5 Pennsylvania Road Trip Ideas For Adventure Seekers

Steeped in history and home to a wealth of forests, rivers, mountain ranges, and underrated state parks, Pennsylvania isn't called the Keystone State for nothing. As one of the original 13 states and the second to ratify the U.S. constitution, Pennsylvania had a key role in the American Revolution and forming the nation we know today. Understandably, this important place in history means that many tourists are drawn to Philadelphia and nearby sites like the Gettysburg battlefield, but restricting a visit to the southeastern region leaves vast swathes of the state unexplored. There is no better time to load up the car and hit the road, because Pennsylvania has so much to discover for all kinds of adventurous visitors.

Philadelphia hugs Pennsylvania's eastern border with New Jersey and is linked to Harrisburg and Pittsburgh (the largest city in the western part of the state) by the I-76 highway. That's little under a five-hour jaunt covering just over 300 miles if you're in a hurry, but the route along the Pennsylvania Turnpike only scratches the surface of what the state has to offer. With that in mind, we have curated five great road trip ideas that will give you the full flavor of the state — whether you're into history, natural wonders, culture, food, or more offbeat points of interest, we've got you covered.

U.S. Route 6 is one of America's most epic drives – 3,200 miles of road spanning the country from Long Beach in California to Provincetown on the tip of Massachusetts. The Pennsylvania section is one of the best road trip routes in the United States, with over 400 miles of highway that some publications have praised as one of the most scenic drives in the nation. A journey along this historic highway rewards you with some of the finest natural splendor in Pennsylvania, with stop-offs for outdoor adventures and charming small towns along the way.

Picking up Route 6 in the western part of the state, the first show-stopper is Allegheny National Forest. It's worth the time to explore the trails through ancient woodland, take in the stunning views at Willow Bay and the Kinzua Sky Walk, or simply take a detour along Longhouse National Scenic Byway. Continuing east, the next must-see stop is Pine Creek Gorge, also know as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. At 50 miles long and running 1,000 feet deep, it makes a spectacular spot for a little hiking or kayaking. The next leg of the journey takes you into the evocatively-named Endless Mountains, part of the Appalachian Mountains. Summit Elk Mountain, the area's loftiest peak, and succumb to the old-school charms of rustic villages before continuing along Route 6 to the Pocono Mountains and Lake Wallenpaupack for some water-based adventures. From there, you can carry on to the very end of Pennsylvanian Route 6 at Milford by the border with New York State.

If you have a week or two to spare, there's one grand loop running over 700 miles that rewards the intrepid traveler with a deep dive into Pennsylvania's eventful history and culture. Starting out in Philadelphia, it is worth giving yourself a few days to explore the city's historic highlights before heading out on the road. The first leg of the trip is a short drive out into the picturesque region of the countryside of Philadelphia. Here you can delve into the history of the American Revolutionary War at Brandywine, the site of one of the conflict's largest battles, and Valley Forge National Historical Park, where George Washington's army hunkered down during the long winter of 1777-1778.

Continuing on to Gettysburg, you can cruise through the charming agricultural towns of Adams County before immersing yourself in more of the nation's history at the pivotal battlefield. The route next takes you on a long drive west to Butler County. Here you can find signs of Western Pennsylvania's German heritage in the small towns of Harmony and Saxonburg, which celebrate their roots through their architecture and cuisine. 

The city of Butler is a beer lover's paradise with its great range of trendy restaurants and craft beer pubs, so treat yourself to a few brews before heading back east on Interstate 80 to Lehigh Valley. Here you can explore more of Pennsylvania's colonial and industrial history and visit the UNESCO World Heritage Moravian churches in Bethlehem, also colloquially known as the "Christmas City."

This 358-mile route through the northwestern region gives road-trippers a chance to see some of Pennsylvania's quirkiest roadside oddities and check out some places that might not otherwise appear on a travel itinerary. Start out in Portersville, Butler County, and treat yourself to a cup of shaved ice at The Snowman, a novelty 1970s-style concession stand. Once you're suitably refreshed, take a drive north to the PennDOT Road Sign Sculpture Garden near Meadville, a striking 1,200-foot-long art installation built from old road signs. Sticking with a highway theme, Schaefer's Auto Art near the shores of Lake Erie presents a bizarre collection of bug-like sculptures constructed from car parts. 

Swinging back inland, you will find Sherman Memorial Lighthouse on the banks of the Allegheny River, the tallest structure of its kind in Pennsylvania. Also nearby, you will find a replica Liberty Bell and a mini Statue of Liberty. Next, check out Decker's Chapel in Elk County, the state's smallest church, before having fun with the animatronic creatures at Doolittle's Dinosaurs in DuBois. 

Movie buffs will then get a sense of déjà vu at Phil's Burrow and Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, location of the comedy classic "Groundhog Day." On the homestretch, stop in at Cadet Restaurant, where 30-foot-tall Cowboy Sam tempts hungry motorists with his giant burger. Lastly, get an out-of-this-world photo at the Mars Flying Saucer in Mars, an attraction celebrating the town's extraterrestrial name.

A relative newcomer to the world of Pennsylvanian road trips, Visit PA's six themed culinary trails are a great way for foodies to snack their way around the state. Dividing local produce into different trails, each category is subdivided into itineraries showcasing the best delicacies and tipples while also giving visitors an insight into the history and production process. The fairly short routes are designed to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace, taking anywhere from two to four days, and you can select a particular region to explore or try them all. You can choose from baked (bread trail), picked (apple trail), chopped (charcuterie trail), pickled (fermented trail). scooped (ice cream trail), and tapped (maple trail). 

The itineraries are too packed to go through each one in detail here, but let's take a look at the baked trail in Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania's Great Lakes as an example. The 4-day route is thoughtfully designed to take you through the history of grain from the earliest forms of Indigenous agriculture in the region to modern advances like solar-powered mills and organic produce. Along the way, you'll see how prehistoric people did things at Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village; load up on freshly baked pita bread and homemade hummus at Pitaland; enjoy some local spirits at Wigle Whiskey Distillery; get a taste of Pennsylvania's German heritage (pretzels, schnitzel, and strudel) at Harmony and Old Economy Village; and pick up some speciality grains for your home-brewing setup at CNC Malt.

A lot has happened in 300+ years since Pennsylvania was first founded, and a spooky alternative way to explore the state's history is by following a ghost trail. One four-day itinerary loops down through the eastern part of the state and passes through Philadelphia, reputedly one of the most haunted cities in North America. Feel free to tweak it as you see fit. We start out in Jim Thorpe, a picturesque borough harboring spine-chilling tales: Learn the secrets of Carbon County Jail, with its eerie dungeon and mysterious handprint of a wrongly-executed inmate in Cell #17, before spending the night at Jim Thorpe Inn.Many guests have reported ghostly activity over the decades.

Continue to Bethlehem, where ghosts from the Revolutionary War are said to still walk Donegal Square. More haunted lodgings can be found at the ancient Sun Inn, a popular spot for paranormal investigations. After exploring the ghost tours, creepy bridges, and haunted railroads in atmospheric New Hope, we arrive in Philadelphia where you can visit the notorious Eastern State Penitentiary and take a guided ghost tour of the city's historic streets. More ghastly fun can be had at Bates Motel in Glenn Mills, one of the best haunted house attractions in America, before the trip concludes at the dreaded Pennhurst Asylum in Spring City, where the spirits of mistreated patients still linger long after death. This one isn't for the faint-hearted — you will need to sign a waiver before embarking on a paranormal tour!