On an October Saturday, Jim Thorpe adds shuttle buses and extra parking lots for its Fall Foliage Festival, the Lehigh Gorge trains leave every hour or so, and a few hours to the northwest, cyclists roll along Pine Creek on the trail DCNR named Pennsylvania’s Trail of the Year for 2026. That’s the appeal of weekend getaways in Pennsylvania: in a state this big, a two-day trip can be a city break in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh, a lake weekend in the Poconos, a battlefield, an Amish farm road, a 1,450-foot-deep gorge or a sky dark enough to see the Milky Way. This guide picks the 40 best, with drive times from Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York, Baltimore and Washington.
Quick answer: For couples, go to New Hope and Bucks County, Jim Thorpe or Bedford Springs. For families with young kids, Hershey and Lancaster County’s railroads are hard to beat. Hikers should head to Ricketts Glen or Ohiopyle, cyclists to the Pine Creek Rail Trail, and history fans to Gettysburg or Philadelphia. From New York and New Jersey, the Poconos, New Hope and the Lehigh Valley are 1.5 to 2 hours away; from Baltimore and Washington, Gettysburg, Hershey and Lancaster are the closest; from Pittsburgh, the Laurel Highlands are about an hour.
Last updated October 1, 2026. Hours, prices, closures and event dates were checked that day or in late September 2026 against the official websites of the National Park Service, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the attractions themselves. Drive times are free-flow estimates; add time for weekend traffic.
- Closing soon: the Kinzua Bridge Skywalk is open only through October 31, 2026, then closes for repairs until fall 2027.
- Still closed: Dingmans Falls in the Delaware Water Gap and Glen Onoko Falls near Jim Thorpe. The National Canal Museum and its boat rides in Easton are closed for the rest of 2026.
- Theme parks: Hersheypark’s Tidal Force has closed for good and the sooperdooperLooper returns in summer 2027. Altoona’s Lakemont Park rides have been idle since 2024.
- Getting there: the Turnpike is cashless (E-ZPass or Toll By Plate), and a second daily Amtrak Pennsylvanian between New York, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh starts in mid-November 2026.
- Free: every Pennsylvania state park is free to enter and park in, and so are the Liberty Bell, the Gettysburg battlefield and Flight 93 National Memorial.
On this page: Best by traveler | Planning | Southeast | Lehigh Valley and Poconos | Central PA | PA Wilds and Erie | Pittsburgh and the west | Couples | Kids | By home base | By season | Drive times | FAQ
The best weekend getaways in Pennsylvania, by traveler
| If you are | Go to | Runner-up | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| A couple | New Hope and Bucks County | Jim Thorpe | River towns, inns, galleries and good dinners on foot |
| A family with young kids | Hershey | Strasburg’s railroads | Chocolate, rides and trains, with short drives between them |
| A family with teens | Ohiopyle | A Poconos water park resort | Rafting, biking and waterfalls, or indoor slides all year |
| A group of friends | Pittsburgh | Bethlehem | Neighborhood bars, museums, sports and the inclines |
| A food lover | Philadelphia | Lancaster County | Michelin-starred dinners, markets and the cheesesteak debate |
| A hiker | Ricketts Glen | Pennsylvania Grand Canyon | 21 waterfalls on one trail system |
| A cyclist | Pine Creek Rail Trail | Jim Thorpe and the Lehigh Gorge | 62 flat miles through a gorge |
| A history buff | Gettysburg | Philadelphia | The battlefield, the museum and the town |
| A stargazer | Cherry Springs | Kinzua Bridge area | Some of the darkest skies in the East |
| Chasing fall color | Jim Thorpe | Wellsboro | A gorge railroad and a Victorian town in October |
| Without a car | Philadelphia | Pittsburgh | Amtrak to downtown, then walk and ride transit |
Pennsylvania’s big sights each have their own guide; for the statewide overview, see our list of things to do in Pennsylvania.
How to plan a Pennsylvania weekend
Mind the size. Pennsylvania is about a 5-hour drive from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, and Erie is nearly 7 hours from Philadelphia. A good weekend keeps driving under about 3 hours each way. That’s why this list is grouped by region: pick the part of the state closest to you, or the one that matches your season, and stay in one base.
Book the busy weekends early. October is the busiest month in most of the state, thanks to fall color and festivals; Jim Thorpe, the Poconos, Wellsboro, the Laurel Highlands and Lancaster fill up first. Penn State football weekends fill State College, Christmas season fills Hershey and Bethlehem, and summer weekends fill the lakes. For those, book rooms two to three months ahead and popular tours, such as Fallingwater, four to six weeks out.
Know the roads and tolls. The Pennsylvania Turnpike has been cashless since 2020: you pay by E-ZPass or receive a Toll By Plate bill, which costs considerably more. Open Road Tolling already covers the Turnpike east of Reading and the Northeast Extension and reaches the western sections in January 2027. Rural routes in the north can be slow, dark and short on gas stations and cell signal, so fill up before you head into the Wilds.
Use the free stuff. Day use at every Pennsylvania state park is free, with no entrance or parking fee from the state; you pay only for camping, cabins and rentals. Cabins and campsites can be reserved up to 11 months ahead, with a $6.50 transaction fee. National parks in Pennsylvania, including the Gettysburg battlefield, Independence Hall’s grounds, Steamtown and Flight 93, are free or nearly so.
Choose your base. For a city break, book downtown and leave the car. For the countryside, choose a town with restaurants you can walk to in the evening, such as Jim Thorpe, Wellsboro, Lititz, New Hope, Bedford, Ligonier or Gettysburg, rather than a highway motel. For resort weekends, see our guide to the best resorts in Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia and the Southeast
The southeast is the easiest corner for visitors from New York, New Jersey, Baltimore and Washington, and it holds the state’s biggest city, its Amish Country and its prettiest river towns.
1. Philadelphia
City break; any season; the easiest weekend without a car. Spend Saturday morning in the historic district: the Liberty Bell is free and open daily from 9am to 5pm, and Independence Hall uses free timed tickets with a $1 booking fee on Recreation.gov. Lunch at Reading Terminal Market (open daily 8am to 6pm), an afternoon at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where a Marcel Duchamp exhibition opens on October 10, 2026, and dinner at one of the city’s BYOB restaurants or its three Michelin-starred dining rooms. Sunday is for Fairmount Park, the Italian Market or South Philly’s East Passyunk Avenue.
A weekend here: Saturday: the Liberty Bell at 9am before the lines, Independence Hall on a timed ticket, lunch at Reading Terminal Market, the art museum in the afternoon and a BYOB dinner. Sunday: a cheesesteak-free brunch, a walk through Rittenhouse Square and the Schuylkill River Trail, then the train home.
Plan it: About 1 hour 45 minutes from Manhattan, 2 hours from Baltimore and 2 hours 30 minutes from Washington without traffic, and 5 hours from Pittsburgh. Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor trains arrive at 30th Street Station; SEPTA Metro’s L and B lines cover most sights. Center City hotels are walkable to everything. Best for: food lovers, history buffs and anyone without a car.
2. Lancaster County and Amish Country
Countryside and small towns; spring to Christmas; the classic family weekend. Start at Lancaster Central Market, which bills itself as America’s oldest continuously operated public farmers market (since 1730) and opens Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 6am to 3pm. Then drive the back roads east of the city past farm stands, quilt shops and buggies. Sight & Sound Theatres stages its big biblical shows nearby; its Christmas show plays into December 2026, and JONAH opens on March 11, 2027.
