PA 533 begins at an intersection with SR 4004 (Mountain Road/Valley Road) and Community Road in the community of
Upper Strasburg in
Letterkenny Township,
Franklin County. At the western terminus, Valley Road heads to the west, Mountain Road heads to the north, and Community Road heads to the south. From this intersection, the route heads east on two-lane undivided Upper Strasburg Road past homes before heading into open farmland with a few residences, forming the northern boundary of the
Letterkenny Army Depot. In the community of
Pleasant Hall, PA 533 crosses
PA 997. Past this intersection, the route becomes Orrstown Road and heads away from the Letterkenny Army Depot, continuing through more agricultural areas with occasional homes. The road curves northeast and heads into
Southampton Township and passes through more rural areas before entering the borough of
Orrstown. Here, PA 533 is lined with homes and intersects
PA 433. The route heads back into Southampton Township and runs through more farmland with a few residences, turning to the east. Farther east, the road heads into the borough of
Shippensburg and becomes North Morris Street, passing several homes. PA 533 becomes the border between
Cumberland County to the north and Franklin County to the south and runs through more residential areas of Shippensburg, intersecting
US 11. At this point, the route turns northeast to form a
concurrency with US 11 on West King Street, fully entering Cumberland County. The road heads into the commercial downtown, reaching an intersection with
PA 696. Here, PA 696 joins US 11/PA 533 and runs through more of the downtown. PA 696 splits to the north and US 11/PA 533 becomes East King Street, leaving the downtown and heading into more residential areas. Upon intersecting the western terminus of
PA 174, the road heads into
Shippensburg Township and passes a few businesses before heading into a mix of farmland and woodland with a few homes. US 11/PA 533 continues into
Southampton Township and becomes Ritner Highway. PA 533 splits from US 11 by heading northwest onto Newville Road. The route curves to the northeast and runs through open agricultural areas with some residences and woods. The road passes to the east of a quarry before it continues into
North Newton Township and continues through agricultural surroundings. At the Oakville Road junction, PA 533 becomes Shippensburg Road and runs through more rural areas. Farther northeast, the route passes over the
Cumberland Valley Rail Trail. The road continues into the borough of
Newville and becomes Fairfield Avenue, turning east into residential areas. PA 533 becomes Vine Street at the West Big Spring Avenue intersection and continues east to its terminus at
PA 233. ==History==