‘Ooh’ and ‘ah’ at fall foliage on Pennsylvania’s prettiest autumn drives
Pennsylvania’s scenic drives wind past charming towns, historic sites, and sweeping landscapes, all enhanced by the beauty of fall colors.
Scenic drives are some of the best ways to explore the beauty of Pennsylvania’s hills and mountains, especially in the fall, when the forests glow in dramatic shades of red, orange, and gold. Plus, a road trip lets you enjoy inviting small towns, breathtaking views, and fun roadside stops all from the comfort of your seat!
Laurel Highlands Scenic Byway
One of the most beautiful autumn drives in the state, if not the country, the Laurel Highlands Scenic Byway offers unparalleled views of the western foothills of the Allegheny Mountains, as well as charming small towns and fascinating historic sites. The 68-mile scenic byway traverses Routes 381 and 711 from Pennsylvania’s border with West Virginia to Westmoreland County’s Seward.
Just a short drive from Pittsburgh, the scenic byway attracts visitors looking for paddling action on the mighty Youghiogheny River, tours of Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece of Fallingwater, and hikes along the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail. Be sure to grab some tasty and affordable eats along the way at some of the region’s classic restaurants and diners.
You can start your drive anywhere along the byway, but you’ll find the official start where Route 381 begins in Fayette County at Pennsylvania’s southern border. Follow Route 381 through Farmington and Ohiopyle. You’ll certainly want to stop at Ohiopyle State Park for a stunning hike amongst flaming fall colors and waterfalls. A little farther on, Mill Run is home to Fallingwater for an architectural excursion (be sure to book tours in advance). Route 381 continues until Route 711 near Donegal, which will take you to the quaint town of Ligonier, where you’ll want to stretch your legs and wander some mom-and-pop stores before the end of the byway in Seward.
PA Route 6
PA Route 6, one of the country’s most storied scenic byways, extends across the entire northern part of the state—more than 400 miles! You’d need days—or perhaps more than a week—to see all there is to see along the iconic drive, but you can also take a day or two to sample portions of the byway. Route 6 winds through rolling fields and forested mountains, offering sweeping views that blaze with color in the fall.
On the eastern end of the scenic byway, the Pocono Mountains invite you to visit charming towns like Honesdale and Milford and also to explore the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Farther west, the route provides access to overlooks of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon and passes near Kinzua Bridge State Park, where the park’s 225-foot-high Skywalk extends into Kinzua Gorge for an unforgettable view—especially when the trees are painted in fall colors.
The Pennsylvania Grand Canyon
The Pennsylvania Grand Canyon—also known as the Pine Creek Gorge—is a deep, forested canyon located in the north-central part of the state. While the gorge is beautiful during all seasons, autumn paints the trees in brilliant reds, golds, and oranges. Stretching 47 miles across Tioga and Lycoming Counties, the canyon can be admired from rim-top overlooks at Leonard Harrison and Colton Point State Parks, both reached from Route 6.
But you can get even better acquainted with the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon by driving through the canyon itself on Route 414. From Wellsboro, take Route 287 south until you hit Route 414, which you can then follow southwest, crossing Pine Creek and enjoying stops like Rattlesnake Rocks or a quick hike on the Pine Creek Rail Trail until you hit Waterville.
Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway
You need not travel far from Philadelphia to experience beautiful autumn colors on a scenic drive. The Pennsylvania portion of the Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway—a designated National Scenic Byway—encompasses parts of Chester and Delaware Counties as it winds 25 miles through the state, passing through Brandywine Valley’s Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, and West Chester.
Begin your journey on Route 52 from the state line with Delaware—or start by including the 12 miles of the byway in that state—and head toward Chadds Ford, where the Brandywine Museum of Art sits on the banks of Brandywine Creek. Continue to Kennett Square, where you can visit the spectacular fall displays at Longwood Gardens, before finishing your trip in West Chester, where Stroud Preserve offers miles of hiking trails through grasslands and woodlands.
Viaduct Valley Way Scenic Byway
The Viaduct Valley Way Scenic Byway follows Route 92 between Susquehanna and Tunkhannock for 37 miles, passing through Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties in Pennsylvania’s Endless Mountains region. The byway is named after its historic viaducts—the Tunkhannock Viaduct in Nicholson and the Starrucca Viaduct in Lanesboro. When the 100-foot-tall Starruca Viaduct was built in 1848, it was the largest stone railway viaduct in the world. Then, in 1915, the 240-foot-tall Tunkhannock Viaduct became the largest concrete structure in the world.
Both massive bridges are still used today, and you can see each of them along the Viaduct Valley Way Scenic Byway. In fall, they’re framed by vivid color, as is the rest of the rural highway that winds through historic towns and forested valleys.
Longhouse National Scenic Byway
The Longhouse National Scenic Byway winds its way through the Allegheny National Forest, a more than 500,000-acre forest in northwestern Pennsylvania. Located in the northern part of the forest, the byway is a 36-mile loop surrounding the Kinzua Creek arm of the Allegheny Reservoir. The road traverses the forest high above the reservoir, allowing for spectacular viewing of the water against a backdrop of miles of fall foliage. The two-lane highway is not only a scenic drive but also a path to fantastic recreation opportunities, including hiking, boating, and fishing.
You’ll start the road on Route 321, roughly eight miles north of Kane, where Route 321 intersects with Longhouse Drive. Follow Route 321 North to the Bradford Ranger Station, where you can stop for trail and forest information, and then turn on Route 59. This stretch offers hiking opportunities, including the Morrison and Rimrock Trails. After you cross the reservoir on Morrison Bridge, just past the Kinzua Wolf Run Marina, you’ll turn left onto Longhouse Drive, which will bring you to the overlook at Jakes Rocks and the view of the landscape—and eventually back to your starting point.
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