One rule matters more than any other here: the Amish and Old Order Mennonite communities are not an attraction. Don’t photograph people without permission, give buggies plenty of room on the road, and buy from farm stands that welcome visitors.
A weekend here: Saturday: Central Market when it opens, a back-roads drive east through Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse, and a farm-to-table dinner in Lancaster city. Sunday: many Amish businesses close, so spend it at a museum or on the railroads in Strasburg.
Plan it: Lancaster is about 1 hour 30 minutes from Philadelphia and Baltimore, 2 hours 15 minutes from Washington, 3 hours from Manhattan and 4 hours from Pittsburgh. Stay in Lancaster city, Lititz or Strasburg. Best for: families, food lovers and slow drives.
3. Strasburg’s railroads
Trains; best spring to December; small kids’ heaven. Strasburg is the state’s train town. The Strasburg Rail Road, which calls itself America’s oldest short line railroad, runs a daily steam excursion through Lancaster County farmland. Across the road, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania displays a huge collection of locomotives (adults $10, youth $8; closed Mondays and Tuesdays, plus Monday, October 12, 2026), and its Trains & Treats day is October 17. The Choo Choo Barn, open since 1961, has a 1,700-square-foot model layout and opens daily from 10am to 5pm.
A weekend here: Saturday: the morning steam train, lunch in Strasburg, then the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania until closing. Sunday: the Choo Choo Barn when it opens at 10am, then a farm stand and the drive home. Check that the museum is open; it closes Mondays and Tuesdays.
Plan it: Strasburg is about 1 hour 15 minutes from Philadelphia, 1 hour 45 minutes from Baltimore and 2 hours 45 minutes from Manhattan. Book special steam trains ahead in December. Best for: families with kids under 10, and train fans of any age.
4. Lititz
Small town; any season; the best base in Lancaster County. Lititz is a Moravian town with a walkable main street of cafés, shops and restaurants, a spring-fed park, and a claim to fame: the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, founded in 1861, calls itself the first commercial pretzel bakery in America, and you can twist your own. It makes a quieter, more grown-up base than the busy Route 30 corridor, and it’s 20 to 40 minutes from Lancaster city, Strasburg and Hershey.
A weekend here: Saturday: twist a pretzel at the Sturgis bakery, browse Main Street and walk Lititz Springs Park, then dinner in town. Sunday: drive on to Strasburg or Hershey, each well under an hour away. Save Lancaster Central Market for a Tuesday, Friday or Saturday, the only days it opens.
Plan it: About 1 hour 30 minutes from Philadelphia and Baltimore, 2 hours 15 minutes from Washington and 2 hours 45 minutes from Manhattan. Best for: couples and anyone who likes to walk to dinner.
5. New Hope and Bucks County
River town; spring to December; the top couples’ weekend near New York and Philadelphia. New Hope sits on the Delaware River, joined by a bridge to Lambertville, New Jersey, which you can walk across for dinner in a second state. The town has galleries, antique shops, river inns and a lively evening scene. The New Hope Railroad runs heritage excursions; its fall-foliage trips run 90 minutes to Buckingham and back in early-1900s coaches through November 1, according to local reports. Nearby Peddler’s Village in Lahaska fills with more than 150 scarecrows through October 26 and holds its OctoberFeast on October 10 and 11, 2026.
A weekend here: Saturday: walk New Hope’s main streets, take the New Hope Railroad’s fall trip, then cross the bridge on foot for dinner in Lambertville. Sunday: Peddler’s Village in Lahaska in the morning and a drive along the Delaware River before heading home.
Plan it: About 50 minutes from Philadelphia, 1 hour 30 minutes from Manhattan, 2 hours 30 minutes from Baltimore and 3 hours 15 minutes from Washington. Weekend parking in town is tight and metered; stay at an inn and walk. Best for: couples, shoppers and New Yorkers who don’t want a long drive.
6. Doylestown
Museum town; any season; quirky and walkable. Bucks County’s seat is home to Henry Mercer’s two concrete wonders. The Mercer Museum, a concrete castle packed with pre-industrial tools, is open daily (adults $15). Fonthill, Mercer’s 44-room concrete home built from 1908 to 1910 with all the concrete mixed by hand, is shown on hour-long guided tours, and its holiday tours run November 14 to December 22, 2026 ($20 adults). The town’s restaurants and old storefronts make an easy evening.
A weekend here: Saturday: the Mercer Museum in the morning, lunch downtown, then Fonthill on a guided tour in the afternoon. Sunday: drive 20 minutes to New Hope for the river and a late brunch.
Plan it: About 1 hour from Philadelphia and 1 hour 45 minutes from Manhattan. Pair with New Hope, about 20 minutes away. Best for: museum lovers and rainy weekends.
7. The Brandywine Valley
Gardens and art; fall, spring and Christmas; the most refined weekend in the region. Longwood Gardens is the anchor: its Autumn’s Colors display runs October 2 to November 15, 2026, and A Longwood Christmas follows from November 20 to January 10, 2027. Adult timed tickets are $35 to $38 this fall and $45 to $52 at Christmas. Add the Brandywine Museum of Art in Chadds Ford for three generations of Wyeths ($20 adults; closed Tuesdays outside the holidays), and dinner in Kennett Square, the self-styled Mushroom Capital of the World.
A weekend here: Saturday: Longwood Gardens at opening, lunch and dinner in Kennett Square. Sunday: the Brandywine Museum of Art in Chadds Ford (not on a Tuesday), then Brandywine Battlefield Park or Valley Forge on the way home.
Plan it: Kennett Square is about 45 minutes from Philadelphia, 1 hour 30 minutes from Baltimore, 2 hours from Washington and 2 hours 30 minutes from Manhattan. Avoid Tuesdays, when Longwood and the Brandywine museum both close. Best for: garden lovers and couples.
The Lehigh Valley, the Poconos and the Northeast
This is New York and New Jersey’s side of Pennsylvania: mountains, lakes, waterfalls and old railroad towns within about two hours of Manhattan.
8. Bethlehem
History and music; fall and Christmas; the best small city in the east. Bethlehem’s Moravian settlement, founded in 1741, joined the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2024, and its stone buildings line Church Street beside the Moravian Book Shop, open since 1745. Across the river, the blast furnaces of Bethlehem Steel tower over SteelStacks, where Oktoberfest runs on October 9 to 11, 2026. From mid-November, the Christmas City lights up, and Christkindlmarkt runs on weekends from November 13 to December 20.
A weekend here: Saturday: the Moravian Museum and Church Street in the morning, lunch on Main Street, and the SteelStacks blast furnaces and Hoover Mason Trestle at dusk. Sunday: the National Museum of Industrial History (open Wednesday to Sunday) and the Moravian Book Shop before you leave.
Plan it: About 1 hour 15 minutes from Philadelphia, 1 hour 30 minutes from Manhattan and 2 hours 45 minutes from Baltimore. Stay downtown and walk. Best for: couples, history lovers and Christmas markets.
9. Easton and Nazareth
Family and makers; any season. The Crayola Experience in downtown Easton is open every day of the year, with more than 20 hands-on activities and a Halloween theme through November 1. Easton’s farmers’ market, founded in 1752, runs Saturday mornings on the riverfront until December 19. Ten miles north, Martin Guitar’s factory tours run on weekdays only ($10, pre-registration required). One warning: the National Canal Museum and its canal boat rides are closed for the rest of 2026.
A weekend here: Saturday: the farmers’ market on the riverfront, the Crayola Experience with the kids and dinner around Centre Square. Sunday is quieter here, so plan the Martin Guitar tour for a Friday if you can, since it runs on weekdays only.
