9 Of The Quietest Pennsylvania Towns
Pennsylvania, known as the "Keystone State," is home to some of the quietest towns that promise peace and relaxation away from much of everyday life’s busy noise and hassle. With a rich Amish culture and a fond respect for the Native American heritage, each of the quietest Pennsylvania towns ensures tranquility and adventure in a wide spectrum of attractions. Whether you are indulging in delicious chocolates and treats in quaint towns like Hershey and Lititz or uncovering fascinating historical insights in places like Jim Thorpe, Gettysburg, and Bellefonte, you will undoubtedly have a splendid and peaceful experience from these serene small towns in Pennsylvania. Travelers should definitely give themselves a chance to savor the allure of Pennsylvania’s quietest small towns in 2025.
Ohiopyle
The lovely little borough of Ohiopyle is home to a quaint community of less than 50 residents. Located on the flat and flattering plateaus of the Laurel Highlands, visitors to this serene and quiet small town will get a grand view of the forested state of Pennsylvania from atop the botanical reserve of Ferncliff. Down below, one can go kayaking and undertake other exhilarating river-course excursions along the Youghiogheny River that winds and weaves all over the Laurel Highlands. Additionally, you can traverse several panoramic regions within Ohiopyle, among them Ohiopyle State Park and the Great Allegheny Passage, the latter being a 150-mile trail that stretches all the way to the city of Pittsburgh.
Bellefonte
Bellefonte is a splendid and relaxing destination with several unique attractions worth seeing. For art lovers, the Bellefonte Art Museum is a must-visit. Here, one can find several unique exhibits and artworks, among them "A Journey to Freedom" exhibit, which focuses on the Underground Railroad. Meanwhile, the American Philatelic Society at the Match Factory serves as the headquarters for the world's largest nonprofit organization for stamp collectors. On the other hand, at Talleyrand Park, visitors can immerse themselves in serene settings for picnics and leisurely walks. Finally, Penn's Cave and Wildlife Park features a fantastic animal safari alongside a limestone cave where you can go spelunking.
Wellsboro
The borough of Wellsboro, about 52 miles north of the city of Williamsport, is one of the best communities in the heart of Pine Creek Gorge, more colloquially known as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. Visitors can be enamored and entertained there by the scenic regions of the Colton Point State Park and Leonard Harrison State Park in the Pine Creek Gorge. Nearby, adventurers can also go venturing through the vivacious and verdant groves and woodlands of the Tioga State Forest, a semi-fabled territory whose name derives from the Seneca phrase Tioga, meaning the “meeting of two rivers.” If you wish to recharge after a day of outdoor touring, Wellsboro House is the place to be, offering delicious American food and beer in an 1860s building.
Hershey
Chocolate is one of the best treats humanity has ever invented. There are hundreds of chocolate companies around the world, and the Hershey Company, founded in the small town of Hershey, is one of those Willy Wonka-like industries that make life a little sweeter. Only about 15 miles east of the city of Harrisburg, Hershey started out in 1905 as a model town for Milton S. Hershey’s workers and chocolate makers. Over the years, this incorporated community has boasted many amusement parks and amenities all related to Hershey’s chocolates, such as the Hershey Park and the Hershey Gardens, where Hershey employees, their families and friends, and other unrelated visitors can enjoy their leisurely time in Hershey’s quiet and quaint sceneries. One can familiarize themselves with the history of Hershey at the Hershey Story Museum. Meanwhile, you can watch dazzling performances and events at the Hersheypark Arena. Sweet and savory wonders are all that await in this quiet small town known as Hershey.
Gettysburg
Many who have studied American history might be familiar with the Battle of Gettysburg, one of the bloodiest battles during the American Civil War that turned the tide for the Union army. The small town of Gettysburg, about 50 miles away from Hershey, remembers this pivotal and blood-soaked conflict in both the Gettysburg National Military Park and the Gettysburg Museum of History. Following the monumental battle between the North and the South sides of America, President Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address, one of the most memorable speeches recorded in his martial career, while staying at the David Wills House, which you can visit. At the Gettysburg National Cemetery, you can find the burial grounds for many of the soldiers from both sides of the conflict who perished in the Battle of Gettysburg. If ever you intend to tour this historic destination, you ought to first book a room at either the Federal Pointe Inn, Gettysburg Hotel, or The Gaslight Inn for a more comfortable stay in Gettysburg.
