The route serves the communities of Hamlin, Hawley, and Lackawaxen and passes to the north of Lake Wallenpaupack.

The route runs through forested areas with some homes, curving east into Roaring Brook Township and passing to the north of Elmhurst Reservoir.

PA 590 runs through more rural areas and passes over I-84, curving to the east and heading through Drinker before turning to the south.

The road runs through more rural areas of residences and comes to a junction with the eastern terminus of PA 348.

At this point, the route turns to the east and heads into agricultural areas with some woods and residential and commercial development.

The road loses the center left-turn lane past this intersection and continues into forested areas before heading through more woodland with some farm fields and homes, turning east-northeast near Peetona.

The road heads into wooded areas of residential development and crosses into Palmyra Township, turning to the southeast.

[3][5] Here, PA 590 turns north for a concurrency with US 6 on Welwood Avenue, heading northeast through some development as a three-lane road with a center left-turn lane.

US 6/PA 590 becomes Bellemonte Avenue and turns northwest into residential areas, heading to the west and becoming Spring Street.

The two routes turn north onto Main Avenue and pass through the commercial downtown of Hawley, crossing the Middle Creek before heading across the Stourbridge Railroad and the Lackawaxen River.

The route continues through rural areas, heading northeast briefly before turning to the southeast, passing through Bohemia.