Plan it: Easton is about 1 hour 15 minutes from Manhattan, 1 hour 30 minutes from Philadelphia and 3 hours from Baltimore. Best for: families with young kids and guitar players.
10. Hawk Mountain
Hiking and birding; best September to November. On the Kittatinny Ridge, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is one of the best places in North America to watch the fall raptor migration. Its counters staff the North Lookout every day from August 15 to December 15, and a short, rocky climb gets you there. Trail fees are $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and $5 for children 6 to 12; the visitor center and trails are open daily from 9am to 5pm, and pets aren’t allowed. Make it a weekend with nearby Kempton’s farm country or Jim Thorpe, an hour north.
A weekend here: Saturday: arrive at Hawk Mountain by 9am, climb to the North Lookout and stay through the midday flights, then dinner in a nearby farm town. Sunday: drive an hour north to Jim Thorpe, or east to the Lehigh Valley.
Plan it: About 1 hour 30 minutes from Philadelphia, 2 hours 15 minutes from Manhattan and 2 hours 30 minutes from Baltimore. Best for: hikers, birders and photographers.
11. Jim Thorpe
Victorian railroad town; best in October; our pick for fall color. Wedged into the Lehigh Gorge at the edge of the Poconos, Jim Thorpe is a steep little town of stone rowhouses and mansions built by coal and railroad money. Its Fall Foliage Festival fills the weekends of October 10 and 11 and 17 and 18, 2026, with shuttles and extra parking. The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway runs daily Autumn Leaf trips through November 15: 45-minute round trips for $25 (adults, standard coach) or $28 in the open-air car; presales cover departures until 3pm, and later trains are sold at the station. Tour the 1861 Asa Packer Mansion and the Old Jail Museum (guided tours only; closed Wednesdays), or bike the gorge trail.
A weekend here: Saturday: a late-morning Lehigh Gorge train (buy presale tickets), lunch in town, the Asa Packer Mansion in the afternoon. Sunday: rent a bike for the gorge trail or tour the Old Jail Museum (closed Wednesdays) before the crowds arrive.
Plan it: About 1 hour 30 minutes from Philadelphia, 2 hours from Manhattan and 3 hours from Baltimore. Glen Onoko Falls, near town, is closed; don’t plan a hike there. On festival weekends, arrive before 10am. Best for: couples, fall-color chasers and cyclists. For more of the region, see our guide to things to do in the Poconos.
12. The Delaware Water Gap and Bushkill Falls
Waterfalls and river views; spring to fall. Bushkill Falls, a private park that bills itself as the Niagara of Pennsylvania, has boardwalk trails past a string of waterfalls and is open for the season into the fall. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area wraps around it with river trips, hiking and overlooks. Two cautions: Dingmans Falls, the park’s best-known waterfall, is closed for bridge and trail work, and some recreation-area sites charge amenity fees.
A weekend here: Saturday: Bushkill Falls’ trails in the morning, lunch in Stroudsburg and a river overlook in the afternoon. Sunday: a hike or paddle in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, then home before the I-80 traffic builds.
Plan it: Bushkill Falls is about 1 hour 45 minutes from Manhattan, 2 hours 15 minutes from Philadelphia and 3 hours 45 minutes from Baltimore. Stay in Stroudsburg or Milford. Best for: families and casual hikers.
13. Lake Wallenpaupack
Lake weekend; best June to October. The big lake of the northern Poconos is lined with rentals, marinas, beaches and two of the region’s best-known resorts: Woodloch, whose family side includes meals and 30-plus daily activities in its packages, and Cove Haven, the couples resort famous for its heart-shaped tubs. Hawley, at the lake’s north end, makes an easy small-town base for dinner.
A weekend here: Saturday: a morning on the water, by rental boat or from a beach, and dinner in Hawley. Sunday: a lakeside hike and breakfast before the drive. At a resort, simply follow the activity schedule.
Plan it: Hawley is about 2 hours from Manhattan, 2 hours 45 minutes from Philadelphia and 4 hours from Baltimore. Book summer rentals early. Best for: families and boaters.
14. Milford and Grey Towers
Small town; spring to fall; the closest Pennsylvania escape to New York City. Milford, on the Delaware at the state’s northeast corner, has a handsome main street of inns and restaurants and one landmark: Grey Towers, the French-style home of Gifford Pinchot, the first chief of the US Forest Service, now a national historic site whose grounds are open daily for self-guided visits. The Delaware Water Gap’s waterfalls and river trips are just south.
A weekend here: Saturday: Grey Towers’ grounds in the morning, lunch and gallery browsing in Milford, then a waterfall walk in the national recreation area. Sunday: a slow breakfast and the scenic river road south toward the Water Gap.
Plan it: About 1 hour 30 minutes from Manhattan, 2 hours 30 minutes from Philadelphia and 4 hours from Baltimore. Check Grey Towers’ site for house-tour days. Best for: New Yorkers and couples.
15. Scranton
Industrial history; spring to fall. Scranton is more than the setting of a famous sitcom. Steamtown National Historic Site, in the old railyard downtown, charges no entrance fee and sells short train rides separately; the county’s Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour takes you hundreds of feet underground, with a 2026 season listed through November 30 on Fridays to Mondays. North of town, Archbald Pothole State Park protects a 38-foot glacial pothole carved about 15,000 years ago.
A weekend here: Saturday: Steamtown in the morning and a short train ride if one is running, then the coal mine tour after lunch (Friday to Monday). Sunday: Archbald Pothole on the way north, or a drive into the Poconos.
Plan it: About 2 hours from Philadelphia and Manhattan, and 3 hours 15 minutes from Baltimore. Best for: rail fans, history buffs and families with curious kids.
16. A Poconos resort weekend
Resort; any season; for when you don’t want to plan. Some of the best Pennsylvania weekends never leave the property. The Poconos have indoor water park resorts (Great Wolf Lodge’s 120,000-square-foot water park is kept at 84 degrees year-round, and Kalahari includes water park access from opening on check-in day to closing on check-out day), adults-only Mount Airy Casino Resort, and Camelback, where the indoor Aquatopia runs all year even though the outdoor Camelbeach was closed in 2026. Our guide to the Pennsylvania resorts compares them.
A weekend here: Saturday: water park or spa all day, with dinner on site. Sunday: get outside before checkout, at Bushkill Falls, a scenic chairlift ride or a short hike, so the weekend isn’t spent entirely indoors.
Plan it: Mount Pocono is about 1 hour 45 minutes from Manhattan, 2 hours from Philadelphia and 3 hours 30 minutes from Baltimore. Midweek rates are much lower than weekends. Best for: families with kids and couples who want a spa.
17. Ricketts Glen State Park
Waterfall hiking; spring to fall; the best hike in the state. Ricketts Glen’s Falls Trail passes 21 named waterfalls from 11 to 94 feet high in the Glens Natural Area, a National Natural Landmark. The full loop is 7.2 miles; a 3.2-mile loop using the Highland Trail still passes most of the falls. The trail is rocky, steep and slippery, and closed in winter except to equipped ice climbers and hikers. Wear real boots and start early on fall weekends.
A weekend here: Saturday: the Falls Trail early, before the crowds, with a picnic at Lake Jean. Sunday: an easier walk along the lake or a drive to Eagles Mere and Worlds End, about an hour away.
Plan it: About 3 hours from Philadelphia, 3 hours 15 minutes from Manhattan and 4 hours 45 minutes from Pittsburgh. The park is free to enter and open sunrise to sunset; PA 487 from Red Rock up to the lake is very steep. Stay in the park’s cabins or in Bloomsburg. Best for: fit hikers and photographers.
