Unearth The Voyage
Pennsylvania packs a surprising amount into a single day, from Civil War history and waterfalls to charming small towns and scenic hikes. Better yet, many of these spots are free or low-cost, making them perfect for an easy getaway.
This list highlights 19 day trips across the state that are absolutely worth the drive.
1. Gettysburg
Few places in the country carry as much historical weight per square mile as this quiet Pennsylvania town. The Gettysburg National Military Park preserves the site of the three-day Civil War battle from July 1863, and visitors can explore the grounds, monuments, and memorials largely for free.
The visitor center includes a museum and a massive cyclorama painting depicting Pickett’s Charge. A self-guided driving tour covers the key positions across the battlefield, and the route is well marked with informative signs throughout.
2. Lancaster and Amish Country
Lancaster County moves at a pace the rest of the world mostly forgot about. Horse-drawn buggies share the road with regular traffic, and working farms stretch in every direction across some of the most productive agricultural land on the East Coast.
Central Market in downtown Lancaster is one of the oldest continuously operating farmers markets in the country, open Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. Fresh produce, baked goods, and local crafts fill the historic market building at accessible prices.
3. Jim Thorpe
Nicknamed the “Switzerland of America” back in the 1800s, Jim Thorpe is a Victorian-era mountain town that has held onto its character better than most. The main street runs along a narrow valley floor, lined with stone buildings, independent shops, and cafes that have been there for decades.
The Lehigh Gorge State Park sits right at the edge of town, offering a well-maintained rail trail that follows the Lehigh River through dramatic scenery. The trail is free to use and suitable for both hikers and cyclists.
4. Presque Isle State Park
Pennsylvania has exactly one sandy beach destination, and it sits on a 3,200-acre peninsula that curls into Lake Erie near the city of Erie. Presque Isle State Park offers swimming beaches, kayaking, fishing, cycling paths, and a reliable migratory bird population that draws serious birdwatchers every season.
Entry to the park is completely free, which makes it one of the best budget outdoor destinations in the entire state. Rental equipment for bikes and kayaks is available on-site at reasonable rates if you did not bring your own.
The park has 13 miles of multi-use trails and 11 designated swimming beaches. Summer weekends get busy, so an early arrival secures better parking and more beach space.
5. Hershey
The town of Hershey was literally built around chocolate, and that history is still visible in everything from the street names to the architecture. Hershey’s Chocolate World offers a free factory tour ride that walks visitors through an animated look at the chocolate-making process and ends with a small sample.
Beyond the chocolate tour, the town has public greenways and the Hershey Gardens, which covers 23 acres and charges a modest admission fee. The nearby ZooAmerica wildlife park is also a low-cost option for families.
6. Ricketts Glen State Park
Twenty-two named waterfalls along a single trail system is not a common feature of any state park, but Ricketts Glen delivers exactly that. The Falls Trail covers roughly 7.5 miles and passes waterfalls ranging from 11 feet to 94 feet in height, with the tallest being Ganoga Falls.
Admission to the park is free, which makes it one of the most remarkable free outdoor experiences in Pennsylvania. The trail is rated moderate to difficult in sections, so proper footwear is worth the effort before heading out.
Lake Jean within the park offers swimming in summer and ice fishing in winter. The park is located in Benton in northeastern Pennsylvania, roughly two hours from both Philadelphia and the Pocono region.
7. Fallingwater
Architect Frank Lloyd Wright completed Fallingwater in 1935-39, and it has been drawing architecture fans and curious visitors to rural Mill Run ever since. The house was built directly over a waterfall on Bear Run, using a cantilevered design that was considered structurally radical at the time.
Tours are required to enter the house, and tickets range from around $35 for a standard tour to higher prices for in-depth options. The grounds are free to walk, and the exterior view of the house from the bridge is the image most people recognize from photographs.
Fallingwater is located in the Laurel Highlands region of southwestern Pennsylvania, about 70 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. Ohiopyle State Park is just a short drive away, making a combined visit practical for a full day out.
8. Ohiopyle State Park
Ohiopyle State Park covers nearly 20,000 acres in the Laurel Highlands and centers on the Youghiogheny River, which cuts through the landscape and creates some of the most popular whitewater in the eastern United States. Access to the park and its hiking trails is free.
The Youghiogheny Natural Waterslide is a free and popular feature where flat rock formations channel river water in a way that allows visitors to slide naturally. It draws crowds on warm weekends, so an early arrival helps.
The Great Allegheny Passage bike trail passes directly through the park, connecting Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland, over 150 miles.
9. Longwood Gardens
Pierre du Pont purchased the Longwood property in 1906 specifically to preserve a grove of trees he did not want to see cut down, and what grew from that decision is one of the most impressive botanical gardens in North America. The property now covers 1,083 acres in Kennett Square.
Admission is not free, with adult tickets typically running around $25 to $32 depending on the season. That said, the sheer scale of the gardens, the indoor conservatory, and the fountain displays make it a strong value for a full-day visit.
The outdoor gardens shift with the seasons, so the experience changes depending on when you visit.
10. Lititz
Lititz was founded by Moravian settlers in 1756 and operated as a closed religious community for over a century, which is part of why the historic downtown still looks remarkably intact. The central square, the original Moravian congregation buildings, and the tree-lined main street all date back to that founding era.
The Wilbur Chocolate Company has operated in Lititz since 1884, and its small candy museum and store on Broad Street is free to enter. The store sells chocolate at retail prices that are generally lower than specialty shops elsewhere.
