Top 5 Day Trips from South Central PA
Are you planning a big summer vacation this year? While a week at the beach or an exotic trip abroad would be great, if you can’t swing a long or expensive get-away this summer, consider a series of short trips to nearby destinations. Here are our top 5 picks for day trips from South Central PA.
- Gettysburg, PA
The site of the Battle of Gettysburg and Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, Gettysburg lies in the heart of Adams County and offers history, beauty, and culture. You can tour the Gettysburg National Military Park by foot, car, bus, bicycle, carriage, wagon, or horseback.
Visit one of several museums which highlight the town’s famous Civil War battle from the military perspective such as the Visitor’s Center/Cyclorama and The Lutheran Seminary Museum. Experience the civilian side of the battle at the Gettysburg Heritage Center, Jenny Wade House, and Shriver House.
Nearby gems such as Eisenhower National Historic Site and The Land of Little Horses are also worth the ride. Vineyard tours, Civil War Trails, ghost tours, escape rooms, shopping and festivals of all kinds round out the area’s attractions making it an ideal day trip for just about anyone.
- Lancaster County
Lancaster County, also known as Amish Country, is a short and scenic drive from anywhere in Southern PA. The area is home to The Amish Village, Sight and Sound and the American Music Theaters, Dutch Wonderland, buggy rides, escape rooms, shopping, and several famous Pennsylvania Dutch restaurants. Nearby, you can hop aboard the historic Strasburg Railroad, play on the Cherry Crest Adventure Farm, explore the Wolf Sanctuary in Lititz, and partake in the Turkey Hill Experience in Columbia.
- Hershey’s Chocolate World/Hersheypark
Chocolate lovers, history buffs and thrill seekers of all ages will enjoy a day touring Hershey, PA. Hershey’s Chocolate World features: a chocolate tour, create-your-own candy bar, 4D Chocolate Mystery, chocolate tasting and Hershey Trolley Works. Hersheypark offers amazing rides, shows, attractions, food, concerts, shopping and Zoo America. Happy tummies and happy memories will have you “Hersheypark Happy” all day long.
- Baltimore, MD
Whether you love history, science, art, music, aquatic life, railroads, or mysteries, Baltimore, Maryland, is just a short drive south of the Pennsylvania border. It offers an abundance of activity, beauty and charm. From Fort McHenry, birthplace of our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” to its lively Inner Harbor-- homeport of the Civil-War-era warship USS Constellation-- to the National Aquarium, Baltimore gives maritime enthusiasts many ways to spend a day. The Maryland Science Center, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum, and Edgar Allen Poe’s birthplace offer additional avenues for day-trippers to explore.
- Washington, D.C.
Another perfect day destination is our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. You’ll have countless museums, art galleries, parks, war memorials and monuments to explore. The White House, Capital, The J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building, and Smithsonian Institute also present unique educational and cultural experiences well worth the trip.
Whether you plan to travel far or stay close to home, make sure your home and car are prepped with these summer vacation tips.