The northernmost portion of what would become PA 177 along Old York Road became part of the Susquehanna Trail in 1920, PA 4 in 1924, and U.S. Route 111 (US 111) in 1926. PA 4 was removed from the road in 1928 and US 111 was realigned off it in the 1950s. The section between PA 74 and present-day PA 392 was paved in the 1930s while the section north of there was paved in the 1940s. PA 177 was designated to run between PA 74 and PA 262 in 1961. PA 177 previously followed Old York Road north to intersect PA 262; this section was removed in 2011 following a realignment of the intersection with PA 262.