSourceRuleListItemProps) {
+  const returnTo = createReturnTo();
   const { rulesSource, namespace, groupName } = groupIdentifier;
 
   const ruleIdentifier = rulerRule
     ? fromRulerRule(rulesSource.name, namespace.name, groupName, rulerRule)
     : fromRule(rulesSource.name, namespace.name, groupName, rule);
-  const href = createViewLinkFromIdentifier(ruleIdentifier);
+  const href = createViewLinkFromIdentifier(ruleIdentifier, returnTo);
   const originMeta = getRulePluginOrigin(rule);
 
   // If ruler rule is available, we should use it as it contains fresh data
@@ -54,6 +58,7 @@ export function DataSourceRuleListItem({
     labels,
     actions,
     origin: originMeta,
+    showLocation,
   };
 
   switch (rule.type) {
diff --git a/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/GrafanaGroupLoader.test.tsx b/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/GrafanaGroupLoader.test.tsx
index 783c0c23d91..621cd6ecd2e 100644
--- a/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/GrafanaGroupLoader.test.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/GrafanaGroupLoader.test.tsx
@@ -49,7 +49,10 @@ describe('GrafanaGroupLoader', () => {
     expect(ruleStatus).toBeInTheDocument();
 
     const ruleLink = ui.ruleLink(rule1.grafana_alert.title).get(ruleListItem);
-    expect(ruleLink).toHaveAttribute('href', `/alerting/grafana/${rule1.grafana_alert.uid}/view`);
+    expect(ruleLink).toHaveAttribute(
+      'href',
+      expect.stringContaining(`/alerting/grafana/${rule1.grafana_alert.uid}/view`)
+    );
   });
 
   it('should render rule with url and creating state when only ruler rule exists', async () => {
@@ -66,7 +69,10 @@ describe('GrafanaGroupLoader', () => {
     expect(creatingIcon).toBeInTheDocument();
 
     const ruleLink = ui.ruleLink(rule1.grafana_alert.title).get(ruleListItem);
-    expect(ruleLink).toHaveAttribute('href', `/alerting/grafana/${rule1.grafana_alert.uid}/view`);
+    expect(ruleLink).toHaveAttribute(
+      'href',
+      expect.stringContaining(`/alerting/grafana/${rule1.grafana_alert.uid}/view`)
+    );
   });
 
   it('should render delete rule operation list item when only prom rule exists', async () => {
diff --git a/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/GrafanaGroupLoader.tsx b/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/GrafanaGroupLoader.tsx
index 7bc5bf031b4..e8c024d4504 100644
--- a/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/GrafanaGroupLoader.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/GrafanaGroupLoader.tsx
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ export function GrafanaGroupLoader({
               groupIdentifier={groupIdentifier}
               namespaceName={namespaceName}
               operation={RuleOperation.Creating}
+              showLocation={false}
             />
           );
         }
@@ -109,6 +110,8 @@ export function GrafanaGroupLoader({
             rulerRule={rulerRule}
             groupIdentifier={groupIdentifier}
             namespaceName={namespaceName}
+            // we don't show the location again for rules, it's redundant because they are shown in a folder > group hierarchy
+            showLocation={false}
           />
         );
       })}
@@ -121,6 +124,7 @@ export function GrafanaGroupLoader({
           rulesSource={GrafanaRulesSource}
           application="grafana"
           operation={RuleOperation.Deleting}
+          showLocation={false}
         />
       ))}
     </>
diff --git a/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/GrafanaRuleLoader.tsx b/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/GrafanaRuleLoader.tsx
index 13388bde92c..3ca5e6a7496 100644
--- a/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/GrafanaRuleLoader.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/GrafanaRuleLoader.tsx
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { GrafanaPromRuleDTO, PromRuleType, RulerGrafanaRuleDTO } from 'app/types
 
 import { alertRuleApi } from '../api/alertRuleApi';
 import { prometheusApi } from '../api/prometheusApi';
+import { createReturnTo } from '../hooks/useReturnTo';
 import { GrafanaRulesSource } from '../utils/datasource';
 import { totalFromStats } from '../utils/ruleStats';
 import { rulerRuleType } from '../utils/rules';
@@ -91,6 +92,7 @@ interface GrafanaRuleListItemProps {
   groupIdentifier: GrafanaRuleGroupIdentifier;
   namespaceName: string;
   operation?: RuleOperation;
+  showLocation?: boolean;
 }
 
