Pennsylvania Route 381
Encyclopedia
Pennsylvania Route 381 is an 49.3 miles (79.3 km) long state highway
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...

 located in Fayette
Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the2010 census, the population was 136,606. The county is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area....

, and Westmoreland
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 369,993 people, 149,813 households, and 104,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 361 people per square mile . There were 161,058 housing units at an average density of 157 per square mile...

 counties in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

. The southern terminus is the West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...

 state line near Elliottsville, where it continues as Preston County Route 8 to its southern terminus at WV 26 in Brandonville, WV
Brandonville, West Virginia
Brandonville is a town in Preston County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 102 at the 2000 census.-History:The Hagans Homestead was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.-Geography:...

. The northern terminus is at US 30
U.S. Route 30
U.S. Route 30 is an east–west main route of the system of United States Numbered Highways, with the highway traveling across the northern tier of the country. It is the third longest U.S. route, after U.S. Route 20 and U.S. Route 6. The western end of the highway is at Astoria, Oregon; the...

 near Ligonier
Ligonier, Pennsylvania
Ligonier is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,695 at the 2000 census. Ligonier was settled in the 1760s. The borough is well known for nearby Idlewild Park, one of the oldest amusement parks in the country, and nearby Seven Springs Mountain Resort...

.

Fayette County

PA 381 begins at the West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...

 border in Wharton Township
Wharton Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Wharton Township is a township in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,145 at the 2000 census. The Uniontown Area School District serves the region....

, Fayette County
Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the2010 census, the population was 136,606. The county is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area....

, where the road continues south into that state as CR 8 in Preston County
Preston County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 29,334 people, 11,544 households, and 8,357 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 13,444 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...

. From the state line, the route heads north on two-lane undivided Wharton Furnace Road, passing through woodland with some farms and homes as it runs through tracts of the Forbes State Forest
Forbes State Forest
Forbes State Forest is a Pennsylvania state forest in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #4. The main offices are located in Laughlintown in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in the United States. Mount Davis, the highest peak in Pennsylvania, is located in the forest.The forest was named...

. PA 381 runs through more rural areas and reaches Elliottsville, where it turns southeast onto Elliottsville Road. The road curves to the east and heads through more forests before turning northeast into a mix of farmland and woodland with a few residences. The route continues north and north-northeast and reaches an intersection with US 40
U.S. Route 40 in Pennsylvania
U.S. Route 40 enters Pennsylvania at West Alexander. It closely parallels I-70 from West Virginia until it reaches Washington where it follows Jefferson Avenue and Maiden Street. In Washington, US 40 passes to the south of Washington & Jefferson College. Following Maiden Street out of town, the...

 in Farmington
Farmington, Pennsylvania
Farmington is an unincorporated community in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States along the National Road. It is situated about 50 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, and is the closest settlement to Fort Necessity...

, where it briefly turns southeast to form a concurrency
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...

 with that route on National Pike before turning northeast onto Farmington-Ohiopyle Road. PA 381 runs through more forested areas with some fields and homes, crossing into Stewart Township
Stewart Township, Pennsylvania
Stewart Township is a township in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 743 at the 2000 census....

.

The road heads through more rural areas, crossing into forested Ohiopyle State Park
Ohiopyle State Park
Ohiopyle State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in Dunbar, Henry Clay and Stewart Townships, Fayette County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The focal point of the park is the more than of the Youghiogheny River Gorge that passes through the park. The river provides some of the best...

. The route continues through the park and becomes Main Street as it heads into Ohiopyle
Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania
Ohiopyle is a borough in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 77 at the 2000 census. While Ohiopyle has a tiny year-round population, it is often filled with tourists on the weekend, who come take advantage of outdoor recreation...

 and crosses Meadow Run. PA 381 passes a few homes prior to crossing the Youghiogheny River
Youghiogheny River
The Youghiogheny River , or the Yough for short, is a tributary of the Monongahela River in the U.S. states of West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania...

 and becoming Mill Run Road, crossing a CSX railroad line. The road heads back into forested areas of Ohiopyle State Park and turns northeast, crossing back into Stewart Township. The route curves east and leaves the state park as it heads north through wooded areas of homes before passing through an agricultural clearing. PA 381 runs through more forested areas and passes through Kauffman, at which point it passes to the east of Fallingwater
Fallingwater
Fallingwater or Kaufmann Residence is a house designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935 in rural southwestern Pennsylvania, 50 miles southeast of Pittsburgh...

