The Best 7 Day Pennsylvania Road Trip Itinerary

Are you looking for the best one week Pennsylvania road trip itinerary? We’ve got you covered!

You should definitely plan a road trip through Pennsylvania!

Between the major cities on each side of the state, the beautiful state parks, the impressive history, and noteworthy attractions, a Pennsylvania road trip will keep everyone in the family happy.

As a Pennsylvania native who has explored a lot of the state, I have some favorite places that I love to return to over and over again, and I included them on this road trip itinerary.

However, it’s hard to include everything that is amazing about Pennsylvania in a one week road trip. You could easily spend multiple weeks exploring everything that Pennsylvania has to offer.

Instead, this guide focuses on great road trip stops through Pennsylvania that are easy to get to from the Pennsylvania turnpike. Think of it as a drive from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia with all of the good stuff in between!

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7 Day Pennsylvania Road Trip Itinerary Overview

• Days 1 & 2: Pittsburgh
• Day 3: Ohiopyle State Park
• Days 4: Gettsyburg
• Day 5: Hershey
• Days 6 & 7: Philadelphia

Days 1 & 2: Pittsburgh

One of the iconic things to do in Pittsburgh is riding one of the inclines. The Duquesne is the most well-known, but we loved Monongahela’s location (easy to walk to from downtown) and the views!

Speaking of downtown Pittsburgh, don’t miss the Heinz History Center. You can easily spend a large chunk of your day exploring the museum and the attached Sports Museum.

Hold onto your receipt, as you will receive FREE admission to the Fort Pitt Museum at Point State Park the same or the next day.

Visitors Tip: Buy a Hop On-Hop Off bus tour to get to all of the quintessential Pittsburgh sites easily.

The National Aviary is a unique animal attraction filled with over 150 species of birds. It’s right near the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, giving you multiple options for the neighborhood.

While you’re on the side of town, you must stop at Randyland at the corner of Jacksonia and Arch Streets. It’s a colorful experience you don’t want to miss!

Lastly, if you have time, go to Oakland, by the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. Between the Phipps Conservatory, Botanical Gardens, and all of the Carnegie Museums, you won’t be lacking in something to do.

Day 3: Ohiopyle State Park

Leave Pittsburgh first thing in the morning to drive an hour to Ohiopyle State Park.

Ohiopyle State Park is known for its hiking and waterfalls, whitewater rafting and kayaking, and its place along the Great Allegheny Passage. Plus, it’s adjacent to a popular Pennsylvania attraction, Fallingwater.

This Pennsylvania road trip itinerary only allows for a taste of what’s available in Ohiopyle State Park. You’ll have enough time to do some whitewater rafting or a hike before driving 3 hours to Gettysburg for the evening.

If you’re visiting during summer, check out the natural waterslides along the Meadow Run Trail. The trail also leads to the beautiful Cucumber Falls.

The Youghiogheny River offers excellent rapids for whitewater rafting, ranging from Class I/II to Class IV/V. If you want to get out on the water during your Pennsylvania road trip, this is the place to do it!

If you need a rest break on your drive to Gettysburg, stop in Bedford! You can get a bite to eat in town and check out the big coffee pot before you hit the road again.

Day 4: Gettysburg

You’ll arrive in Gettysburg the night of Day 3, so you’ll have almost a full day to explore the historical town before you drive to Hershey in the evening.

As the location of one of the pivotal battles in the Civil War, Gettysburg draws in people from all over the country.

For a small town, there is a lot to do. You can easily spend two days in Gettysburg, but on this road trip through Pennsylvania, you’ve got one day!

Gettysburg has several museums in town that give visitors a good idea of what life was like for the townspeople during the battle. Both the Shriver House and Jennie Wade House are worth visiting.

Restaurant Suggestions: For a small town, Gettysburg has plenty of delicious food options. We recommend The Gettysburger Co and Garryowen Irish Pub, both on Chambersburg Street. And for dessert, Mr. G’s Ice Cream on Baltimore Street.

And even though it’s not a museum, the Union Drummer Boy store on York Street might as well be! The store has hundreds of artifacts for purchase but also has fun information and anecdotes to go with them.

Of course, if you only have one day in Gettysburg, you really should do the battlefield tour.

Start at the National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center. The museum is massive; it can take an hour or two to see everything. However, we think the film and cyclorama are worth viewing because they describe the battle’s importance in detail.

You have a few options for the battlefield tour. You can either drive it on your own with downloaded audio tour, or take a guided bus tour.

If you choose to drive on your own, these are the stops that are worth getting out of the car for:

• Stop 2: The Eternal Light Peace Memorial
• Stop 3: Oak Ridge
• Stop 8: Little Round Top
• Devil’s Den: (Not an official tour stop – access via Crawford Ave after Stop 8)
• Stop 12: The Pennsylvania Memorial

It’s about a hour drive to Hershey from Gettysburg, so you can either stay a second night in Gettysburg or drive to Hershey at the end of the day.

Day 5: Hershey

You can’t take a road trip through Pennsylvania without stopping at the Sweetest Place on Earth!