 export function GrafanaRuleListItem({
@@ -99,7 +101,10 @@ export function GrafanaRuleListItem({
   groupIdentifier,
   namespaceName,
   operation,
+  showLocation = true,
 }: GrafanaRuleListItemProps) {
+  const returnTo = createReturnTo();
+
   const {
     grafana_alert: { uid, title, provenance, is_paused },
     annotations = {},
@@ -111,7 +116,7 @@ export function GrafanaRuleListItem({
     rulesSource: GrafanaRulesSource,
     group: groupIdentifier.groupName,
     namespace: namespaceName,
-    href: createRelativeUrl(`/alerting/grafana/${uid}/view`),
+    href: createRelativeUrl(`/alerting/grafana/${uid}/view`, { returnTo }),
     health: rule?.health,
     error: rule?.lastError,
     labels: labels,
@@ -119,6 +124,7 @@ export function GrafanaRuleListItem({
     isPaused: rule?.isPaused ?? is_paused,
     application: 'grafana' as const,
     actions: <RuleActionsButtons rule={rulerRule} promRule={rule} groupIdentifier={groupIdentifier} compact />,
+    showLocation,
   };
 
   if (rulerRuleType.grafana.alertingRule(rulerRule)) {
diff --git a/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/components/AlertRuleListItem.tsx b/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/components/AlertRuleListItem.tsx
index 55b410cc46c..00a2df7ff8b 100644
--- a/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/components/AlertRuleListItem.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/alerting/unified/rule-list/components/AlertRuleListItem.tsx
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ export interface AlertRuleListItemProps {
   actions?: ReactNode;
   origin?: RulePluginOrigin;
   operation?: RuleOperation;
+  // the grouped view doesn't need to show the location again – it's redundant
+  showLocation?: boolean;
 }
 
 export const AlertRuleListItem = (props: AlertRuleListItemProps) => {
@@ -69,12 +71,13 @@ export const AlertRuleListItem = (props: AlertRuleListItemProps) => {
     origin,
     actions = null,
     operation,
+    showLocation = true,
   } = props;
 
   const listItemAriaId = useId();
 
   const metadata: ReactNode[] = [];
-  if (namespace && group) {
+  if (namespace && group && showLocation) {
     metadata.push(
       <Text color="secondary" variant="bodySmall">
         <RuleLocation namespace={namespace} group={group} rulesSource={rulesSource} application={application} />
@@ -167,9 +170,10 @@ export function RecordingRuleListItem({
   isPaused,
   origin,
   actions,
+  showLocation = true,
 }: RecordingRuleListItemProps) {
   const metadata: ReactNode[] = [];
-  if (namespace && group) {
+  if (namespace && group && showLocation) {
     metadata.push(
       <Text color="secondary" variant="bodySmall">
         <RuleLocation namespace={namespace} group={group} rulesSource={rulesSource} application={application} />
@@ -206,6 +210,7 @@ interface RuleOperationListItemProps {
   rulesSource?: RulesSourceIdentifier;
   application?: RulesSourceApplication;
   operation: RuleOperation;
+  showLocation?: boolean;
 }
 
 export function RuleOperationListItem({
@@ -215,11 +220,12 @@ export function RuleOperationListItem({
   rulesSource,
   application,
   operation,
+  showLocation = true,
 }: RuleOperationListItemProps) {
   const listItemAriaId = useId();
 
   const metadata: ReactNode[] = [];
-  if (namespace && group) {
+  if (namespace && group && showLocation) {
     metadata.push(
       <Text color="secondary" variant="bodySmall">
         <RuleLocation namespace={namespace} group={group} rulesSource={rulesSource} application={application} />
@@ -256,7 +262,7 @@ function Summary({ content, error }: SummaryProps) {
   }
   if (content) {
     return (
-      <Text variant="bodySmall" color="secondary">
+      <Text variant="bodySmall" color="secondary" truncate>
         {content}
       </Text>
     );