Historic Route 6 Raod Trip

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By Morgan Christopher

Some of our fondest memories involve the family piling into the car for a summer vacation, singing tunes playing on the car’s radio, making pit stops for snacks and souvenirs, and sharing the fun of sampling the local tourist attractions. After too many months of facial coverings, hand sanitizing, and social distancing, the nostalgic idea of climbing into the car for a summer road trip is exactly what our spirits could use this summer. Here in Pennsylvania, there is hardly a place more perfectly suited for a summer road trip than the amazing Route 6 corridor.

If you start in Erie on Route 6, you can drive to its eastern tip in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Here in Pennsylvania, the 9 counties along Pennsylvania’s border with New York state are connected by this scenic route, which serves as the northern tier’s main east-west artery. This grouping of counties features some of Pennsylvania’s most beautiful parks, charming towns, and iconic landmarks to discover. Summer activities and recreational areas that visitors will find in the counties bookending Route 6 make them perfect destinations to consider when mapping out your summer road trip.

Heading East on Route 6 Scranton to Milford

The largest city on the eastern side of the PA Route 6 is Scranton, whose rich industrial legacy now shares the spotlight with the city’s role as the iconic setting for the television series “The Office.” This blend of history and pop culture makes Scranton a great place to start a summer road trip. Take tours of the Lackawanna Coal Mine, Electric City Trolley Museum,

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Photo by PA Route 6 Tourist Assn.

Steamtown National Historic Site is the only U.S. Park Service property dedicated to the history of steam trains and travel. The working round table, interactive displays and guided park tours make for a wonderful tour for train buffs of all ages.

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and Steamtown National Historic Site. If that wasn’t enough adventure, make your way around town on a self-guided “The Offi ce” Tour to discover locations mentioned in the show. (Tip: Be sure to include lunch or dinner at one of the worldfamous Old Forge Pizza restaurants to sample the unique local specialty!) Continue along Route 6 East into the northern Pocono Mountains to spend time visiting Honesdale and Hawley’s eclectic downtowns. In these two mountain towns, great shopping, fabulous food, and local arts events offer fun family options.

Dorflinger Glass Museum is home to one of the nation’s largest collections of more than 1,000 pieces of cut, engraved, etched, gilded, and enameled crystal. On the property of The Dorflinger-Sudham Wildlife Sanctuary, visitors can also enjoy the annual Wildflower Music Festival that takes place on site.

Lake Wallenpaupack is a popular Pocono Mountains destination for boating, swimming, and fishing access all summer. Free boat launch facility for trailered boats is located at Mangan Cove, located off State Route 590.

Claws ‘N’ Paws Wild Animal Park, the Stourbridge Line Train Excursion, and Dorfl inger Glass Museum make for great stops in the region. Hawley is the gateway to the Lake Wallenpaupack region, one of the Poconos’ most popular summer recreation areas. The second largest lake contained within Pennsylvania, Wallenpaupack plays home to shoreline trails, boat launches, and scenic boat tours.

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Photos by PA Route 6 Tourist Assn.

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Driving east, head to the charming town 4 of Milford along the Delaware River for one of the state’s most popular small-town destinations. Arts and antiques shops, popular restaurants, and a vibrant arts community invite visitors to experience what locals treasure. The town is surrounded by a relaxed, pastoral setting, making Milford a pleasure to explore. Tubing or canoeing on Grey Towers National Historic Site, located in Milford, is the ancestral home the Delaware River is a popular way to cool off of Gifford Pinchot, first director of the United States Forest Service and 2-time Pennsylvania governor. and unwind each summer. A day floating along the Delaware River surrounded by the beautiful Pocono Mountains is a fun way to end a multi-day road trip to the eastern side of PA Route 6!

Heading West On Route 6 Allegheny National Forest to Erie

Photo by Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau

Known for its vast network of lush As the photo taken in the Allegheny National Forest trails, the Allegheny National Forest is an ideal spot to begin a summer road trip illustrates, great fun is waiting to be had this summer when you hit Route 6 for a road trip! along the western end of Route 6. Hiking, camping, fishing, and mountain biking are all popular outdoor activities to consider planning for the first part of your Popular Zippo lighters are a locally produced product road trip. (The area’s Kinzua Sky Walk in Bradford, PA, whose rich history is on display at the is one of those iconic stops that every 6 Zippo/Case Museum. great road trip requires, so be sure to include a visit!)

Photo by Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau

Towns along Route 6 like Smethport, Bradford, and Kane play home to popular attractions like the Zippo/Case Museum & Flagship Store, Penn Brad Oil Museum, and the Old Jail Museum. The towns feature historic architecture, neighborhood shops, and eateries that you’ll enjoy discovering along the way. Traveling west, the Allegheny River and other recreational spots offer

Kinzua Skywalk features a view like no other in Pennsylvania! At 225 feet above the valley floor of Kinzua Bridge State Park, visiting the iconic structure is an exciting opportunity to “Walk the Tracks across the Sky.”

Built in 1870, Meadville Market House in the Lake Conneaut region of Crawford County is Pennsylvania’s oldest continuously-run market structure offers seasonal local produce, eggs, meat, homebaked goods, local organic, specialty and gourmet foods and artisan crafts

places to pull off for sightseeing and fun. Proceed to the Conneaut Lake region, where you will find a wide variety of options for summer activities. Be sure to check out the local shops and restaurants making their home in this pristine region.

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Photo by Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau

Photo by Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau

Roadside motels, historic hotels and camping are all great lodging options when you venture out for a summer road trip. Facilities like the Allegheny National Forest’s Willow Bay Campground offer wonderful accommodations near popular Route 6 attractions.

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Presque Isle State Park is a 3,200-acre sandy peninsula that reaches out into Lake Erie. Along the beautiful shoreline are 13 beaches which attract many visitors to Pennsylvania’s only “seashore.”

Just off Route 6 North, Erie and the bustling lakefront are a “summer must” where the beaches and recreational resources of Presque Isle State Park await. The Erie Maritime Museum, US Brig Niagara, and the Erie Zoo offer historical sights and family fun. Eateries like Sara’s Diner serve up local favorites like Smith’s famous footlong hot dogs, which are part of the uniquely Erie fare you will want to try when visiting the western side of PA Route 6.

Don’t miss the Center of Route 6 Road Trip, which includes the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, the darkest skies east of the Mississippi and a whole lot more, in the fall issue!

Drive in or walk up – no matter how you get to Sara’s Diner in Erie this summer, bring an appetite! After a day at Lake Erie, Splash Lagoon or exploring area sights, Sara’s menu of local favorites like Orange & Vanilla Twists and Smith’s hot dogs has something to savor on a summer night!

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Photo by PA VisitErie