 PA 72 heads west away from Swatara Creek through forested areas within Swatara State Park to reach its northern terminus at an intersection with PA 443 near the community of Green Point, where the roadway curves north and continues as part of that route.The portion of the route between Lancaster and Manheim was chartered on May 9, 1850 as the Manheim, Petersburg, and Lancaster Turnpike, a private turnpike running from Prussia Street in Manheim south to Petersburg (now East Petersburg) and Lancaster.This turnpike was built as a plank road.