PA SCENIC DRIVING TOURS 2019 - ZONE 3

Zone 1

Zone 2

Zone 3

PA Campgrounds

PA B&Bs

Locate Any PA Town

PA Hotels

HOME

Visit PA

Click on the map above or the links on the right to access the tours!

This zone focuses on many of the Southcentral Pennsylvania counties. You can use our drop-down box to go to individual counties or areas after viewing some of the tours below.

RECOMMENDED by the Pennsylvania Visitors Network: For a more extensive tour of the Dutch Country this is the drive. Find the borough of Manheim in Lancaster County. Take PA 772 East the whole way through the rolling hills and farmland of the county to US 30. Jog east on US 30 about 200 yards to PA 41 South. Follow PA 41 South to Christiana where you will get on PA 372 West. This part of the tour is one the usual tourists never see. Follow PA 372 to the Buck and then proceed north on PA 272. In Willow Street look for PA 741 West and follow it to PA 999 West. Go west through Millersville all the way to PA 441 where you will go north along the Susquehanna River to Marietta. At Marietta pick up PA 772 again and take it back to Manheim.

Extraordinary Hospitality

A Brandywine Valley Landmark

OVERLOOKS

Pinnacle Overlook , located on the east side of the Susquehanna River in Lancaster County off Pinnacle Road, features a beautiful view of the Susquehanna River and Lake Aldred. It's just the place for a picnic with picnic tables, water and toilets provided. Pinnacle is a popular hiking area. Directions: 372W. to right onto River Road, Left onto Pinnacle Road.

Chicques Rock, in Lancaster County a couple miles north of Columbia on Rt 441 is located on the east bank of the Susquehanna River, only a half an hour from PA's capitol of Harrisburg. From the top of Chickies Rock, views extend in all directions except east. Looking north you can see on the distant horizon, the large billows of smoke coming out of Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant just below Harrisburg with the river snaking its way south towards you. To the east are the beautiful rolling hills north of Wrightsville which is seen to the southwest. Just beyond Wrightsville you can see Mt. Pisgah and its bare open summit which is known for star gazing, kite flying, and gliding.

Beautiful River Drive - BUCKS COUNTY

Pictures are worth a thousand words but being there is worth a million. From Philadelphia take PA 532 to PA 32 and go north. You will follow the Delaware river going though Washington's Crossing, New Hope and other small, quaint towns in Bucks County. New Hope itself is a town worth spending half a day in (at least). As you head up the road you'll see New Jersey right across the river. Take PA 32 all the way to Easton... and if you want to see more follow PA 611 north to Stoudsburg in the Poconos. The Bucks County portion is worth at least a day (because you WILL want to stop along the way). If you decide to continue north we recommend an overnight in one of Bucks County's fine B&B establishments.

Here's one from Gettysburg! From Gettysburg in Adams County take US 30 West to PA 233. Follow PA 233 North up through Cumberland County to PA 274 East. Follow PA 274 East to New Bloomfield in Perry County where you will meet up with PA 34. Take PA 34 South back to Gettysburg. This tour is a mixture of farmland, quaint towns and very nice mountains.

Montgomery County

When fall arrives, Valley Forge National Historical Park becomes a 3,600-acre tapestry of gorgeous golds, reds and oranges. It's picture-perfect at every turn. The stately statues of General "Mad Anthony" Wayne and Baron Friedrich Von Steuben are framed against a blaze of yellow foliage. Washington's austere gray stone Headquarters is resplendent against a backdrop of red and gold leaves. And everywhere along the road, the trees are awash with autumn's rich hues. (Route 73 and North Gulph Road, Valley Forge).

Stop in next at Mill Grove, the 175-acre wildlife sanctuary along the picturesque banks of the Perkiomen Creek. This was artist-naturalist John James Audubon's first home in America. Hiking trails and wildflower walks invite visitors to enjoy the landscapes which inspired one of the world's premier wildlife artists.

Peter Wentz Farmstead at harvest time is bustling with activity. The 97-acre estate includes a unique German-Georgian farmstead where General George Washington lived during the fall of 1777 while planning the Battle of Germantown. Schultz Road, off Route 73, Worcester. 610.584.5104. Tu.-Sa., 10am-4pm; Su., 1-4pm. Free.

To Valley Forge National Historic Park:

Take the Pennsylvania Turnpike to exit 24, Valley Forge. After toll make first right at sign for Valley Forge. This feeds you onto North Gulph Road. Follow it under a few overpasses to parks main entrance which will be on the left.
From Valley Forge National Historic Park To Mill Grove:
Leave the park via the main entrance at the Visitor Center and turn left onto Route 23 west. Follow Route 23 west for a few miles through light at Route 252 and pass Freedom's Foundation. At next light turn right on Ferry Road. It deadends at Pawlings Road - go right. Mill Grove is on the left, 3.5 miles up the road.
From Mill Grove To Peter Wentz:
Make a left out of Mill Grove onto Pawling Road. Continue through light at Egypt Road where it becomes Park Avenue. Follow through light at Ridge Pike. You are now on Route 363. Continue north on 363 to Route 73, turn right. Peter Wentz Farmstead will be on the left.

This trip combines the coal country mountains with the Dutch Country. Find Pottsville in Schuylkill County . Take US 209 North to Tamaqua where you want to grab PA 309 South. Nice sized mountains here. Follow 309 to PA 100 South through some rolling farms. When you get to US 222 take it south all the way down to PA 183 in Berks County. PA 183 then runs north past Blue Marsh Lake and back up to Pottsville.