A drive across Pennsylvania from Erie to Raystown Lake takes us to Presque Isle State Park, Trough Creek State Park, Lincoln Caverns, and other scenic sites.
I was a guest of Visit Erie and HCVB, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Table of Contents
A Drive Across Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, I first learned a term to describe myself I had never heard before.
I was in conversation with a local who was inquiring about my job as a travel writer. I explained to him that I was a roadtripper and that my website was called Backroad Planet because I prefer scenic routes to major highways.
He said, “Oh, then you’re a shunpiker.”
Having never heard this term before, I asked him to elaborate.
He explained that shunpiking was the act of shunning, or avoiding, turnpikes.
With a bit of research, I learned that the term originated years ago with drivers determined to avoid toll roads. Today, the definition is a bit more broad, including travelers who prefer taking scenic backroads, as well.
I had to admit I was truly a shunpiker at heart, and I was about to prove it on a drive across Pennsylvania.
Erie, Pennsylvania
My colleague, Melody Pittman from Wherever I May Roam, and I flew into Erie to join a small group of travel writer friends on a 36-hour whirlwind tour of this city on the Great Lake that shares its name.
I wrote about our experiences in the article Presque Isle State Park & Other Things to Do in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Readers and travel planners can read the full post or navigate to sections of interest from the list below:
Tom Ridge Environmental Center
A Driving Tour through Presque Isle State Park
A Drive Across Pennsylvania
At the end of our time in Erie, we rented a car for the 4-hour drive to the Raystown Lake Region. We could have opted for a quicker ride on interstate highways, but true to our nature, we chose the scenic route.
Although Melody and I travel together frequently, this would be our first real road trip. Melody volunteered to drive, I slipped into my comfortable role as navigator, and with a “yacht rock” playlist blaring, we set off on our drive across Pennsylvania.
The Allegheny National Forest
The Allegheny National Forest covers more than 800 sq. miles of Pennsylvania. Even though the forest has been lumbered, and fossil fuel deposits are currently extracted, Pennsylvania’s only national forest maintains its role as a “land of many uses,” including camping, hiking, fishing, and other recreational activities.
Many state and federal roads criss-cross the national forest, including PA Route 666.
This route marker triggered a memory of the time I had traveled a segment of Arizona’s Route 666, also known as The Devil’s Highway.
But there was nothing to fear. Both drives were lovely and ended well.
Ridgway, Pennsylvania
We stopped briefly for lunch in the borough of Ridgway, a picturesque town that is also the seat of Elk County.
This historic town is considered the gateway to the Allegheny Forest and is home to the Chainsaw Carvers Rendezvous, the largest event of its kind.
Raystown Lake Region, Pennsylvania
Our drive across Pennsylvania ended in what I consider to be one of the state’s best kept secrets. We spent a couple of days exploring the area, and I wrote about it in our post Discover Raystown Lake & Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania.
This off-the-beaten path hidden treasure is a region filled with scenic and recreational opportunities. If you are planning a Pennsylvania road trip itinerary, you don’t want to overlook the Raystown Lake Region.
As before, feel free to enjoy the post in its entirety or navigate to an area of interest listed below:
Raystown Lake & Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
Historical Downtown Huntingdon
Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau
Marina Café at Lake Raystown Resort
The Riverside Grill at Edgewater Inn
Planning Note
The two posts linked in this round-up contain a wealth of resources for readers considering a visit to Erie or the Raystown Lake Region of Pennsylvania.
The route we took between the two was a scenic drive through the Allegheny National Forest and small-town Pennsylvania.
When planning a road trip itinerary, be sure to explore all of your options, whether you follow our exact route, explore either of the two destinations, or design a unique itinerary to specific sites within the key destinations.
Map It!
We Would Love to Hear From You
We enjoy dialogue with our readers, especially when they share off-the-beaten-path destinations and useful travel tips. Have you ever driven across Pennsylvania? If so, we would love to hear about your experience. We invite you to leave your comments and questions below, and we always respond!
Pin this Post!
Helpful Links
Presque Isle State Park & Other Things to Do in Erie, Pennsylvania
Discover Raystown Lake & Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
How to Find Unique Sites for Your USA Road Trip Itinerary
this was not a drive across the Keystone state. You actually covered a miniscule part. Pittsburgh, Gettysburg, Philadelphia, Lancaster county .Scranton, Rt 6 the blue star highway, Lincoln Highway etc etc ete https://www.lhhc.org/ https://paroute6.com/ https://www.mistereds.com/ and besgt of all rick seback wqed TV (the original PBS station) travellogues of PA and beyond https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmoDYCyB5kM come back when you have more time and really enjoy the gr8 keystone state and feed the fish at pymatuming https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4fFMdtW6J0
Hi Ron! Yes, I know we did not cover the entire Keystone State on our 4-hour drive from Erie to Raystown Lake, but we did actually drive across Pennsylvania. Thanks for your suggestions for activities on future visits. We definitely hope to return to PA for more exploration.