. The road continues through forests with some farm fields and homes, heading into Springfield Township
Springfield Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Springfield Township is a township in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,111 at the 2000 census. The Connellsville Area School District serves the township....

 at the point it crosses Laurel Run. The route heads north into open agricultural areas with some woods and residences, passing through Mill Run. PA 381 runs through more farmland and woodland with some homes, crossing Indian Creek
Indian Creek (Youghiogheny River)
Indian Creek is a tributary of the Youghiogheny River in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, in the United States.Indian Creek drains the west slope of Laurel Hill in the Laurel Highlands and cuts a steep side canyon into the Youghiogheny Gorge to join the Youghiogheny River between Ohiopyle and...

 to the east of Indian Creek Reservoir. The road becomes Whites Bridge Road and intersects the western terminus of PA 653
Pennsylvania Route 653
Pennsylvania Route 653 is an long state highway located in Fayette and Somerset counties in Pennsylvania. The western terminus is at PA 381 in Springfield Township. The eastern terminus is at US 219 in Garrett.-Fayette County:...

 before curving northwest and coming to a junction with PA 711
Pennsylvania Route 711
Pennsylvania Route 711 is an long, north–south state highway located in Fayette, Westmoreland and Indiana counties in Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at US 119/PA 201 in Connellsville. The northern terminus is at PA 403 in East Wheatfield Township.-Route description:PA 711 goes by...

 near Normalville. At this point, the route turns northeast to form a concurrency with PA 711 on Indian Creek Valley Road, continuing through wooded areas with some farm fields and residences. The road crosses into Saltlick Township
Saltlick Township, Pennsylvania
Saltlick Township is a township in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,715 at the 2000 census. It is served by the Connellsville Area School District....

 and passes through Frogtown, at which point it runs a short distance to the northwest of Indian Creek. The two routes curve north and wind northwest through more rural areas, passing through Sagamore and Davistown. PA 381/PA 711 turns northeast and runs through more farmland and woodland with homes, going through Melcroft and Coffman, turning north again.

Westmoreland County

PA 381/PA 711 enters Donegal Township
Donegal Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Donegal Township is a township in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,442 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.The township includes the...

 in Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 369,993 people, 149,813 households, and 104,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 361 people per square mile . There were 161,058 housing units at an average density of 157 per square mile...

 and becomes Jones Mill Road, heading through wooded areas with some residential development. The road comes to an intersection with PA 31
Pennsylvania Route 31
Pennsylvania Route 31 is a long state highway located in Western Pennsylvania, paralleling U.S. Route 30 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike for most of its length. The designation begins at PA 136 near West Newton and ends at US 30 near Bedford....

, at which point PA 711 turns northwest to join PA 31 and PA 381 turns southeast to follow PA 31 on an unnamed road. PA 31/PA 381 runs through farmland and woodland with some homes, passing througb Jones Mills. PA 381 splits from PA 31 by turning to the northeast, heading through forests. The road heads through more wooded areas with some fields and homes, passing through Horners Mill and winding to the north. The route turns to the northeast and heads through Franklin and Kregar before becoming the border between Cook Township
Cook Township, Pennsylvania
Cook Township is a township in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,403 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.The township contains the following...

 to the west and Donegal Township to the east as it passes over I-70
Interstate 70 in Pennsylvania
In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, Interstate 70 runs east–west across the southwest part of the state serving the southern half of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. About half of the route is concurrent with Interstate 76 along the Pennsylvania Turnpike...

/I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike
Pennsylvania Turnpike
The Pennsylvania Turnpike is a toll highway system operated by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. The three sections of the turnpike system total . The main section extends from Ohio to New Jersey and is long...

) before intersecting the eastern terminus of PA 130
Pennsylvania Route 130
Pennsylvania Route 130 is a long state highway located in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties in Pennsylvania. The western terminus is at PA 8 in Pittsburgh. The eastern terminus is at PA 381 near Kregar....

. PA 381 fully enters Cook Township and heads north-northeast through woodland with some small fields and residences. The route heads through wooded areas of homes, turning northwest at Weaver Mill. The road continues into open agricultural areas with some trees and residences, winding north before turning to the northeast. PA 381 winds northeast into woodland with some homes, crossing into Ligonier Township
Ligonier Township, Pennsylvania
Ligonier Township is a township in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. Ligonier Township entirely surrounds, but does not include, Ligonier Borough, which is a separate municipality...

 and turning east, crossing Loyalhanna Creek
Loyalhanna Creek
Loyalhanna Creek is a long tributary of the Kiskiminetas River in Westmoreland County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The stream is a popular destination for canoeing and recreational trout fishing.- Etymology :...

 and passing through Rector. The route heads into farmland with some homes, turning northwest onto Steeple Crossing. The road curves north and passes through Speedwell, heading into a mix of farms and woods and turning northeast. PA 381 comes to its northern terminus at an intersection with US 30
U.S. Route 30 in Pennsylvania
In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, U.S. Route 30 runs east–west across the southern part of the state, passing through Pittsburgh and Philadelphia on its way from the West Virginia state line east to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge over the Delaware River into New Jersey...

.

Major intersections

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