The Best Fall Drives in Pennsylvania for Spectacular Color

August 29th, 2024 by

The Tohickon Creek Aqueduct foot bridge in Delaware Canal State Park located in Bucks County Pennsylvania.

Even with the weather playing it fast and loose as we head into September, the occasional red maple leaf is already making an appearance, hinting at the approaching fall. Pennsylvania boasts some of the most stunning fall drives in the country, and our guide is here to help you savor every vibrant hue of the season when leaf-peeping officially kicks off!

Endless Mountains

Located just west of Scranton, the Endless Mountains make up some of the best views and colorful surroundings Pennsylvania has to offer. This 126-mile route takes around three hours with a variety of fun stops and quaint stays. Plan your trip and lace up your hiking boots for this trek that follows along Tunkhannock, Dushore, Forksville, High Knob Overlook, Ricketts Glen State Park, and more. For a more detailed description of each destination and attractions along the way, visit the official Endless Mountains of Northeastern PA information website!

Fall Drive on the Delaware

Philadelphia may seem like a big concrete jungle, but a short drive away you may encounter some of the most scenic throughways that make it an unexpected destination for a crisp fall drive. Route 32, also called River Road, winds along the Delaware along the eastern end of Bucks County, offering a variety of antique shops, art galleries and major historic sites including the Washington Crossing Historic Park where George Washington and his troops completed their infamous crossing on Christmas of 1776.

A little ways up the river, take in the views at the Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve and at Bowman’s Hill Tower. The 125-foot tall tower gives you a 14-mile outlook of the season’s most beautiful reds, oranges, and golds. While in New Hope, stop for a delicious meal overlooking the Delaware near the famous bucks County Playhouse and enjoy some shopping around this quaint little town. Don’t forget to keep following River Road for some unforgettable driving through Pennsylvania’s famous covered bridges scattered throughout the route!

Route 6 and Route 402

Rated by National Geographic as “One of America’s most scenic drives”, PA Route 6’s 427-mile route encompasses small towns and wonderous sights that feel extra special during fall. Pass through the Allegheny National Forest as well as 19 state parks and forests, including the Pine Creek Gorge featuring the Kinzua viaduct – a former railroad track since destroyed and transformed into a pedestrian walkway offering a stunning view of the tree-lined gorge. From Route 6, you’ll find offshoots that keep the vast stretches of magical color going. One such offshoot is Route 402, branching off of Route 6 after Honesdale and Hawley southwards into the heart of the Delaware State Forest. This drive is lined by cherry, sassafras, black gum, and aspen trees with trailhead pull-offs to explore the extensive woods on foot and stretch past Pecks Pond and Porters Lake.

Enjoy Pennsylvania’s Covered Bridges on Your Fall Drive

Voyage to Lenhartsville and enjoy four of Berks County’s five covered bridges from the 1800s. One of these such bridges includes the 218-foot-long walk-or-bike Wertz’s Covered Bridge, known for being the longest single-span covered bridge in the entire state. Also known as simply “Red Covered Bridge” also serves as the walkway entrance to the Berks County Heritage Center, where you can learn about the county’s rich cultural Pennsylvania Dutch history. The center features many workshops and programs for all ages, surrounded by beautiful art and delightful walkable grounds that are sure to shine once the leaves change.

Let us Make Your Fall Drive Easy and Comfortable

There are still many drives, routes, and byways throughout Pennsylvania that we haven’t been able to explore in this blog, but with a proper vehicle and a handy 2024 fall foliage guide, the sky is the limit when it comes to fall driving and leaf-peeping!

Let Abeloff Kia help you make your fall drives comfortable, easy, and efficient with all the quality vehicles Kia has to offer. Whether you need a model with off-road capacity for the toughest of terrains, or something efficient that can run a full route on a single tank of gas we’re here to help! Visit our dealership today and tell us about your fall drive plans! Our team of experts is sure to find the vehicle that is perfect for your fall adventure needs.

Posted in History & Culture