Beautiful Pennsylvania Fall Road Trip

There is truly nothing like fall in the East. Growing up in Pennsylvania, fall was always such a special time of year. Even into my adult years, I cherished fall like no other time. The leaves, smells, crip air, delicious foods, and fun fall activities are enough to get me excited like nothing else can. For a long time, I suspected states west of the Mississippi just don’t do fall like we do back East. I can now say that, since moving out of Pennsylvania, I’ve noticed this is completely true. Maybe it’s a bigger deal in other locations, but in Colorado Springs, it just isn’t the same. There are fewer farms and the foliage is mostly hues of gold and yellow. Still beautiful, but not the same as back home. This year, I’m taking you on a Pennsylvania Fall road trip to get you excited about my favorite reasons why I love Pennsylvania in the fall.

Table of Contents

Why Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania is one of the most historical states in our great country. Its history dates back to the mid-1600s and is named after William Penn, an English immigrant. Technically a Commonwealth, Pennsylvania became the second state, right after Delaware. It is where the Liberty Bell is housed and is where the Declaration of Independence was signed. It is home to Hershey, PA (known for its chocolate) and is bequeathed the Cheesesteak Capitol of the US. Pennsylvania also houses the M&M Mars chocolate factory, has the largest Amish population in the country, and was home to the infamous Battle of Gettysburg in 1863.

There is an incredible amount of history in our state and even though I don’t currently live there, Pennsylvania will always be home. On top of its rich history and culture, it has some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. Best of all, Pennsylvania has an incredible food scene. I can’t wait for you to come along on this Pennsylvania Fall road trip as we sort through all the amazing things this state has to offer during the fall season!

Pennsylvania Fall Road Trip

Fall foliage

The first stop on our Pennsylvania Fall Road Trip is the fall foliage. While this isn’t technically a single stop, but rather many, it’s top of the list for a reason. One of the best reasons to visit Pennsylvania in the fall is for its fall foliage. Did you know that the Eastern US is one of only three regions in the world that contain deciduous trees which display autumnal colors? Pennsylvania has a longer and more varied fall foliage season than anywhere in the world! How cool is that?!

The cool thing about Pennsylvania is you’ll get all sorts of different colors at different times during the season. Depending what time of the month you plan to visit will determine your location. Most trees in Pennsylvania don’t start to change color until closer to Columbus Day weekend During the first half of October, here are some places you’ll want to consider visiting to see the best fall foliage:

Pennsylvania Grand Canyon & surrounding areas
Pine Creek Gorge (Wellsboro)
Ricketts Glen State Park
Jim Thorpe
Elk State Forest
Tioga State Forest
Loyalsock State Forest
State College & surrounding areas
Poconos area, including Bushkill Falls

The best fall color hits southern Pennsylvania during the second half of the month and boasts gorgeous shades of reds, oranges, and yellows. Here are some places to consider during the second half of October:

Lancaster County (Specifically Lititz, Ephrata, Leola, and Manheim)

Gettysburg

Philadelphia

Ohiopyle State Park

Covered Bridges through Bucks and Lancaster County

Washington Crossing

Chickies Rock

In order to get more information about fall foliage, check out this useful fall foliage report from DCNR. Visit PA also has a great list for fall foliage drives.

Farm activities

Next up on our Pennsylvania Fall road trip is farm activities! Northern Pennsylvania may boast more fall foliage, but southern Pennsylvania is where the fun farm activities are. Lancaster County specifically, is one of the top agricultural counties in the entire country! It boasts some of the fertile, most productive soil in the country as well. As you might imagine, our biggest industry and money maker is agriculture. Due to the incredible amount of productive farmland, some farms have become hobby farms, featuring fun fall activities. Tourism in Lancaster County brings in a lot of revenue, and part of this is due to the fall activities people partake in during the autumn season.

