The best road trip stops on the Harrisburg to Philadelphia drive are the Wolf Sanctuary of PA, Stoudtburg Village and Marsh Creek State Park. By car, the distance from Harrisburg to Philadelphia is 107 miles, with a driving time of 1h50m.
A Harrisburg to Philadelphia road trip takes you from the capital of Pennsylvania to arguably the most historic city in the United States.
Top Harrisburg experiences include scavenger hunts and visiting the State Capitol Building.
The National Civil War Museum is the major attraction, though. This dense, detailed and reverent museum takes visitors through the American Civil War, from causes to aftermath.
Philadelphia is drenched in historic sites, such as the Liberty Bell Center, Christ Church Burial Ground and Betsy Ross House.
The Museum of the American Revolution tells of the country’s birth, but the city’s superb museum collection delves into other areas. The Rodin Museum, the Barnes Foundation, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art are top tier art museums, while the the Franklin Institute, Mutter Museum and Academy of Natural Sciences look at various branches of science. For maritime heritage, plump for the Battleship New Jersey and Independence Seaport Museum.
However, it’s likely to be the Eastern State Penitentiary – the model for prisons around the world – that sticks in your memory long afterwards.
5 great things to do in Philadelphia
- 🥖 Taste the best of Philly on a food tour – including historic Reading Market.
- 🏛️ Get to know Philadelphia’s heritage sites – on a guided walking tour.
- 🍻 Go on a pub crawl – but learn the history between beers.
- 🎨 Let a guide show you Philadelphia’s best murals and street art – including Magic Gardens.
- 🌙 Discover Philly’s dark side – on an adults-only night tour.
Harrisburg to Philadelphia distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Harrisburg to Philadelphia is 107 miles. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and 50 minutes. The quickest route from Harrisburg to Philadelphia largely follows the I-76.
The best stops to add to a Harrisburg to Philadelphia road trip itinerary are the Wolf Sanctuary of PA, Stoudtburg Village and Marsh Creek State Park.
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Harrisburg to Philadelphia road trip stops: Wolf Sanctuary of PA
The Wolf Sanctuary of PA near Speedwell Forge aims to provide a safe space for rescued gray wolves and wolf-dogs. The family-run scheme has been operating for over 40 years, and access is via guided tour only.
The tours introduce visitors to the work being carried out by the sanctuary, and give insights into the characters of the individual wolves that call the reserve home.
Harrisburg to Philadelphia drive: Stoudtburg Village
Stoudtburg Village in Adamstown is a somewhat kitsch taste of Europe in Lancaster County. Modelled on Rothenburg in Germany, this quirky hamlet comes with wrought iron balconies and steep-pitched red roofs.
There’s also a collection of niche shops at Stoudtburg Village, selling antiques, jewellery, toiletries and hand-made dolls.
Attractions between Harrisburg and Philadelphia: Marsh Creek State Park
Centred around Marsh Creek Lake, this state park on the outskirts of Philadelphia. You can’t swim in the lake, but there is a pool for anyone wanting to cool down and splash. There are also 19.5 miles of hiking trails and 13 miles of mountain bike trails.
Bird-watching, hunting and horse-riding are also popular at Marsh Creek State Park.
More Pennsylvania travel
Other Pennsylvania travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Getting to Pittsburgh from elsewhere in Pennsylvania: Where to stop on the Allentown to Pittsburgh drive or Harrisburg to Pittsburgh drive.
- Getting to Pittsburgh from interstate: The best stops on the Chicago to Pittsburgh drive, Columbus to Pittsburgh drive, Indianapolis to Pittsburgh drive and Washington DC to Pittsburgh drive.
- Road trips from Pittsburgh: The best stops on the Pittsburgh to Cleveland drive, Pittsburgh to Cincinnati drive, Pittsburgh to Louisville drive and Pittsburgh to Nashville drive.
- What to expect at the Gettysburg Heritage Center, Seminary Ridge Museum and Jennie Wade House in Gettysburg.
- Visitor guides to Steamtown National Historic Site the Electric City Aquarium in Scranton.
