PA 53 crosses the Moshannon Creek into the borough of Philipsburg in Centre County and becomes West Maple Street, crossing a R.J. Corman Railroad line before turning northwest onto South Front Street as it passes homes. The route turns northeast onto East Presqueisle Street and heading into the commercial downtown of Phillipsburg. PA 53 comes to the square in the center of town, at which point PA 350 heads south on South Centre Street, PA 504 heads east on East Presqueisle Street, and PA 53 briefly turns northwest onto a one-way pair that soon becomes two-lane, two-way north Centre Street, passing homes. The road heads into business areas and gains a center-left turn lane, becoming the border between Phillipsburg to the west and Rush Township to the east. The route comes to an intersection with US 322, at which point that route turns northwest to form a concurrency with PA 53 on a three-lane road with two southbound lanes and one northbound lane, passing homes and businesses.