The road curves southeast and passes through the residential community of Locust Gap, heading east through more forests at this point.

The route turns to the east as a two-lane road before curving south into the community of Lavelle, where it passes homes and businesses.

PA 901 becomes two lanes again as it crosses the Mahanoy Creek into Barry Township and becoming Sunbury Road, passing through more rural areas.

The route gains a second eastbound lane and curves east into more forested areas, ascending Broad Mountain.

The road turns southeast into Foster Township and narrows back to two total lanes as it reaches a diamond interchange with I-81 near the Schuylkill County Airport.

PA 901 winds through more wooded areas with some fields and development, passing through Mount Pleasant and Buck Run.

The road turns east and runs through more forested areas of Broad Mountain, entering Cass Township.

[2][4] PA 901 curves east again through more woods and heads into the borough of Minersville and becomes Sunbury Street, passing several homes.

The road heads into areas of residential and commercial development, where it forms a concurrency with PA 183 Truck, before crossing into the borough of Cressona.

[5] PA 901 was designated in 1928 as a loop off US 209 running between Llewellyn and west of Pottsville along an unpaved road, bypassing Minersville to the south.