PA 17 is a two-lane undivided road that runs through agricultural valleys in the northern part of Perry County.

PA 17 crosses into Southwest Madison Township and runs through more farmland with some woods and residences, passing through Hench and Stony Point.

The road forms a brief concurrency with PA 850 in Kistler and becomes Tuscarora Path, running through more agricultural areas with occasional homes and heading more to the north.

The route curves northwest before turning northeast onto Raccoon Valley Road and heading into the residential community of Ickesburg, where it crosses PA 74.

[2][3] The route crosses a bridge over Norfolk Southern's Pittsburgh Line and the Juniata River and then passes under the US 22/US 322 freeway as it enters the borough of Millerstown and becomes West Sunbury Street.

The route continues into Greenwood Township and becomes Sunbury Path, as noted by open farmland.

[5] By 1930, PA 74 was under construction between Ickesburg and northeast of Marsh Run and between southwest of Donnally Mills and Millerstown.