The road passes through Garvers Ferry and widens into a four-lane divided highway, coming to the Donald R. Lobaugh Bridge over the Allegheny River.

[2][4][5] A short distance past the river, the route enters Buffalo Township in Butler County and passes over Norfolk Southern's Conemaugh Line before it comes to an intersection with Freeport Road.

The road turns northwest and heads into commercial areas in Schuster Heights, widening into a four-lane divided highway as it comes to an interchange with the PA 28 freeway.

The route heads into a mix of farmland and woodland with some residential and commercial establishments, coming to a junction with the eastern terminus of PA 228 in Sarverville.

The route enters Jefferson Township and heads northwest through rural areas of residences and businesses, passing through Hannahstown.

PA 356 turns north onto Center Avenue and passes farms to the west and homes to the east before entering the city of Butler.

At this point, the route turns north to join PA 8 on South Main Street, a three-lane road with a center left-turn lane that runs through more of the downtown.

PA 356 turns north onto a brief four-lane divided highway where the state route ends at an unfinished cloverleaf interchange with the US 422 freeway.