PA 903 begins at an intersection with US 209 in the borough of Jim Thorpe in Carbon County, heading northeast on two-lane undivided North Street.

PA 903 continues past more homes with some businesses before turning east into forested areas as an unnamed road.

The route heads through forested areas with some wooded residential subdivisions, running through Christmans and reaching a diamond interchange with I-476 (Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension).

PA 903 heads through more dense forests, crossing through a portion of Hickory Run State Park before passing to the west of the residential development of Towamensing Trails.

[6] PA 903 was designated in 1928 to run from US 209/US 309 in present-day Jim Thorpe northeast to an unimproved connecting road south of Blakeslee.

[7] By 1930, the route was paved southwest to East Mauch Chunk while the state highway was under construction northeast to Christmans.

A bill authorizing construction of this interchange was signed into law by Governor Robert P. Casey in July of that year.