The section of the road in Adams County dates back to the 19th century, with Fairfield Road to the west of Gettysburg used by the Confederate States Army during the Retreat from Gettysburg. PA 116 was designated onto its current alignment between PA 16 in Carroll Valley and US 30 in West Manchester Township in 1928 as a paved road. In the 1930s and 1950s, the highway was widened in the Hanover area. The route was moved to a one-way pair in downtown Hanover along with PA 194 by 1965.