PA 896 begins at the Maryland border in London Britain Township in Chester County, at which the point the road continues south into Maryland as MD 896 for a short distance before crossing into Delaware and becoming DE 896. From the state line, PA 896 heads north on two-lane undivided New London Road, passing woods and homes as it comes to the community of Strickersville. At this point, the road turns to the northwest into a mix of farmland, woodland, and residences as it crosses into Franklin Township and reaches the community of Kemblesville. Here, the road passes several homes prior to crossing PA 841. Following this intersection, PA 896 becomes Newark Road and continues through a mix of rural areas and residential subdivisions as it enters New London Township. The route crosses State Road in the community of New London.^[2][3]

After turning more to the north, PA 896 intersects the southern terminus of PA 796 and heads north-northwest, crossing into Penn Township. The road crosses an East Penn Railroad line at-grade and makes a turn to the northwest, heading into farmland with some homes as it crosses the East Branch Big Elk Creek into Upper Oxford Township. The route crosses Baltimore Pike before reaching a partial cloverleaf interchange with the US 1 freeway. Following this interchange, PA 896 runs through open farmland with occasional residences, intersecting PA 10 in Russellville. The road continues through rural areas past this intersection, crossing Muddy Run on a one-lane bridge and passing through Homeville, where it turns southwest and northwest.^[2][3]

Upon crossing the East Branch Octoraro Creek in a wooded area, PA 896 heads into Colerain Township in Lancaster County and becomes Georgetown Road.^[2][4] At this point, the route enters the Pennsylvania Dutch Country of eastern Lancaster County, which is home to many Amish farms.^[5][6] The road continues through more agricultural areas, turning more to the north. The route enters Bart Township and heads northwest again as it continues to the small residential community of Nine Points. Farther northwest, PA 896 crosses a bridge over the Enola Low Grade Trail before intersecting PA 372 in the community of Green Tree. At this point, PA 372 turns north onto PA 896 and the two routes run concurrent through a mix of farms and homes. PA 372 splits from PA 896 by heading east on Christiana Pike, at which point PA 896 makes a turn to the west and enters the community of Georgetown. In Georgetown, the route makes a turn to the north and curves to the northwest again as it leaves Georgetown.^[2][4]

The road continues through more farmland as it crosses into Paradise Township. Upon crossing into Paradise Township, PA 896 turns to the west-northwest and passes a mix of woods and homes before heading back into agricultural areas and turning west. The route curves to the northwest as it enters Strasburg Township and turns north onto Historic Drive, passing west of a shopping center that is home to the Choo Choo Barn, a model railroad display, and reaching an intersection with PA 741 a short distance to the west of the Strasburg Rail Road and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. At this point, PA 896 crosses PA 741 and continues northwest through farmland with some businesses, straddling the border between the borough of Strasburg to the southwest and Strasburg Township to the northeast. North of Strasburg, PA 896 turns north onto Hartman Bridge Road and passes homes and businesses as it crosses back into Strasburg Township, at which point it runs through a mix of farms, homes, and businesses, passing east of Sight & Sound Theatres. After crossing the Pequea Creek, PA 896 enters East Lampeter Township and continues north to an intersection with US 30 (Lincoln Highway) in a commercial area near two shopping centers. After this intersection, the route becomes Eastbrook Road and passes a mix of farm fields and residential subdivisions with some businesses before crossing Mill Creek and ending at PA 340 in the community of Smoketown.^[2][4]

When Pennsylvania first legislated routes in 1911, what is now PA 896 was not legislated as part of a route.^[7] PA 896 was first designated in 1928 to run from PA 42 (now PA 10) in Russellville northwest to the Octoraro Creek in Homeville along an unpaved road. At this time, the road between the Maryland border and Rusellville was an unnumbered paved road while the portion in Lancaster County was an unnumbered unpaved road.^[8] By 1930, PA 896 was paved while PA 796 was designated on the present-day route from the Maryland border to a point north of New London.^[9] In 1937, PA 896 was extended in both directions. The southern terminus was extended from Russellville to the Maryland border on its current alignment, replacing a portion of PA 796, while the northern terminus was extended from the Octoraro Creek to US 30 (now PA 462) east of Lancaster, heading northwest toward Strasburg on its current alignment before it turned west along PA 741 through Strasburg and northwest along Strasburg Pike to US 30.^[10][11] PA 896 was rerouted at Strasburg to head north to PA 340 in the 1960s.^[12] In 1997, plans were made to build a bypass of Strasburg to the northeast in order to reduce traffic in the borough. Construction on the bypass began in 2008.^[13] In November 2009, the bypass was completed, and PA 896 was routed to bypass Strasburg along Historic Drive instead of following PA 741 (Main Street) and Decatur Street through the borough.^[13][14] The bypass cost $8.3 million to build.^[13]

•   U.S. Roads portal
•   Pennsylvania portal

• Pennsylvania Highways: PA 896
• PA 896 at AARoads.com
• Pennsylvania Roads - PA 896