NY 96A is two lanes wide for most of its length, with the exception of the 3-mile (5 km) long four-lane divided highway section at the northern end.

The route proceeds westward along West Avenue as a two-lane residential street before leaving the village for the town of Covert, where it becomes rural.

Continuing west from CR 129/CR 146, the route gains the name East Seneca Avenue as it enters the village of Lodi.

Continuing west, NY 96A enters the town of Romulus, intersecting with the terminus of CR 139 as a two-lane rural roadway.

[4] Continuing north through Romulus, the route soon bends to the northwest near Blaine Road, passing the southern edge of the Seneca Army Depot and the northern border of Sampson State Park.

In Fayette, the highway passes a small number of commercial buildings around its junction with the western terminus of NY 336 before running along a stretch of homes.

[4] NY 96A enters the hamlet of Rose Hill, where it bends to the northwest, intersecting with the western terminus of CR 120 (Yellow Tavern Road).

The route bends to the north, intersecting with CR 119 (Boodys Hill Road) near the shore of Seneca Lake.

This intersection serves as NY 96A's northern terminus, while the right-of-way continues north as a connector to CR 110 (Border City Road).