The highway begins at U.S. Route 119 (US 119) in Moyer, Pennsylvania, and runs northward into Westmoreland County, passing through the towns of Youngstown, Latrobe, and Derry before ending at US 22/US 119 near Blairsville.

The route continues into rural Westmoreland County, crossing the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-70/I-76) without access.

[3] The route intersects PA 130 about two miles (3 km) southeast of Pleasant Unity, where it is briefly concurrent with PA 130 as the route heads north and east through the village of Lycippus.

Before the construction of the Conemaugh Dam, PA 982 used to occupy Livermore Road, across from its current terminus, and continued on, crossing the Conemaugh River at Livermore, and connecting with PA 217 a few miles north in Indiana County.

The route follows Industrial Boulevard, PA 981 and US 22/119 through Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.