The route heads northeast through Luzerne County from Hazleton, passing through Freeland and coming to an interchange with Interstate 80 (I-80) in White Haven.

From here, PA 940 turns east and runs a short distance north of I-80, coming to an interchange with both I-80 and I-476 (Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension) in northern Carbon County.

The route turns east onto Main Street, passing through the residential community of Harleigh and curving northeast.

PA 940 heads through forested areas with some homes and curves back to the east, running a short distance to the north of a Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad line and a coal mine.

PA 940 curves northeast and passes through the community of Youngstown before it crosses into Foster Township, running through a mix of forests and homes.

The route continues through rural areas and curves to the east, passing to the north of the Hickory Hills residential development.

PA 940 runs through more forests with some development and makes a turn to the north and enters the borough of White Haven, where the name becomes Church Street.

The road passes northwest of a park and ride lot before it widens to a four-lane divided highway and comes to an interchange with I-80 at exit 273.

Past this interchange, the route becomes a two-lane undivided road again and passes homes and a few businesses, coming to an intersection with the southern terminus of PA 437 in the center of White Haven.

Past this intersection, the route enters Kidder Township and becomes an unnamed road, heading through dense forests in the Pocono Mountains region.

The route passes through forests with some homes and businesses and reaches the community of Blakeslee, where it intersects PA 115 in a commercial area.

Farther east, the route turns southeast and crosses Tobyhanna Creek to the north of Pocono Lake.

Past this intersection, the road runs along the southern shore of Lake Naomi as it continues through a mix of forests and homes.

PA 940 curves southeast and runs near a few homes and businesses before it widens to a four-lane divided highway and comes to an interchange with I-380 at exit 3.

The divided highway comes to an interchange with the western terminus of PA 314 to the south of the community of Pocono Summit.