Hershey is known for its fantastic amusement park, Hersheypark. However, there is so much more to do in town, even during the off-season.

If you are a roller-coaster enthusiast, visiting Hersheypark will be a must-do while you are in Hershey, PA.

If thrill rides aren’t your thing, you’ll find plenty to do in Hershey’s Chocolate World. Guests can take a ride through a “factory” to learn how Hershey’s chocolate is made. Visitors can also watch a 4D movie, make their own chocolate bar, and shop at the world’s largest Hershey store.

Don’t forget, when you stay at one of the Hershey-owned lodgings, you’ll receive FREE admission to both the Hershey Story Museum and Hershey Gardens. Both are excellent ways to spend your time in Hershey, PA.

Day 6 & 7: Philadelphia

Leave Hershey in the morning and drive about two hours to the City of Brotherly Love!

Philadelphia is the home to the Liberty Bell, the Rocky Steps, cheesesteaks, and many other wonderful things.

Although this Pennsylvania road trip itinerary only gives Philadelphia two days, there is actually so much to do in the city, that you might want to add a few more days to your trip.

First, if your family loves history, you’ll want to spend most of your day in the Old City neighborhood of Philadelphia.

There you’ll find the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, as well as Betsy Ross’ house, Ben Franklin’s printing office, and some fantastic museums like the Museum of the American Revolution and the National Constitution Center.

Visitor’s Tip: Try this trolley tour by Founding Footsteps to see Philadelphia. The guides are funny and you’ll learn a lot about the city in a short amount of time.

There are other ways to spend your two days in Philadelphia. We love spending time along the Delaware River, visiting the Independence Seaport Museum and the Spruce Street Harbor Park.

Or you can check out one of the many unique museums, like the Franklin Institute or Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Do You Have More Time in Pennsylvania? Try These Additional Stops

Lancaster

Lancaster County in Pennsylvania has so much to offer. Train lovers will want to make sure they stop here to enjoy a ride on the Strasburg Railroad and visit the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.

Another fun way to spend a day in Lancaster is learning more about Amish life and farming. There are several activities you can do like farm tours and buggy rides.

Go Hiking Near Philadelphia

Believe it or not, there are several family-friendly hiking trails both in and near Philadelphia. One of our favorites are the trails at Hawk Mountain in Kempton. If you have an extra day to spend, we think you’ll love the scenery and views of the area.

Preparing for Your Road Trip Through Pennsylvania

Get a head start on your road trip through Pennsylvania by booking hotel rooms ahead of time.

You’ll also want to ensure your car is in its best form by checking the oil and tire pressure. It’s always good to be prepared before you get on the road.

Also, plan for tolls. The easiest way to drive across Pennsylvania is via the PA Turnpike, which uses EZ Pass or Toll-by-Plate.

Packing for a Pennsylvania Road Trip

It won’t be too complicated to pack for your road trip through Pennsylvania.

Most of the activities and locations included in this Pennsylvania road trip itinerary will require comfortable footwear and clothing.

If you choose to do any hiking or water activities on this list, you’ll need hiking shoes, a backpack, swimsuits, and coverups.

Remember, Pennsylvania is very hot and humid during the summer months, so multiple outfit changes during the day might occur.

Fall is the best time to visit Pennsylvania for a road trip, as the weather is at its most beautiful.

To be prepared on this road trip make sure to pack the following:

Where to Stay on Your 7 Day Road Trip Through Pennsylvania

With this Pennsylvania road trip itinerary, you won’t be staying at any location more than two nights in a row, so it makes sense to stay at a hotel versus an Airbnb or Vrbo rental.

However, your travel style is your travel style! So if you like home rentals instead of hotels, go for it.

If you choose to stay in a hotel but want to save money on food, check out our tips for meals to eat in your hotel using just a fridge and microwave.

For hotel recommendations along the road trip route, we’ve stayed at the following places and have had a good experience at each one:

• Embassy Suites in downtown Pittsburgh on Smithfield Street: The location is excellent for walking to many of the above attractions. And the indoor pool has a view of the Pirates stadium across the river.
• Hampton Inn Gettysburg on York Road: This hotel is no more than a 10-minute drive into town. Large rooms, including two-room suites with a fireplace. A complimentary breakfast is included.
• Hershey Lodge in Hershey: The indoor pool is more like a waterpark, including body slides and a zero-entry pool with sprays. Several restaurants on-site make it easy for breakfast/dinner. Hershey Gardens and Hershey Museum are included for FREE with your stay.  (Read our review here).
• Residence Inn by Marriott in Center City Philadelphia will keep you close to all of the action without breaking the bank.

Wrapping Up the One Week Pennsylvania Road Trip

We’ve packed a lot of action into this seven-day road trip through Pennsylvania. You might be exhausted at the end, but it’ll be worth seeing everything on this list.

Pennsylvania is such a beautiful and underrated state, so we hope you enjoy what we think are some of the best highlights of the state’s southern half.

With gorgeous hikes, incredible history, and some wild fun, this Pennsylvania road trip is the ultimate way to explore the state.

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