It’s very different from places out West – farming just isn’t quite the same. Or, if you live in an urban area like I do, it’s harder to access farms. Most farms are 30+ minutes away from where I live. Farm activities can include all sorts of things like hay rides, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, petting zoos, pumpkin chucking, and games. A lot of farms also include fall decorations for sale, delicious treats, and photo ops. Lancaster County is home to many fun farms that feature delightful fall activities. Check out some of my favorites:

Elizabeth Farms

The Amish Farm and House

Small town charm

Pennsylvania is peppered with charming small towns and that what is next on our Pennsylvania Fall road trip. If you’ve been to any mid-Atlantic or New England state, you’ve probably had the pleasure of visiting or driving through small towns. Some people only like them for a few days, but if you’re like me, you could live in one your entire life! I never appreciated life in a small town the way I do now until I moved away. Life in an urban area is just different. There’s a lot of noise and traffic and stores everywhere. While convenience is nice, constantly being reminded to consume is not ideal. I love the peace and quiet of small towns, not to mention having so many friends close by!

If you haven’t frequented many small towns, you’re in for a treat because there is plenty to love! Here is my list of reasons to love small towns:

Peace and quiet
Neighbors who will do anything for you
Close-knit community
Safety
Lots of mom and pop shops
Abundance of local food
Fun events and traditions
Easier ability to live slowly
Slower pace of life
Better air quality in general
You’re typically surround by nature

Pennsylvania has some of the most adorable small towns I’ve ever been to! Even in my almost 33 years of life there, there were still so many I didn’t get to visit. However, I know you will enjoy this great list of Pennsylvania small towns to visit.

Lititz
Manheim/ Mount Joy
Elizabethtown
Marietta/Maytown
Leola/New Holland
Ephrata/Akron
Gettysburg
Ellwood City
Doylestown
New Hope
Slippery Rock
Jim Thorpe
Bellefonte/State College/Boalsburg
Mount Holly Springs
Hummelstown
Ohiopyle
Milton
Huntingdon
Mount Gretna
Lewisburg
Mansfield/Wellsboro

Coffee shops

The next stop on our Pennsylvania fall road trip is coffee shops! We Pennsylvanians love our coffee and are known for not only having great coffee, but great coffee shops. It’s no secret that most people prefer mom and pop coffee shops over corporate chains like Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks. Pennsylvania is home to some of the best and cutest coffee shops I’ve been to. You’ll find some in bigger cities but actually quite a few in quaint, small towns. Here are some of the best coffee shops you’ll want to check out.

New Holland Coffee in New Holland and Lititz

Rothrock Coffee in State College

Square One in Lancaster

Elementary Coffee in Harrisburg

Idea Coffee in Mount Joy

Passenger in Lancaster

Prince Street Café in Lancaster

Speckled Hen in Strasburg

Seasonal food

We continue our Pennsylvania fall road trip with my favorite thing on the list: seasonal food! Pennsylvania is a seriously underrated state when it comes to food. There are so many hidden gems and the mecca of different cultures that exists in restaurants doesn’t even compare to other places I’ve been to. Pennsylvania is home to cheesesteaks, pizza, PA Dutch and Amish cooking, incredible baked goods, pretzels, and of course, comfort food. Come along as I share some of the best Pennsylvania restaurants broken down by category.

Pretzels: Lil’s Pretzels (Broadstreet Market), Shuey’s Pretzels, Center City Pretzel, Dutch Country Soft Pretzels, Immergut Pretzels,

Cheesesteaks: Angelo’s Pizzeria, Jim’s Steaks, Woodrow’s, Joe’s Steaks + Soda Shop, Dalessandro’s, John’s Roast Pork

Pizza: Fenicci’s in Hershey, Englewood Brewing Co., Bacco Pizzeria, Palermo’s, Bellia’s Pizza

Breweries: Englewood, Troeg’s, Rubber Soul, Moo-Duck, Pine Creek Spirits, Voodoo Brewing Co.

Comfort/PA Dutch food: Shady Maple, Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant, Kountry Korner, Katie’s Kitchen, Dutch-Way Family Restaurant, Miller’s Smorgasbord, Brickerville House, Kountry Kitchen

Bake shops: Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop, The Pennsylvania Bakery, Alvaro’s, Isgro’s, Termini Brothers, Achenbach’s, Thom’s Bread, Lancaster Cupcake, Dutch Haven Shoo-Fly Bakery, Taylor Chip, Rise Bake Shoppe

Other great restaurants: Loxley’s, The Tavern, The Field Burger and Tap, The Log Cabin, McCleary’s Irish Pub, The Pantry, The Brasserie, Waterville Tavern, Gracie’s on West Main, Whisk Café

History and Architecture

A great stop on our Pennsylvania Fall road trip is the many historical sites Pennsylvania has to offer. Sure, it’s where the Declaration of Independence was signed, but there are many other valuable historic(al) sites to visit in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is also known for some of its beautiful architecture that spans multiple centuries. Hopefully you’ll gain some ideas on historic places to visit in Pennsylvania that weren’t previously on your radar!

