PA 438 is a two-lane undivided road that passes through rural land in the northern part of Lackawanna County.

PA 438 was designated in April 1961 as part of construction of I-81 through northeastern Pennsylvania so that the latter road would interchange with numbered routes through Lackawanna County.

The road heads through areas of fields with some homes, crossing Norfolk Southern's Sunbury Line and entering North Abington Township.

PA 438 leaves Lackawanna State Park and heads through more rural areas, passing through East Benton.

Past this, the route runs southeast through forests with some small fields and homes, intersecting the eastern terminus of PA 524 in Scott.