PA 238 is a two-lane undivided road passing through suburban and rural areas to the northwest of York.

Farther northeast, the route passes through Roundtown prior to turning east onto Farmtrail Road.

At this point, PA 238 passes commercial development and becomes Church Road again before reaching an interchange with I-83.

After this interchange, the route continues past homes and industrial development to its eastern terminus at PA 181 in the community of Emigsville.

[2][3] When routes were first legislated in Pennsylvania in 1911, the present-day alignment of PA 238 was not assigned a number.