18. Eagles Mere and Worlds End
Mountain village; summer and fall; the quiet one. Eagles Mere is a Victorian summer village on a mountain lake, with an inn that has welcomed guests since 1887 and a William Flynn-designed golf course. Twenty minutes away, Worlds End State Park sits in an S-shaped valley of Loyalsock Creek, with the accessible Loyalsock Canyon Vista overlooking the Endless Mountains; DCNR singles out its October foliage.
A weekend here: Saturday: walk the lake loop in Eagles Mere, golf or read on a porch, then dinner at the inn. Sunday: Worlds End State Park and the Loyalsock Canyon Vista, then the long, pretty drive home.
Plan it: About 3 hours 15 minutes from Philadelphia and Manhattan, and 4 hours 15 minutes from Pittsburgh. Cell service can be patchy; download maps. Best for: couples, readers and walkers.
Central Pennsylvania
The middle of the state is the easiest region for Baltimore and Washington, and the most varied: chocolate, battlefields, caves, a university town and long ridges of forest.
19. Hershey
Family; spring to Christmas; the sweetest weekend in the state. Hershey’s Chocolate World and its chocolate-factory tour ride are free year-round (extras such as Create Your Own Candy Bar cost more), and Hershey Gardens and the Hershey Story museum are both open daily from 9am to 5pm. Hersheypark’s coasters are the big draw in season; note that Tidal Force has closed for good and the sooperdooperLooper reopens in summer 2027. At Christmas, Hersheypark Christmas Candylane takes over, while the Hershey Sweet Lights drive-through won’t return in 2026. Couples can book a cocoa treatment at The Hotel Hershey’s Chocolate Spa.
A weekend here: Saturday: Hersheypark in season, or Chocolate World’s free ride and Hershey Gardens’ butterflies in the off-season. Sunday: the Hershey Story museum, a chocolate-tasting class and a stop at Indian Echo Caverns on the way out.
Plan it: About 1 hour 30 minutes from Baltimore, 1 hour 45 minutes from Philadelphia, 2 hours 15 minutes from Washington, 2 hours 45 minutes from Manhattan and 3 hours 30 minutes from Pittsburgh. Best for: families, and couples at the hotel spa.
20. Gettysburg
History; any season; the most moving weekend in the state. The battlefield and the Museum and Visitor Center are free; tickets for the film, the Cyclorama painting and the museum cost $20.75 for adults. Battlefield roads open 30 minutes before sunrise and close 30 minutes after sunset. Little Round Top reopened in 2024 after a $13 million rehabilitation, and in town, Gettysburg History’s Beyond the Battle Museum and Shriver House Museum show what the battle did to its civilians. Hire a Licensed Battlefield Guide for a two-hour tour in your own car; it’s the best money you’ll spend here.
A weekend here: Saturday: the film, Cyclorama and museum at 9am, then a two-hour Licensed Battlefield Guide tour and Little Round Top at sunset. Sunday: the town’s smaller museums, the Gettysburg National Cemetery and a slow drive along the battlefield’s southern roads.
Plan it: About 1 hour 15 minutes from Baltimore, 1 hour 30 minutes from Washington, 2 hours 30 minutes from Philadelphia, 3 hours 15 minutes from Pittsburgh and 3 hours 30 minutes from Manhattan. Best for: history buffs and families with school-age kids.
21. Harrisburg
Capital city; any season, best in January. Pennsylvania’s capital has a grand Capitol building with guided tours of 30 to 45 minutes, booked online (no self-guided tours on weekends and holidays), plus a riverfront park along the Susquehanna. The best weekend to come is the Pennsylvania Farm Show, January 9 to 16, 2027, the largest indoor agricultural exhibition in the country, with free general admission and a famous food court.
A weekend here: Saturday: a guided Capitol tour (book online; self-guided visits aren’t allowed on weekends), lunch in Midtown and a walk in the riverfront park. Sunday: drive 20 minutes to Hershey.
Plan it: About 1 hour 30 minutes from Baltimore, 1 hour 45 minutes from Philadelphia, 2 hours 15 minutes from Washington and 3 hours 30 minutes from Pittsburgh. Amtrak’s Keystone trains connect Harrisburg with Philadelphia and New York. Best for: politics buffs and Farm Show fans.
22. Knoebels and Bloomsburg
Family amusement; late spring to fall. Knoebels in Elysburg celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2026, and it still has free admission, parking and entertainment: you pay per ride with tickets or buy a ride-all-day pass on weekdays and select weekends. Its wooden coasters, old carousels and picnic groves make it the most old-fashioned park in the state. Bloomsburg, about 40 minutes north, holds its big county fair in late September and a Winterfest at the fairgrounds on November 27 and 28, 2026.
A weekend here: Saturday: Knoebels from opening, with ride tickets or a ride-all-day pass, and a picnic in the groves. Sunday: Bloomsburg’s downtown, or Ricketts Glen, about an hour and a quarter north, for waterfalls.
Plan it: Elysburg is about 2 hours 30 minutes from Philadelphia, 2 hours 45 minutes from Baltimore, 3 hours from Manhattan and 4 hours from Pittsburgh. Check Knoebels’ operating calendar before you go. Best for: families on a budget.
23. State College and Penn’s Cave
College town and caves; best on non-football weekends. Penn State’s home town is lively year-round, with the campus, its Creamery and downtown’s restaurants and bars. Nearby, Penn’s Cave runs boat tours of its all-water cavern daily on the hour from 10am to 4pm in October 2026, and the Jo Hayes Vista on Tussey Mountain looks over the whole valley. Avoid home football weekends unless you’re going to the game: hotels fill and prices jump.
A weekend here: Saturday: campus, the Creamery and downtown, then Penn’s Cave’s boat tour in the afternoon. Sunday: the Jo Hayes Vista on Tussey Mountain and a hike in Rothrock State Forest.
Plan it: About 2 hours 30 minutes from Pittsburgh, 3 hours from Baltimore, 3 hours 15 minutes from Philadelphia and 4 hours from Manhattan. Best for: college visits, families and cave fans.
24. Raystown Lake and Huntingdon
Lake and caves; summer and fall. Raystown Lake, the largest lake entirely within Pennsylvania, is ringed by forest, campgrounds and marinas, with boating, fishing and mountain-bike trails. On its east side, Trough Creek State Park’s gorge trails lead to Balanced Rock and Rainbow Falls. Lincoln Caverns near Huntingdon, in its 96th season, runs its Ghosts & Goblins Evening Terror Tours from October 9 to 31, 2026.
A weekend here: Saturday: a day on the lake by rental boat or kayak, or the Allegrippis trails by mountain bike. Sunday: Trough Creek’s Balanced Rock and Rainbow Falls, then Lincoln Caverns on the way home.
Plan it: Huntingdon is about 2 hours 30 minutes from Pittsburgh, 3 hours from Baltimore, 3 hours 15 minutes from Washington and 3 hours 30 minutes from Philadelphia. Rent a houseboat or a cabin for summer weekends. Best for: boaters, families and mountain bikers.
25. Altoona and the Horseshoe Curve
Railroad history; spring to fall. The Horseshoe Curve, a National Historic Landmark where the main line bends around a mountain valley west of Altoona, still carries a steady stream of freight trains, and watching them from the overlook is a rail fan’s dream. It’s run by the Railroaders Memorial Museum, which asks visitors to check its social media for hours. One local letdown: Lakemont Park’s rides, including Leap-the-Dips, have been idle since 2024, though its Holiday Lights on the Lake opens November 13, 2026.