Lititz
Akin to Hershey, which is about 12 miles away, the small town of Lititz functions as a homely headquarters for the Wilbur Chocolate Company, a thriving industry that has been around since 1884. You can purchase a variety of chocolates and goodies from the Wilbur Chocolate Retail Store as well as learn how the Wilbur Chocolate Company came to be. Interestingly enough, Lititz is also the home of the oldest commercial pretzel bakery in the U.S. since 1861, the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, where one can savor delicious pretzels and other baked goods. Within the Lititz Moravian Historic District, you can find a number of well-preserved and impeccably-impressive Moravian structures. Since Lititz is built on the former territories of the Nanticoke Native Americans, you can find relics and tools from these indigenous peoples at Lititz Spring.
Stroudsburg
As an hour-away neighbor of Wilkes-Barre in the Poconos, the splendid town of Stroudsburg functions as another breathtaking gateway to the natural splendors of Pennsylvania’s forested mountains. Visitors to Stroudsburg are encouraged to traverse the Levee Loop Trail that leads one into the Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center. This good educational site informs trekkers on what to expect from the ecosystems and protected territories around Stroudsburg. Not everything in Stroudsburg was crafted by nature, for the manmade Fort Hamilton has protected the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area for many years. However, its abandoned bases are now open for tourists to peruse and admire. There is also the Stroud Mansion, the former home of the founder of Stroudsburg, which features the Elizabeth D. Walters Library and other memorabilia for those interested in the town’s history.
Johnstown
Originally known as Conemaugh after the Conemaugh River, the small town of Johnstown is a quaint and quiet 70-mile getaway from the big city of Pittsburg. Once a home territory for the Shawnee and Delaware Native Americans, the town was settled in the early 1800s by Joseph Johns, a Mennonite founder from Switzerland. Thanks to Joseph Johns’ work and the work from Johnstown, the Allegheny Portage Railroad, and the Pennsylvania Mainline Canal were improved significantly to offer connectivity between communities in Pennsylvania. Additionally, Johnstown’s steel from its steel mills contributed much to Pennsylvania’s industrial complex during the American Industrial Revolution, a history you can learn more about at the Heritage Discovery Center. However, in 1889, a disastrous dam spillage caused significant destruction in Johnstown, resulting in many casualties whose memorials and names you can find at the Johnstown Flood National Memorial and at the Grandview Cemetery. There is much history to appreciate and attractions to marvel at in this beautiful small town, so give yourself this opportunity to be relaxed and tranquil in the small town of Johnstown.
Jim Thorpe
Nestled within Lehigh Gorge, the small town of Jim Thorpe entertains travelers with a number of scenic destinations around the Lehigh River and in this different corner of the Poconos. Originally called Mauch Chunk, the town was renamed to honor the Native American athlete and gold medalist Jim Thorpe. The Mauch Chunk Museum and Cultural Center gives you a good understanding of Jim Thorpe, both the person and the town, as well as offers insights into the town’s coal-mining history. For more interesting explorations into the town’s past, you can tour the Old Jail Museum, a former prison. On the other hand, you can watch exquisite performances at one of the oldest vaudeville theaters in the US, the Mauch Chunk Opera House, which has been open since 1881.
Final Thoughts
Pennsylvania, one of the original 13 colonies that boldly stood against the British Empire during the American Revolutionary War, has transformed into a forested and resplendent region filled with some of the quietest and most peaceful small towns to visit. Between eating pretzels or chocolates in either Lititz or Hershey and admiring the sylvan landscapes around destinations like Jim Thorpe and Stroudsburg, you will find no shortage of attractions and charms worth exploring in some of the quietest Pennsylvania towns. This year, you ought to embark on an unforgettable adventure as you visit each of the quietest Pennsylvania towns to visit in 2025.
