Whether you’re looking for an outdoor excursion or small town charm, here are 10 ways to spend a fun (and affordable!) Memorial Day weekend in Pennsylvania.
Memorial Day, which honors the country’s fallen service members, also marks the unofficial start of summer. In Pennsylvania, Memorial Day weekend is a chance to explore the commonwealth’s mountains and lakes, quaint towns, and historic sites. We’ve put together a list of affordable, fun ways to spend the holiday in our state, whether you’re planning a simple day trip, an extended weekend away, or even a staycation.
Get outside
One of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to enjoy Memorial Day weekend in Pennsylvania is to get outside and take advantage of the commonwealth’s diverse natural beauty. The state is home to dozens of (free to enter) state parks and natural areas, as well as countless trails worth exploring.
Spend a day at a lake
Welcome the unofficial start of summer by visiting one of Pennsylvania’s hundreds of lakes, whether you’re boating on top of a lake, relaxing beside it, or swimming within it.
The largest lake entirely within Pennsylvania, Huntingdon County’s Raystown Lake, is a popular destination for outdoor lovers since the natural area around the shore has been largely untouched by development, making for a quieter getaway. Pick a public access point, pack a cooler and chairs, and you’ve got a free, relaxing lake day ahead of you.
Camp at a state park
Pennsylvania is home to scores of natural areas ranging from rugged mountains to sun-warmed lakes, and Memorial Day weekend is an ideal time to experience them—particularly from the inside of a tent or camping cabin.
The Pennsylvania State Park system is made up of dozens of parks with campgrounds and cabin spaces that offer relaxing escapes that also happen to be quite affordable: Nightly campsite prices start at $16 for residents, while cabins start at $29 for the most rustic, with prices increasing relative to a site’s amenities.
If you just want to visit a park for a day—perhaps for a spring wildflower hike—Pennsylvania is special among states in that state parks are completely free to enter.
Visit Pennsylvania’s “seashore”
Erie’s Presque Isle State Park, on the shores of Lake Erie, is home to Pennsylvania’s only “seashore.” Though Lake Erie is, of course, a lake, it’s so large and deep that it feels more like a freshwater sea. The sandy beaches, bike trails, and swimming areas reinforce the vibe of a coastal getaway.
Though the water may still be chilly at the end of May, Memorial Day marks the start of Presque Isle’s swimming season.
Enjoy small-town charm
Pennsylvania’s small towns are friendly communities with inviting downtowns, distinct attractions, and their own Memorial Day celebrations.
Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe, a small town tucked into the southern Pocono Mountains and known as the “Switzerland of America,” offers rail excursions, a walkable downtown with Victorian architecture, gorgeous scenery, and access to mountain trails.
While some of Jim Thorpe’s attractions come with costs—like booking a ride on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway or rafting the Lehigh River with Jim Thorpe River Adventures—many of the town’s charms, like wandering the picturesque downtown and taking in mountain views, are completely free.
Ligonier
Ligonier, a charming town in the Laurel Highlands, is roughly an hour from Pittsburgh. Memorial Day weekend is an ideal time to visit the bustling downtown with its classic town square and local boutiques. Ligonier is also a great base for exploring the rest of the Laurel Highlands, such as the forests of Linn Run State Park.
You can also learn about history at nearby Fort Ligonier, a museum and reconstructed fort hearkening back to the French and Indian War (Seven Years’ War), fought from 1754 to 1763. The fort will host 18th-century living history demonstrations throughout Memorial Day weekend, with reenactors portraying soldiers from the Seven Years’ War and the American Revolution.
New Hope
The Bucks County town of New Hope, with its popular restaurants, galleries, downtown shops, and river views, is a lovely town to visit anytime of the year. But Memorial Day weekend brings special happenings to New Hope, such as a historic walking tour hosted by the New Hope Historical Society, which will explore sites honoring veterans along a one-mile walk.
Just 10 minutes away, Washington Crossing Historic Park will hold its annual Memorial Day ceremony as well as a jazz concert.
Find a local Memorial Day parade or festival
You don’t need to travel far to celebrate Memorial Day in a meaningful way—there may be a special event unfolding in your own backyard. Communities across the commonwealth will be celebrating Memorial Day in their own special ways—often with unique traditions and small-town flavor—through carnivals, marching bands, parades, veterans’ commemorations, and more.
Many of these events are free and open to the public, though they may not be widely advertised. Check local town websites, Facebook groups, and community bulletin boards: You may just find a neighborhood parade or local ceremony that could be the start of a new tradition.
Soak up some history
If you’re looking to reflect on history this Memorial Day, Pennsylvania offers plenty of destinations focused on the meaning of the holiday and its relevance to U.S. history.
Boalsburg Memorial Day
Did you know our very own Boalsburg in Centre County is often credited as the birthplace of Memorial Day? In the small town in October 1864, three women—Emma Hunter, Sophie Keller, and Elizabeth Myers—put flowers on the graves of their loved ones who had died in the Civil War and made a plan to do the same the following year. One year later, in one of the earliest observances of what would become Memorial Day, the women were joined by their entire community to decorate the graves of every soldier who had died in the war.
Today, Boalsburg celebrates Memorial Day with an annual festival featuring a parade, carnival with rides, history exhibits, and more. Plus, as this year’s festival coincides with the U.S. Semiquincentennial (the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence), the town is planning even more special events for the 2026 Memorial Day celebration.
Gettysburg
Though a small town, Gettysburg carries massive historical weight as the site of one of the Civil War’s most significant battles, and it remains central to Americans’ understanding of the war—and the lives lost.
Each Memorial Day weekend, Gettysburg commemorates the holiday with a parade and Memorial Day service. This year, the parade rolls at 2 p.m. Monday, May 25, with a ceremony to follow at the Soldiers’ National Cemetery.
The town will also play host to a free music festival at the Gettysburg Rec Park on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, with six bands as well as food and drink vendors.
Philadelphia
A trip to Philadelphia offers visitors a chance to engage in the broad story of U.S. history at some of the country’s most historic sites, particularly around Independence National Historical Park. It’s free to see the Liberty Bell up close and experience the landmark that is Independence Hall, as it is to wander Philadelphia’s Old City to check out centuries-old buildings and demonstrations like the daily flag raising at the Betsy Ross House.
Nearby, the Museum of the American Revolution is hosting a number of events throughout Memorial Day weekend and is also offering free admission to veterans and active-duty military members all three days.