Gettysburg, PA – Not much needs to be said about Gettysburg due to its immense impact on our nation’s history. The Gettysburg battlefield and National Military Park are a must, as are the museum and diorama. A few other places you should visit include the Dobbin House, the Jennie Wade House, Gettysburg College and Seminary, Eisenhower National Historic Site, George Spangler Farm, Gettysburg National Cemetery (where Lincoln gave his famous address!), and the David Wills House.

Lancaster County – Not too far away is beautiful Lancaster County. Known for its rolling farmland and high Amish population, the sixth largest county in Pennsylvania offers plenty of history for travelers. Lancaster County’s history dates back to the early 1700s, making it almost 300 years old! You’ll want to be sure to visit these historic(al) sites in the county: Ephrata Cloister, James Buchanan’s Wheatland Mansion, Fulton Theatre, Lancaster Central Market, Hans Herr House/1719 Museum, Strasburg Railroad, Star Barn and Stone Gables Estate, Winters Heritage House Museum, and Linden Hall School for Girls.

Hershey – Hershey is best known as a tourist destination that outcropped from its chocolate factory. It has deep roots in the local area and culture. It was named after Milton S. Hershey, who founded the Milton Hershey School. The town has a rich history and also offers some unique and fun places to visit. It also has a great food scene! Check out some of these places: Hotel Hershey, Chocolate World, Hershey Gardens, Hershey Story Museum, Milton Hershey School, High Point Mansion, AACA Auto Museum, Derry Session House Enclosure, Hershey History Center, and Derry Church Session House.

Pennsylvania offers many more amazing historic(al) sites! Check them out below.

Oktoberfest

You may or may not have known that Pennsylvania is home to a large population of descendants of German families. Many moved here during the 18^th century and have stayed since. Our next stop along our Pennsylvania Fall road trip is Oktoberfest! Let me tell you, compared to others I’ve seen, Pennsylvania knows how to do Oktoberfest right, probably due to the large lingering German population. We love our heritage and culture and many aim to preserve it by keeping traditions like Oktoberfest alive. Here are some fun Oktoberfest events you should check out while you’re in the area:

Penn State Football and State College

It wouldn’t be a Pennsylvania Fall road trip without a stop at a Penn State football game! If you have never been to a Penn State football game, it is an absolute must if you’re going to Pennsylvania in the fall. If you can, I recommend tailgating before the game. It’s so much fun to see “tent city” and see how others have their tailgate set-ups. Best of all is the game itself. State College has the 2^nd largest college football stadium and its students are some of the proudest fans I’ve ever seen. Food and drinks can get pricey quickly, so I suggest stopping at McLanahan’s Market in downtown State College. Grab a sandwich from the deli or beer and wine on top, then sit and enjoy another game because they have plenty of TVs.

State College is known as the Happy Valley for good reason. It is situated in a literal valley and boasts gorgeous fall colors. It’s surrounded by beautiful forests and farmland and provides a sense of peace like nothing else. Even though it’s a pretty rural area, there is so much within a 20-minute drive. State College. There are plenty of breweries, bars, and restaurants, as well as other fun activities like hiking, bowling, minigolf, vineyards, and museums.

Gorgeous hikes

Our last stop on our Pennsylvania Fall road trip are some of the beautiful hikes the state has to offer. Pennsylvania doesn’t have mountains as tall as the ones out West of the Mississippi River, but mountains it does have, and they are some of the most beautiful in the country. Most notable is the Appalachian Trail which runs through 229 miles of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is also home to the PA Grand Canyon, located about 10 miles from the idyllic small town of Wellsboro. Another noteworthy location is Ricketts Glenn State Park, which almost became a National Park. Here are some of the picturesque hikes you’ll want to consider during your visit to Pennsylvania.

No matter where you decide to go in Pennsylvania, I hope this post gave you some great ideas for your next Pennsylvania fall road trip! Until next time, Kayla.

Beautiful Pennsylvania Fall Road Trip

Why Pennsylvania?