Overview
Mount Gretna is in Pennsylvania Dutch Country.
2 things to do · 1 places to eat
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Mount Gretna
The Mt Gretna Lake and Beach
An afternoon at the Mt Gretna Lake and Beach is a must. With a slogan like “Just For The Family Fun Of It!” it is a great day for everyone in the family. Spend the day canoeing, swimming, jumping off of the fifteen foot …
Miniature Golf
After a hot day at the lake, take the family to the Miniature Golf course and spend some quality time together at the holes.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 86°F; winter lows dip to about 22°F. Cold months (Jan) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jul and Sep. (climate data from nearby Allentown)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- LNS Lancaster Airport, Lancaster — 13 mi away. Directions
- MDT Harrisburg International Airport, Harrisburg — 16 mi away. Directions
- PHL Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia — 70 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning The Mt Gretna Lake and Beach
- Lunch The Timber's
- Afternoon Miniature Golf
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Understand
Mt. Gretna was founded in an area of Pennsylvania that for more than a century provided charcoal to the Cornwall Iron Furnace, which once forged cannons for George Washington‘s army. At one point in time, you could travel here by railway from any point in the entire country. WWII diminished Mt Gretna’s popularity, with the closing its amusement park and the abandonment of its hotels. Some traditions, however, remained. The Playhouse Theater, the Jigger Shoppe, the Roller Rink, the Lake all remained. And of course, the tradition of spending days and nights relaxing on the front porch of its many cabin-like homes. In 1960 the Timber’s Restaurant was built, and in 1976 the very first annual Gretna Art Show took place, quoted as Mt Gretna modern revival. The Playhouse and the Art Show give Mt Gretna its sense of identity and community.
Do
Do The Mt Gretna Lake and Beach
An afternoon at the Mt Gretna Lake and Beach is a must. With a slogan like “Just For The Family Fun Of It!” it is a great day for everyone in the family. Spend the day canoeing, swimming, jumping off of the fifteen foot high dive, and flipping off of the iron swimming. On a typical day at the Lake you will find children fishing in the water for tadpoles and in the air for butterflies, families barbequing in the picnic area beneath the shade, and nature lovers soaking in the beautiful view from the shore.
Do Miniature Golf
After a hot day at the lake, take the family to the Miniature Golf course and spend some quality time together at the holes.
Eat
Eat The Timber's
Dine out at Gretna’s Timber’s restaurant. It is located on the sight that used to be the National Guard headquarters. Their menu includes everything from chicken alfredo to cold water lobster. And you will not be let down when it comes to entertainment. The Timber’s hosts shows Tuesday-Saturday evenings, so no dinner experience is the same.
Nearby
Lebanon
City / town · 7 mi away
Elizabethtown
City / town · 10 listings · 9 mi away
Hershey
City / town · 28 listings · 10 mi away
Landisville
City / town · 4 listings · 11 mi away
Lititz
City / town · 28 listings · 11 mi away
Hummelstown
City / town · 2 listings · 12 mi away
Middletown
City / town · 9 listings · 14 mi away
Grantville
City / town · 4 listings · 14 mi away
My experience
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