11. Valley Forge National Historical Park
Valley Forge is where George Washington’s Continental Army spent the winter of 1777 to 1778, enduring one of the most difficult periods of the Revolutionary War. The national historical park preserves the encampment site across nearly 3,500 acres of rolling hills and open fields just outside Philadelphia.
Entry to the park is free, and the visitor center provides maps, exhibits, and a short film that gives useful context before you explore the grounds. Reconstructed log huts, original earthworks, and monuments are spread across a well-marked auto tour route.
The park also has over 26 miles of trails open to hikers and cyclists. The Washington Memorial Chapel on the grounds is a working church and a notable piece of architecture worth a stop on its own.
12. Bushkill Falls
Bushkill Falls has been operating as a private attraction in the Pocono Mountains since 1904, making it one of the longest-running tourist destinations in Pennsylvania. The site features eight waterfalls accessible through a network of trails and wooden bridges, with the main falls dropping 100 feet.
Admission is charged, typically around $16 to $21 for adults depending on the season, and the fee covers access to all the trails and bridges. The trail options range from an easy 15-minute walk to a longer two-hour loop covering all eight falls.
The property also includes a small wildlife exhibit, paddle boats, and a picnic area.
13. Philadelphia’s Historic District
Philadelphia’s Historic District packs more founding-era American history into a walkable area than almost any other city block in the country. Independence Hall, where both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were debated and signed, sits at the center of it all and offers free ranger-led tours.
The Liberty Bell Center directly across the street is also free to visit and open daily. The entire Independence National Historical Park, which encompasses these sites and more, charges no general admission.
The surrounding neighborhood includes Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest continuously occupied residential street in the United States, and the Reading Terminal Market, where lunch options start at very reasonable prices.
14. Poconos Scenic Area
The Pocono Mountains cover roughly 2,400 square miles of northeastern Pennsylvania and contain a mix of state parks, waterfalls, lakes, and scenic drives that do not require a resort reservation to enjoy. Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area alone covers 70,000 acres with free access to trails, overlooks, and the Appalachian Trail.
Dingmans Falls, located within the recreation area, is one of the tallest free-access waterfalls in Pennsylvania at 130 feet. The boardwalk trail to the falls is flat, accessible, and takes about 30 minutes round trip.
The scenic drive along Route 209 through the Delaware Water Gap corridor passes through small river towns and offers roadside access to overlooks and river access points. The drive itself costs nothing and covers some of the most consistently scenic road in the state.
15. Kennett Square
Kennett Square holds an unlikely claim to fame: it produces more mushrooms than any other town in the United States, earning it the title of Mushroom Capital of the World. The surrounding Chester County countryside is dotted with mushroom farms, and the local food scene reflects that heritage in menus across town.
The downtown itself is a walkable strip of independent shops, cafes, and a few galleries that can be covered in an afternoon without a significant budget. Longwood Gardens is located just outside town, making the two an easy pairing for a full-day visit.
The annual Mushroom Festival each September draws large crowds, but the town is worth visiting any time of year. Parking is generally free or low-cost in the surrounding streets and public lots.
16. Pine Creek Gorge (Pennsylvania Grand Canyon)
Pennsylvania’s version of a grand canyon is 47 miles long and drops nearly 1,500 feet at its deepest point, making it the largest gorge in the northeastern United States. The main overlooks are accessible by car from Wellsboro, and the views across the forested valley are genuinely striking without requiring any hiking.
Leonard Harrison State Park on the east rim and Colton Point State Park on the west rim both offer free access to overlooks and trail systems. The Pine Creek Rail Trail runs 62 miles along the gorge floor and is open to hikers and cyclists at no charge.
17. Bethlehem
Bethlehem was one of the most important steel-producing cities in American history, and the remnants of that industrial era are still standing along the South Side waterfront. The former Bethlehem Steel plant’s blast furnaces have been preserved as part of the SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, and the outdoor grounds are free to walk through.
The campus hosts free outdoor events and concerts throughout the year, and the ArtsQuest Center on-site offers rotating exhibits and programming at modest prices. The scale of the industrial structures is genuinely impressive and unlike anything else in the state.
Historic Bethlehem on the North Side preserves the original Moravian settlement from 1741, including several 18th-century buildings open for tours. The combination of industrial history and colonial heritage makes Bethlehem one of the more layered day trip destinations in Pennsylvania.
18. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
Every autumn, thousands of hawks, eagles, and falcons funnel along Kittatinny Ridge in eastern Pennsylvania, and Hawk Mountain Sanctuary has been the best place to watch that migration since 1934 when it became the world’s first refuge for birds of prey. The sanctuary sits on 2,600 acres in Kempton, Berks County.
Admission to the sanctuary costs around $7 to $14 for adults, which covers access to the trail system and both lookout points. The South Lookout is accessible with a short, easy walk, while the North Lookout requires a slightly longer hike with rocky terrain.
19. Strasburg Railroad and Surrounding Countryside
The Strasburg Rail Road has been operating continuously since 1832, making it the oldest short-line railroad in the western hemisphere still running under its original charter. The nine-mile round trip through Lancaster County farmland uses authentic steam locomotives and vintage passenger cars, and it is a genuinely fun experience for all ages.
Ticket prices are reasonable, typically around $20 to $25 for adults, and the ride takes about 45 minutes. The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania sits directly across the street and houses one of the largest collections of historic locomotives in the country, with admission around $10.