A weekend here: Saturday: the Horseshoe Curve overlook (check hours first) and the Railroaders Memorial Museum downtown. Sunday: drive 45 minutes to State College or an hour to Raystown Lake.
Plan it: About 2 hours from Pittsburgh, 3 hours from Washington, 3 hours 15 minutes from Baltimore and 4 hours from Philadelphia. Best for: train fans. Pair with State College or Raystown.
The PA Wilds, the North and Erie
The northern half of the state is forest, gorges and small towns, with Lake Erie at the top. It’s farther from the cities, so plan on longer drives and fewer services, and the reward is space and quiet.
26. Wellsboro and the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon
Gorge and Victorian town; best in October. Pine Creek Gorge runs about 47 miles and is 1,450 feet deep at its deepest point. The classic view is from Leonard Harrison State Park, 10 miles west of Wellsboro, open every day from sunrise to sunset; Colton Point State Park faces it from the west rim. Wellsboro itself, with its gas-lit Main Street and town green, is the best small-town base in the north.
A weekend here: Saturday: sunrise at Leonard Harrison’s overlook, a hike down the Turkey Path into the gorge if your knees allow, and dinner on Main Street. Sunday: Colton Point on the west rim, or a ride on the rail trail.
Plan it: About 4 hours 15 minutes from Philadelphia, Manhattan and Baltimore, and 4 hours 30 minutes from Pittsburgh. Book October rooms early. Best for: hikers, photographers and couples.
27. The Pine Creek Rail Trail
Cycling; spring to fall; DCNR’s 2026 Trail of the Year. The 62-mile Pine Creek Rail Trail runs from Wellsboro Junction south to Jersey Shore, following Pine Creek for 55 of those miles, mostly on a gentle downhill grade through the gorge. Outfitters in the Wellsboro area rent bikes and run shuttles, so you can ride one way. Ride a section on Saturday, hike the gorge rims on Sunday.
A weekend here: Saturday: a one-way ride south from the Wellsboro end through the deepest part of the gorge, with an outfitter’s shuttle back to your car. Sunday: Leonard Harrison and Colton Point overlooks, or a shorter out-and-back ride.
Plan it: The northern end at Wellsboro is about 4 hours 15 minutes from Philadelphia, Manhattan and Baltimore. Bring cash and water; services are sparse in the middle miles. Best for: cyclists and families with older kids.
28. Cherry Springs State Park
Stargazing; late spring to fall; the darkest sky in the East. Cherry Springs is famous for its night sky. Its Night Sky Public Viewing Area is for short visits, with a 360-degree view, shielded lighting and red light only; white lights must go off during programs, and pets aren’t allowed on the Astronomy Observation Field at night. Check the moon phase before you go: new moon weekends are the best.
A weekend here: Saturday: arrive before dark, set up at the public viewing area and let your eyes adjust for 30 minutes. Sunday: sleep in, then visit the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, about an hour east.
Plan it: About 4 hours 15 minutes from Pittsburgh and 5 hours from Philadelphia, Manhattan and Baltimore. Stay in Coudersport or camp nearby, and dress warmly: nights are cold even in summer. Best for: stargazers and astrophotographers.
29. Kinzua Bridge and the Allegheny National Forest
Forest and a ruined viaduct; October 2026 is the last chance until fall 2027. Kinzua Bridge State Park keeps what’s left of the Kinzua Viaduct, once 2,053 feet long and 301 feet high, which a tornado partly destroyed in 2003. The Skywalk runs 600 feet out on the surviving towers, but it’s open only through October 31, 2026, then closes for repairs until fall 2027. The Allegheny National Forest’s overlooks above the Allegheny Reservoir, such as Rimrock and Jakes Rocks, make the rest of the weekend.
A weekend here: Saturday: walk the Skywalk (through October 31, 2026) and the Kinzua Creek Trail, then dinner in Kane or Bradford. Sunday: the Rimrock and Jakes Rocks overlooks above the Allegheny Reservoir.
Plan it: About 3 hours 15 minutes from Pittsburgh, 5 hours 15 minutes from Baltimore and 5 hours 30 minutes from Philadelphia. Best for: photographers and fall-color hunters.
30. Cook Forest State Park
Old-growth forest; spring to fall. Cook Forest protects some of the tallest old-growth white pines and hemlocks in the East along the Clarion River. Climb the 80-foot Historic Fire Tower No. 9 for a view of 15 to 20 miles on a clear day, look out over the Clarion from Seneca Point, and float the river by canoe or tube in summer. The cabins and rentals around Cooksburg make it an easy family weekend.
A weekend here: Saturday: the Forest Cathedral’s old-growth trails, the fire tower and Seneca Point. Sunday: a float on the Clarion River in summer, or a drive to Kinzua Bridge, about 1.5 hours north.
Plan it: About 2 hours from Pittsburgh and 5 hours from Philadelphia. Stay inside the fenced areas at the rock overlooks. Best for: families and hikers from western Pennsylvania.
31. Titusville and Oil Creek
Oil history; June to October. The world’s first commercial oil well was drilled near Titusville in 1859, and Oil Creek State Park covers the valley where the boom began. The Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad runs a 27-mile, three-hour round trip in 1930 Pullman cars from Perry Street Station; regular 2026 rides run through October 16, with a Halloween train on October 24.
A weekend here: Saturday: the Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad’s three-hour round trip, then a walk in Oil Creek State Park. Sunday: the drive north to Erie, about an hour away, for the lake.
Plan it: About 2 hours from Pittsburgh and 6 hours from Philadelphia. Best for: history fans and train riders.
32. Erie and Presque Isle
Beach and lake; summer and early fall. Presque Isle State Park, a sandy peninsula four miles west of downtown Erie, has miles of beaches, trails and lighthouses, and DCNR says it holds more of the state’s rare species than any area of its size. Waldameer, Erie’s amusement park, has free admission and parking, though its 2026 season ended September 7; it reopens in May with a new coaster, Eagle’s Pursuit, promised for 2027.
A weekend here: Saturday: Presque Isle’s beaches, trails and lighthouses all day, with sunset over the lake. Sunday: downtown Erie’s bayfront and a drive east into Lake Erie Wine Country.
Plan it: About 2 hours from Pittsburgh and 6 to 7 hours from Philadelphia, Baltimore and New York. Best for: beach weekends from western Pennsylvania.
33. Lake Erie Wine Country
Wineries; summer to fall. East of Erie, Lake Erie Wine Country stretches 53 miles along the shore, with wineries among vineyards that turn gold in October. Its Behind the Vines event is on October 10, 2026. Base yourself in North East, Pennsylvania, and pick a driver.
A weekend here: Saturday: three or four wineries with a designated driver, and dinner in North East or Erie. Sunday: Presque Isle in the morning before the drive home.
Plan it: North East is about 2 hours 15 minutes from Pittsburgh. Best for: couples and groups of friends.
Pittsburgh, the Laurel Highlands and the west
Western Pennsylvania pairs a big city with some of the state’s best outdoor country, all within about two hours of downtown Pittsburgh.
34. Pittsburgh
City break; any season; the best weekend for friends. Ride the Duquesne Incline, which has run since 1877 and operates daily from 6:30am to 12:30am, for the view of the three rivers. Spend an afternoon at the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History (adults $25; closed Tuesdays) or the Andy Warhol Museum, and an evening in the Strip District or on the South Side. The former Carnegie Science Center is now the Kamin Science Center, and the zoo is the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. Flying in, you’ll use the new airport terminal that opened in November 2025.
