When you stay at The Central Hotel & Conference Center, you’re perfectly positioned to explore some of Central Pennsylvania’s most popular attractions and destinations. Whether you’re interested in family fun, American history, Amish heritage, or scenic outdoor adventures, you’ll find plenty to discover within an hour’s drive of our hotel. Use our Harrisburg hotel as your home base and set out on these easy day trips to Hershey, Gettysburg, and Lancaster County during your visit!
Hershey
Distance: 12 miles, ≈20 minutes.
Highlights: Family-friendly attractions, chocolate experiences, beautiful gardens, shopping, and outdoor fun.
Drive just east of Harrisburg and spend a day exploring Hershey, The Sweetest Place on Earth. This city is famous for being the birthplace and global headquarters of the iconic Hershey’s chocolate brand, and many of the attractions are focused around this legacy. From riding rollercoasters at Hersheypark to making your own chocolate bar at Hershey’s Chocolate World, there’s something for everyone. Beyond the chocolate-themed fun, you can also explore museums, go shopping, wander the gardens, and see wildlife.
Gettysburg
Distance: 42 miles, ≈50 minutes.
Highlights: Civil War history, historic landmarks, museums, charming downtown, and ghost tours.
Gettysburg is one of the most historic cities in Pennsylvania, and we put you within less than an hour of it. Make the short drive and experience a destination entrenched in American history. See the site of the most crucial and bloodiest battle of the American Civil War at Gettysburg National Military Park, along with many more historic sites and museums chronicling the event.
Many travelers head home after exploring the battlefields, but there’s much more to discover around town if you have time. Go shopping in the charming downtown area, embark on a spine-tingling ghost tour, and grab a meal at the oldest restaurant in town.
Lancaster County
Distance to Lancaster: 37 miles, ≈45 minutes.
Highlights: Amish culture, scenic countryside, local markets, family attractions, and performing arts.
Make a day trip to Lancaster County and experience the history, heritage, and arts scene of the country’s oldest Amish communities. Here, you can enjoy a slower pace, ride in a horse and buggy, dine at Amish-owned restaurants, and tour Amish farms and homes. But that’s just the beginning of the experiences that await here. You can also attend live performances at local theatres, drive around the countryside in search of Pennsylvania Dutch covered bridges, shop at the historic Lancaster Central Market, and spend a day at Dutch Wonderland.
Cumberland Valley
Distance to Carlisle: 26 miles, ≈35 minutes
Highlights: Historic small towns, outdoor recreation, scenic trails, parks, and waterways.
Cumberland Valley is the region west of Harrisburg, encompassing several charming small towns like Carlisle and Mechanicsburg. Drive to a few of them and take some time to explore the downtown areas, steeped in history. Or lean into the region’s natural side along the Appalachian Trail, three state parks, two state forests, and scenic waterways.
Stay Near It All at Our Harrisburg Hotel
No matter what kind of getaway you’re after, Central Pennsylvania delivers, and The Central Hotel & Conference Center puts it all within easy reach. Spend your days exploring Pennsylvania’s best attractions and historic towns, then return to a comfortable and convenient home base each evening. Book your stay at our Harrisburg hotel and start planning your Central PA adventure today!