Covered Bridges, Battlefield Roads, Mountain Switchbacks. 4 routes through canyons, waterfalls, living history, and Appalachian wilderness.
Pennsylvania stretches from the Delaware River to Lake Erie, crossing the Appalachian Mountains in between. That geography creates road trip diversity that's hard to match on the East Coast. Route 6 across the northern tier is called Pennsylvania's Grand Canyon for good reason - Pine Creek Gorge drops 1,450 feet. The Pocono Mountains offer waterfall hikes and scenic drives. Amish Country in Lancaster is a living time capsule. And Gettysburg is simply one of the most powerful places in America.
Pennsylvania's northern tier - the region along Route 6 - is one of the best-kept secrets in eastern road tripping. The Allegheny National Forest has 500,000 acres of wilderness, Cherry Springs State Park has some of the darkest skies on the East Coast, and Pine Creek Gorge makes visitors forget they're not out West.
The food culture rewards road trippers too. Amish baked goods and farmers' markets in Lancaster, pierogies and kielbasa in the coal country, cheesesteaks in Philly, and surprisingly good craft beer statewide. Pennsylvania has more breweries per capita than any state except Vermont.
From grand canyons to Amish buggies and battlefield hallowed ground.
US Route 6 crosses Pennsylvania from east to west through some of the most sparsely populated territory in the Northeast. The star attraction is Pine Creek Gorge - Pennsylvania's Grand Canyon - a 47-mile-long, 1,450-foot-deep gorge with overlooks, rail trails, and top-tier kayaking. The road also passes through the Allegheny National Forest, where old-growth hemlocks tower over some of the darkest skies east of the Mississippi. Small towns along the way feel untouched by time.
The Poconos have over 150 waterfalls - more per square mile than almost anywhere in the eastern US. Bushkill Falls, called the Niagara of Pennsylvania, is the centerpiece, but Dingmans Falls (the second-tallest waterfall in the state at 130 feet) and Raymondskill Falls are equally remarkable. Between waterfall hikes, the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area offers 40 miles of the Delaware River with kayaking, tubing, and cliff-edge trails.
Lancaster County is home to the largest Amish settlement in the world, with over 40,000 Amish residents. Driving the back roads, you'll share the road with horse-drawn buggies, pass hand-plowed fields, and encounter roadside stands selling quilts, fresh-baked shoofly pie, and produce that was picked that morning. Central Market in Lancaster city is the oldest continuously operating farmers' market in America (since 1730). The covered bridges dotting the countryside are worth a detour.
Gettysburg Battlefield is 6,000 acres of preserved land where you can drive, bike, or walk the same ground where the Civil War's turning point unfolded over three days in July 1863. The auto tour covers 24 miles with over 1,300 monuments and markers. Continue south to Antietam in Maryland, the site of the single bloodiest day in American history. The surrounding countryside - rolling farmland, orchards, and small towns - adds pastoral beauty to the historical weight.
From buggy etiquette to dark-sky stargazing.
Share the road with Amish buggies in Lancaster County. They move at 5-8 MPH and are hard to see at dusk. Use caution on back roads.
Pine Creek Gorge overlooks have no guardrails in some spots. Keep kids and pets close to the designated viewing areas.
Gettysburg auto tour is 24 miles and takes 2-3 hours minimum. Download the NPS app for free audio tour narration at each stop.
Pennsylvania has more covered bridges than any other state (over 200). The Lancaster County covered bridge driving tour connects 14 of them.
Cherry Springs State Park is a Gold-level International Dark Sky Park. On clear nights, you can see the Milky Way with the naked eye. No white lights permitted.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) is one of the most expensive toll roads in the US. Route 30 is a free, scenic alternative across the southern part of the state.
Canyons, covered bridges, and hallowed ground.
Pennsylvania's Grand Canyon. 1,450 feet deep, 47 miles long. Leonard Harrison and Colton Point State Parks have the best overlooks.
6,000 acres, 1,300+ monuments. The most visited Civil War battlefield in America. Free to enter.
The Niagara of Pennsylvania. Eight waterfalls connected by trails and bridges through a hemlock ravine.
Walk out on the remains of a 2,053-foot-long railroad viaduct with a glass floor 300 feet above the valley.
Oldest continuously operating farmers' market in America (since 1730). Amish baked goods, meats, and crafts.
40 miles of protected Delaware River. Kayaking, swimming, and the Appalachian Trail crosses through.
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