A weekend here: Saturday: the Duquesne Incline for the view, the Carnegie Museums or the Warhol in the afternoon, and dinner on the South Side or in Lawrenceville. Sunday: the Strip District for breakfast and a riverfront walk or bike ride.
Plan it: About 4 hours from Baltimore and Washington, 5 hours from Philadelphia and 6 hours from Manhattan. Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian connects it with Philadelphia and New York, with a second daily train from mid-November 2026. Best for: friends, families and museum lovers.
35. Ohiopyle
Rafting, biking and waterfalls; spring to fall. Ohiopyle is the outdoor capital of the Laurel Highlands. DCNR’s highlights: the deepest gorge in Pennsylvania from Baughman Rocks, Cucumber Run’s waterfall, the Ferncliff Peninsula and Ohiopyle Falls, right beside the borough. The Great Allegheny Passage bike trail runs through town, and outfitters run whitewater trips on the Youghiogheny. State park parking is free; some borough lots charge.
A weekend here: Saturday: a guided whitewater trip on the Youghiogheny or a bike ride on the Great Allegheny Passage. Sunday: Cucumber Falls, the Ferncliff Peninsula and Baughman Rocks, then Fallingwater if you booked ahead.
Plan it: About 1 hour 30 minutes from Pittsburgh, 3 hours 15 minutes from Washington and 3 hours 30 minutes from Baltimore. Book rafting ahead for summer weekends. Best for: active families and friends.
36. Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob
Architecture; any season except Wednesdays. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, the house cantilevered over a waterfall, is open year-round except Wednesdays and major holidays, and tours require advance reservations, which should be made four to six weeks ahead for July, August and October. Fifteen minutes away, Wright’s Kentuck Knob sits on a hilltop with a sculpture collection on its grounds, and it offers tours.
A weekend here: Saturday: Fallingwater on a morning tour, lunch in Ohiopyle, then Kentuck Knob in the afternoon. Sunday: Ohiopyle’s falls and trails before the drive home. Remember: both houses need booking, and Fallingwater closes Wednesdays.
Plan it: About 1 hour 30 minutes from Pittsburgh, 3 hours 30 minutes from Baltimore and Washington, and 4 hours 45 minutes from Philadelphia. Combine with Ohiopyle, 15 minutes away. Best for: architecture lovers and couples.
37. Ligonier
Small town; any season. Ligonier’s town square, the Diamond, is ringed by shops and restaurants, and Fort Ligonier, a reconstructed 1758 British fort, tells the story of the French and Indian War; it runs 10am to 5pm, with guided tours for $5 on top of admission. Idlewild, the old-fashioned family park, is just west of town (check its seasonal calendar), and the Laurel Highlands’ ridges rise behind.
A weekend here: Saturday: Fort Ligonier in the morning, lunch and shops on the Diamond, and a scenic Laurel Highlands drive. Sunday: Idlewild in season, or a hike on the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail.
Plan it: About 1 hour from Pittsburgh, 3 hours 15 minutes from Washington and 4 hours 15 minutes from Philadelphia. Best for: couples, families and history lovers.
38. A Laurel Highlands resort weekend
Resorts and caves; any season. Western Pennsylvania’s mountain resorts make an easy weekend from Pittsburgh. Seven Springs, now part of Vail and on the Epic Pass, has 33 slopes and seven terrain parks in winter and golf and mountain activities in summer. Nemacolin, with three AAA Five-Diamond hotels since 2025, is the splurge. On a rainy day, Laurel Caverns, which calls itself Pennsylvania’s largest cave with more than four miles of passages, sells tickets on arrival.
A weekend here: Saturday: skiing, golf or the spa depending on the season, with dinner on site. Sunday: Laurel Caverns or Ohiopyle on the way home.
Plan it: Seven Springs is about 1 hour 15 minutes from Pittsburgh and 3 hours 30 minutes from Baltimore and Washington. Best for: skiers, golfers and families.
39. Flight 93 National Memorial
Memorial; any season; part of a Laurel Highlands weekend. The field near Shanksville where the passengers and crew of Flight 93 died on September 11, 2001 is now a national memorial, with no entrance fee. The visitor center tells their story, a walkway leads down to the Memorial Plaza and the Wall of Names at the edge of the crash site, and the Tower of Voices holds 40 wind chimes, one for each person. Allow two to three hours, and plan it as a quiet, reflective stop rather than a quick photo.
A weekend here: Make it a half-day stop within a Laurel Highlands or Bedford weekend: arrive in the morning, see the visitor center, walk to the Memorial Plaza and visit the Tower of Voices before lunch in Somerset or Bedford.
Plan it: About 1 hour 30 minutes from Pittsburgh, 3 hours from Baltimore and Washington, and 4 hours from Philadelphia. Pair with Bedford or Ligonier. Best for: anyone driving across the state.
40. Bedford and Bedford Springs
Historic town and spa; best in October. Bedford is an old Turnpike town with a handsome downtown, and its Fall Foliage Festival fills the streets with more than 400 vendors on October 10 and 11, 2026, with no tickets needed. Just south, the Omni Bedford Springs Resort, which opened as the Stone Inn in 1806 and hosted 13 presidents, makes the most comfortable base, with a spa that uses its mineral springs and a golf course dating to 1895.
A weekend here: Saturday: the Fall Foliage Festival downtown in October, or the resort’s spa and Old Course. Sunday: Flight 93 National Memorial, about 45 minutes west, on the way back toward Pittsburgh.
Plan it: About 1 hour 45 minutes from Pittsburgh, 2 hours 30 minutes from Baltimore and Washington, and 3 hours 15 minutes from Philadelphia. Best for: couples and fall drivers.
Best Pennsylvania weekends for couples
For an inn, a river and dinner on foot, choose New Hope, where you can walk across the bridge to Lambertville for a second town’s restaurants. For fall color and a little drama, Jim Thorpe in October, with its gorge railroad and Victorian streets. For a spa weekend, the Omni Bedford Springs, which still uses its mineral springs in treatments, or the adults-only Lodge at Woodloch in the Poconos; our guide to the best resorts in Pennsylvania compares them with the Poconos’ classic couples resorts, where the heart-shaped tub still reigns.
Quieter options: Eagles Mere’s lakeside inn, Lititz’s walkable main street, and Wellsboro’s gas-lit downtown on a weekday. For something you’ll talk about for years, book a cabin near Cherry Springs and spend a clear, moonless night under the Milky Way. City couples should look at Philadelphia, where BYOB restaurants make a special dinner cheaper, and Pittsburgh, where the view from the top of the Duquesne Incline at night is the best free date in the state.
Best Pennsylvania weekends with kids
Under 8: Hershey (Chocolate World’s free ride, Hershey Gardens’ butterflies and Hersheypark’s kiddie rides), Strasburg’s steam trains and model railroad, the Crayola Experience in Easton, and Knoebels, where free admission means you only pay for the rides small children can actually go on. School-age kids: Gettysburg, where the battlefield turns history into something they can walk; Pittsburgh’s Kamin Science Center and the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium; and caves such as Penn’s Cave, which you tour by boat, and Laurel Caverns.
Teenagers: Ohiopyle’s whitewater and bike trails, the Poconos’ indoor water parks and ski slopes, Erie’s beaches and Waldameer’s water park in summer, or a Philadelphia weekend built around the Phillies, Eagles or Sixers. For every age, a state park cabin weekend at Ricketts Glen, Worlds End or Cook Forest costs little and wears everyone out.
