Pennsylvania Route 283 (PA 283), officially State Route 0300 or SR 0300 due to the presence of Interstate 283 (I-283), is a state highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. A freeway for nearly its entire length, it connects Harrisburg to Lancaster, paralleling the old U.S. Route 230 (US 230, now partly PA 230). The route follows a generally northwest–southeast direction and is signed east–west. The number was assigned based on the function the route serves as a southeastern extension of I-283, but I-283 and PA 283 are not the same roadway; the two intersect at a partial cloverleaf interchange.
Because it is a distinct route from I-283, it is one of only several state routes in Pennsylvania to use a different Location Referencing System designation from its signed number.
Route description
PA 283 begins at an at-grade intersection with Eisenhower Boulevard north of the borough of Highspire in Lower Swatara Township in Dauphin County; Eisenhower Boulevard heads south to provide access to PA 230. From this intersection, the route heads northeast as a four-lane divided highway and intersects I-283 at a partial cloverleaf interchange; I-283 heads south to connect to the Harrisburg East interchange of I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike). East of I-283, the road becomes a freeway and the median widens as it continues to the east, passing through a mix of farm fields and residential and commercial development. PA 283 meets the northern terminus of Airport Connector freeway connecting to Harrisburg International Airport at a trumpet interchange which also provides access to PA 441 via an eastbound exit and westbound entrance. Past this interchange, the freeway runs between industrial areas to the north and farms and woods to the south, reaching a diamond interchange with North Union Street that indirectly connects to Fulling Mill Road. The route comes to a bridge over the Middletown and Hummelstown Railroad and the Swatara Creek, at which point it enters Londonderry Township. PA 283 meets Vine Street at a partial cloverleaf interchange in a business area; Vine Street provides access to the borough of Middletown to the south and the borough of Hummelstown to the north. Past this interchange, the freeway curves south-southeast through wooded areas with some fields and homes, passing over I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike). The route continues southeast through rural areas and passes over PA 341 before it curves east and comes to a partial cloverleaf interchange with Toll House Road which connects to PA 341 to the north and PA 230 to the south. At this point, eastbound PA 283 becomes concurrent with eastbound PA 341 Truck. The freeway heads east through farmland with some woods and homes, crossing into Conewago Township and curving to the east-southeast.
PA 283 crosses the Conewago Creek into Mount Joy Township in Lancaster County and continues southeast through farmland, passing over the Conewago Recreation Trail before coming to a diamond interchange with PA 743 that serves the borough of Elizabethtown to the south. PA 341 Truck splits from PA 283 at this interchange by heading north on PA 743. Past this interchange, the freeway crosses under PA 241 with no connection and passes to the northeast of Elizabethtown, heading between farmland to the northeast and residential development in Elizabethtown to the southwest and crossing Conoy Creek. The route heads through farm fields with some homes and commercial development, coming to a diamond interchange with Cloverleaf Road that serves the community of Rheems to the south. PA 283 continues through agricultural areas with some development and curves east, crossing Little Chiques Creek into Rapho Township. Here, the freeway curves southeast and comes to a diamond interchange with PA 772 that serves the borough of Mount Joy to the southwest. Following this interchange, the route runs between farmland to the northeast and industrial areas to the southwest, coming to an eastbound exit and westbound entrance with Esbenshade Road before it reaches a westbound exit and eastbound entrance with the eastern terminus of PA 230 on Harrisburg Pike.