The western terminus of the route is at PA 739 in the Blooming Grove Township community of Lords Valley.

The eastern terminus of the route is at the New York-Pennsylvania border in Shohola Township, where PA 434 crosses the Delaware River and enters New York, becoming New York State Route 55 (NY 55) at an intersection with NY 97 in the town of Highland.

[2] A short time later, the highway passes a couple homes and crosses Shohola Creek.

Just north of the creek, the area becomes somewhat urbanized with homes beginning to surround the road again.

The highway makes a curve, turning to the southeast for a distance north of Greeley.

[2] PA 434 begins to become urbanized for a third time, passing some large buildings along with homes and forests.