Where to go from your home base
From Philadelphia. Under 1.5 hours: New Hope (50 minutes), the Brandywine Valley, Doylestown, Lancaster County, Bethlehem, Jim Thorpe and Hawk Mountain. Two hours or so: Hershey, the Poconos resorts, Scranton and Gettysburg. Philadelphia’s own neighborhoods make a fine staycation too.
From Pittsburgh. Under 1.5 hours: Ligonier, Seven Springs, Ohiopyle, Fallingwater and Flight 93. About 2 hours: Erie, Titusville, Cook Forest, Altoona and Bedford. State College and Raystown are 2.5 hours away.
From New York and New Jersey. Easton (about 1 hour 15 minutes from Midtown), Milford, New Hope and Bethlehem (about 1.5 hours), and the Poconos resorts, Bushkill Falls, Jim Thorpe, Scranton and Lake Wallenpaupack (about 2 hours) are the closest. Philadelphia is under 2 hours by car and about the same by train.
From Baltimore and Washington. Gettysburg is the closest, at about 1 hour 15 minutes from Baltimore and 1 hour 30 minutes from Washington. Hershey, Harrisburg, Lancaster County and the Brandywine Valley are 1.5 to 2.5 hours away, and Bedford and the Laurel Highlands about 2.5 to 3.5.
Weekend getaways in Pennsylvania by season
Fall (now through early November). The best season, and the busiest. This October: Jim Thorpe’s Fall Foliage Festival (October 10 and 11, and 17 and 18), Bedford’s Fall Foliage Festival (October 10 and 11), Peddler’s Village’s OctoberFeast (October 10 and 11), SteelStacks’ Oktoberfest (October 9 to 11), the Lehigh Gorge Autumn Leaf trains through November 15 and the hawk migration at Hawk Mountain through December 15. The Kinzua Skywalk closes after October 31.
The holidays. Bethlehem’s Christkindlmarkt (weekends, November 13 to December 20), Longwood’s Christmas (November 20 to January 10), Fonthill’s holiday tours in Doylestown (November 14 to December 22), Hersheypark Christmas Candylane, Lakemont’s Holiday Lights on the Lake from November 13, and Strasburg’s holiday trains. Book December weekends by October.
Winter. Ski weekends in the Poconos and the Laurel Highlands, the indoor water park resorts, city breaks in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg (January 9 to 16, 2027). Fallingwater now stays open through the winter, closed only on Wednesdays and holidays.
Spring. Waterfalls are at their fullest at Ricketts Glen and in the Poconos, gardens bloom in the Brandywine Valley, and Sight & Sound’s JONAH opens in Lancaster on March 11, 2027. It’s the cheapest season for most hotels.
Summer. Lakes (Wallenpaupack and Raystown), beaches at Presque Isle, Ohiopyle’s rafting, Cherry Springs’ summer star nights, and festivals: Musikfest in Bethlehem (August 5 to 15, 2027), the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts in State College (July 7 to 11, 2027) and the Little League World Series in late August.
Weekend getaways on a budget
Pennsylvania is good at cheap weekends. State parks charge nothing to enter or park, and their cabins and campsites cost far less than hotels; Ricketts Glen, Worlds End, Cook Forest, Ohiopyle and the Pine Creek Gorge parks all have them. Knoebels has free admission and parking, and you pay only for the rides you take. Free sights include the Liberty Bell, the Gettysburg battlefield and visitor center, Steamtown, Flight 93 and Hershey’s Chocolate World ride. Travel midweek or in spring, base yourself in a small town rather than a resort, and pack picnics for the parks.
Drive times to all 40 getaways
Free-flow driving estimates from Philadelphia City Hall, downtown Pittsburgh, Midtown Manhattan, Baltimore and Washington, rounded to 15 minutes. Add time for rush hour, summer and October weekends, and the Hudson River crossings.
| Getaway | Philadelphia | Pittsburgh | New York | Baltimore | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Philadelphia | – | 5 hr | 1 hr 45 | 2 hr | 2 hr 30 |
| 2. Lancaster | 1 hr 30 | 4 hr | 3 hr | 1 hr 30 | 2 hr 15 |
| 3. Strasburg | 1 hr 15 | 4 hr | 2 hr 45 | 1 hr 45 | 2 hr 15 |
| 4. Lititz | 1 hr 30 | 4 hr | 2 hr 45 | 1 hr 30 | 2 hr 15 |
| 5. New Hope | 50 min | 5 hr 15 | 1 hr 30 | 2 hr 30 | 3 hr 15 |
| 6. Doylestown | 1 hr | 5 hr 15 | 1 hr 45 | 2 hr 30 | 3 hr |
| 7. Brandywine Valley (Kennett Square) | 45 min | 4 hr 30 | 2 hr 30 | 1 hr 30 | 2 hr |
| 8. Bethlehem | 1 hr 15 | 4 hr 45 | 1 hr 30 | 2 hr 45 | 3 hr 30 |
| 9. Easton | 1 hr 30 | 4 hr 45 | 1 hr 15 | 3 hr | 3 hr 30 |
| 10. Hawk Mountain | 1 hr 30 | 4 hr 15 | 2 hr 15 | 2 hr 30 | 3 hr 15 |
| 11. Jim Thorpe | 1 hr 30 | 4 hr 45 | 2 hr | 3 hr | 3 hr 45 |
| 12. Bushkill Falls | 2 hr 15 | 5 hr 15 | 1 hr 45 | 3 hr 45 | 4 hr 15 |
| 13. Lake Wallenpaupack (Hawley) | 2 hr 45 | 5 hr 30 | 2 hr | 4 hr | 4 hr 45 |
| 14. Milford | 2 hr 30 | 5 hr 45 | 1 hr 30 | 4 hr | 4 hr 30 |
| 15. Scranton | 2 hr | 4 hr 45 | 2 hr | 3 hr 15 | 4 hr |
| 16. Poconos resorts (Mount Pocono) | 2 hr | 4 hr 45 | 1 hr 45 | 3 hr 30 | 4 hr 15 |
| 17. Ricketts Glen | 3 hr | 4 hr 45 | 3 hr 15 | 4 hr | 4 hr 45 |
| 18. Eagles Mere | 3 hr 15 | 4 hr 15 | 3 hr 15 | 3 hr 30 | 4 hr 15 |
| 19. Hershey | 1 hr 45 | 3 hr 30 | 2 hr 45 | 1 hr 30 | 2 hr 15 |
| 20. Gettysburg | 2 hr 30 | 3 hr 15 | 3 hr 30 | 1 hr 15 | 1 hr 30 |
| 21. Harrisburg | 1 hr 45 | 3 hr 30 | 3 hr | 1 hr 30 | 2 hr 15 |
| 22. Knoebels (Elysburg) | 2 hr 30 | 4 hr | 3 hr | 2 hr 45 | 3 hr 30 |
| 23. State College | 3 hr 15 | 2 hr 30 | 4 hr | 3 hr | 3 hr 30 |
| 24. Huntingdon (Raystown) | 3 hr 30 | 2 hr 30 | 4 hr 30 | 3 hr | 3 hr 15 |
| 25. Altoona | 4 hr | 2 hr | 4 hr 30 | 3 hr 15 | 3 hr |
| 26. Wellsboro | 4 hr 15 | 4 hr 30 | 4 hr 15 | 4 hr 15 | 5 hr |
| 27. Pine Creek Rail Trail (Wellsboro end) | 4 hr 15 | 4 hr 30 | 4 hr 15 | 4 hr 15 | 5 hr |
| 28. Cherry Springs | 5 hr | 4 hr 15 | 5 hr | 5 hr | 5 hr 45 |
| 29. Kinzua Bridge | 5 hr 30 | 3 hr 15 | 5 hr 45 | 5 hr 15 | 5 hr 30 |
| 30. Cook Forest | 5 hr | 2 hr | 5 hr 15 | 4 hr 45 | 5 hr |
| 31. Titusville | 6 hr | 2 hr | 6 hr 15 | 5 hr 30 | 5 hr 45 |
| 32. Erie | 6 hr 45 | 2 hr | 7 hr | 6 hr | 6 hr |
| 33. Lake Erie Wine Country (North East) | 6 hr 45 | 2 hr 15 | 7 hr | 6 hr 15 | 6 hr |
| 34. Pittsburgh | 5 hr | – | 6 hr | 4 hr | 4 hr |
| 35. Ohiopyle | 4 hr 45 | 1 hr 30 | 6 hr | 3 hr 30 | 3 hr 15 |
| 36. Fallingwater | 4 hr 45 | 1 hr 30 | 6 hr | 3 hr 30 | 3 hr 30 |
| 37. Ligonier | 4 hr 15 | 1 hr | 5 hr 30 | 3 hr 30 | 3 hr 15 |
| 38. Seven Springs | 4 hr 30 | 1 hr 15 | 5 hr 30 | 3 hr 30 | 3 hr 30 |
| 39. Flight 93 National Memorial | 4 hr | 1 hr 30 | 5 hr | 3 hr | 3 hr |
| 40. Bedford | 3 hr 15 | 1 hr 45 | 4 hr 30 | 2 hr 30 | 2 hr 30 |
What’s changed, and what to skip
- The Kinzua Skywalk closes after October 31, 2026 until fall 2027.
- Dingmans Falls and Glen Onoko Falls are closed. Choose Bushkill Falls or Ricketts Glen instead.
- The National Canal Museum and canal boat in Easton are closed for the rest of 2026.
- Harley-Davidson’s York factory tours are suspended, with no reopening date.
- Hersheypark has lost Tidal Force for good and the sooperdooperLooper until summer 2027.
- Lakemont Park’s rides in Altoona have been idle since 2024.
- Skip: trying to cover Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in one weekend (they’re 5 hours apart); October Saturdays in Jim Thorpe if you hate crowds (come on a Sunday or midweek); State College on home football weekends unless you’re going to the game; and the Pocono outlets and highway strips in place of the region’s real towns and trails.
Pennsylvania Weekend Getaways FAQ
What are the best weekend getaways in Pennsylvania?
Our top picks are Philadelphia for a city break, New Hope and Bucks County for couples, Hershey and Lancaster County for families, Jim Thorpe for fall color, Gettysburg for history, Ricketts Glen for waterfall hiking, the Pine Creek Rail Trail for cyclists and Pittsburgh for groups of friends. Choose by your home base: most work best within about three hours’ drive.
What’s the best weekend getaway in Pennsylvania for couples?
New Hope, on the Delaware River, is our favorite: walkable, full of inns and restaurants, and close to Philadelphia and New York. Jim Thorpe in October, Bedford Springs for a spa weekend, Eagles Mere for quiet and Cherry Springs for a night under the stars are strong alternatives. For resorts, the adults-only Lodge at Woodloch in the Poconos leads.
What’s the best family weekend getaway in Pennsylvania?
Hershey, with Chocolate World’s free tour ride, Hersheypark in season and the Hershey Gardens butterfly atrium. Lancaster County’s Strasburg railroads are perfect for small children, the Poconos’ indoor water park resorts work in any weather, Ohiopyle suits active teens, and Knoebels, with free admission, is the best-value amusement park.
Where can I go for a cheap weekend in Pennsylvania?
State parks are free to enter and park in, and their cabins and campsites are much cheaper than hotels; Ricketts Glen, Worlds End, Cook Forest and Ohiopyle are all good choices. Gettysburg’s battlefield, the Liberty Bell, Steamtown and Flight 93 are free, and Knoebels charges no admission. Travel midweek or in spring for the lowest rates.
What’s a good winter weekend getaway in Pennsylvania?
Ski in the Poconos (Camelback, Blue Mountain) or the Laurel Highlands (Seven Springs), book a Poconos indoor water park resort, or take a city break in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh. Hershey and Bethlehem are at their best at Christmas, and the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg runs January 9 to 16, 2027.
Can I take a weekend trip in Pennsylvania without a car?
Yes, to the cities. Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor and Keystone trains reach Philadelphia and Harrisburg, and the Pennsylvanian runs between New York, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, adding a second daily round trip from mid-November 2026. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are easy on foot and transit. The countryside, from the Poconos to the PA Wilds, really needs a car.
What’s the closest Pennsylvania getaway to New York City?
Easton, about 1 hour 15 minutes from Midtown Manhattan without traffic, followed by Milford, New Hope and Bethlehem at about 1 hour 30 minutes, and the Poconos resorts and Bushkill Falls at about 1 hour 45 minutes. Allow extra time for the tunnels and bridges on Friday afternoons.
When is the best time for a weekend getaway in Pennsylvania?
Fall, especially mid to late October, for color, festivals and cool hiking weather, though it’s also the busiest and most expensive time. Spring is quieter and cheaper, with full waterfalls; summer is for lakes, rafting and beaches; and late November to December brings the Christmas towns.
Related Pennsylvania Guides
- Things to do in Pennsylvania: the statewide highlights, region by region.
- Things to do in the Poconos: lakes, waterfalls, skiing and towns.
- The best resorts in Pennsylvania: luxury, family, spa and couples resorts compared.
Sources and How We Checked
Everything on this page was checked between September 23 and October 1, 2026 against the official sources below and compiled from them; we don’t claim first-hand visits. Drive times are free-flow estimates from OpenStreetMap-based routing (the Valhalla engine), rounded to the nearest 15 minutes.
- National Park Service, Gettysburg fees and Independence National Historical Park hours: fees, tickets and hours.
- Pennsylvania DCNR, Ricketts Glen State Park and the other DCNR park pages: Ricketts Glen, Worlds End, Pine Creek Gorge, Cherry Springs, Kinzua Bridge, Cook Forest, Ohiopyle and Presque Isle details, and reservation rules.
- Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, Autumn Leaf 2026: dates, fares and ticket rules.
- Longwood Gardens: fall and Christmas dates and ticket prices.
- Crayola Experience Easton: hours and events.
- Peddler’s Village: fall events.
- Fort Ligonier: hours and tours.
Also used: the official sites of the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, the Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad, the Strasburg Rail Road, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Hershey’s attractions, Fallingwater, Kentuck Knob, the Carnegie Museums, the Duquesne Incline, Bushkill Falls, Hawk Mountain, Knoebels, Penn’s Cave, Lincoln Caverns, Lake Erie Wine Country, the Mercer Museum and Fonthill, Historic Bethlehem and ArtsQuest, and news reports for the New Hope Railroad and Lakemont Park. Most of these facts were last checked in late September 2026.
Pennsylvania Tourism Guide is an independent publication. We are not affiliated with the National Park Service, DCNR, any resort, railroad, museum, park or town named here, and no one paid to be included.
Photo Credits
- Jim Thorpe and St. Mark's Church in fall: photo by Smallbones, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
- New Hope-Lambertville bridge: photo by Aerolin55, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Gettysburg battlefield: photo by William.Tell.It.Like.It.Is, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Pine Creek Rail Trail: photo by User:Ruhrfisch, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Milky Way at Cherry Springs State Park: photo by Haleyread23, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
- Presque Isle from the air: photo by Ken Winters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
- Duquesne Incline and downtown Pittsburgh: photo by Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
- Ohiopyle Falls: photo by Indies1, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)