Rockville Bridge

Region · Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Dutch Country

Rockville Bridge

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Best timeApr–Jun, Sep–Oct
From you
Nearest airportHGR · 28 mi
On this page

Overview

Pennsylvania Dutch Country is a region in Pennsylvania also referred to as South Central Pennsylvania. The region is home to many major tourist attractions such as Lancaster county's Amish country, Harrisburg's state capitol and museums and Hershey's chocolate world and theme park.

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Plan your trip

Best time to visit & weather

Most comfortable: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Summer highs reach about 90°F; winter lows dip to about 30°F. Very hot (Jul) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jul and Sep. (climate data from nearby Baltimore)

Jan: 3.1 in rain3.1"Jan: high 44°F, low 30°F44°30°JanFeb: 2.8 in rain2.8"Feb: high 47°F, low 32°F47°32°FebMar: 3.9 in rain3.9"Mar: high 55°F, low 39°F55°39°MarApr: 3.6 in rain3.6"Apr: high 67°F, low 48°F67°48°AprMay: 3.4 in rain3.4"May: high 76°F, low 58°F76°58°MayJun: 3.4 in rain3.4"Jun: high 85°F, low 68°F85°68°JunJul: 4.7 in rain4.7"Jul: high 90°F, low 73°F90°73°JulAug: 4.4 in rain4.4"Aug: high 87°F, low 71°F87°71°AugSep: 4.5 in rain4.5"Sep: high 80°F, low 64°F80°64°SepOct: 3.5 in rain3.5"Oct: high 69°F, low 53°F69°53°OctNov: 3.0 in rain3"Nov: high 58°F, low 43°F58°43°NovDec: 3.7 in rain3.7"Dec: high 48°F, low 35°F48°35°Dec

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.
  • HGR Hagerstown Regional Richard A Henson Field, Hagerstown — 28 mi away. Directions
  • AOO Altoona Blair County Airport, Altoona — 33 mi away. Directions
  • IAD Washington Dulles International Airport, Dulles — 82 mi away (major hub). Directions

There are several regional airports in south central Pennsylvania but the largest and most used is Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) located in Middletown, just minutes from Harrisburg and PA Route 283. Harrisburg International Airport has over a dozen non-stop flights to cities in the U.S. and Toronto in Canada.

Full “Get in” guide ↓

Budget & where to stay

No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.

Sample 3-day trip

  1. Day 1: York — York Revolution, York City Ice Arena, William C. Goodridge Freedom Center and Underground Railroad Museum.
  2. Day 2: Gettysburg — Gettysburg National Military Park, Eisenhower National Historic Site, Gettysburg Majestic Theater.
  3. Day 3: Chambersburg — Old Jail, Chambersburg Heritage Center, Penn National Golf Club.

Built from the best-covered destinations in this region; open each for its own day plan.

Food for you

Scrapple is of Pennsylvania Dutch origin. It is made from pork by-products, such as the pigs head, intestines, brains any of the scraps (hence the name scrapple) and cornmeal, cooked into a thick pudding, formed into a loaf, sliced then fried. A spicy pork breakfast product. A scrapple egg and cheese sandwich served on toast is common place.

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

    Places in Pennsylvania Dutch Country

    York

    York

    City / town · 44 listings

    Gettysburg

    Gettysburg

    City / town · 40 listings

    Chambersburg

    Chambersburg

    City / town · 16 listings

    Harrisburg area

    Harrisburg area

    Region · 13 listings

    Wrightsville

    Wrightsville

    City / town · 9 listings

    Grantville

    Grantville

    City / town · 4 listings

    Mercersburg

    Mercersburg

    City / town · 4 listings

    Shrewsbury

    Shrewsbury

    City / town · 4 listings

    Mount Gretna

    Mount Gretna

    City / town · 3 listings

    Hanover

    Hanover

    City / town · 2 listings

    Lancaster County

    Lancaster County

    Region

    Lebanon

    Lebanon

    City / town

    Understand

    While Pennsylvania Dutch Country consists of a lot of rural areas and is noted for its high Amish population, it is home to over 1.5 million people and maintains one of the highest rates of population growth in the Northeast United States due to lower cost of living but close proximity to major metropolitan areas. It is truly a diverse region with rolling hills, orchards and farms but also growing, vibrant yet historic cities.

    The Pennsylvania Dutch (Amish) Community dates back to the 16th century Reformation in Europe, specifically the Anabaptist movement. There are three families of Anabaptist-related groups in PA Dutch Country: the Amish, Mennonites and Brethren. The three groups share many basic values and beliefs, with primary differences in dress, language, some forms of worship, and the extent to which they will use modern advancements.

    Regions

    Harrisburg area

    Adams County

    Franklin County

    Lancaster County

    Lebanon County

    York County

    Sometimes the city of Reading and surrounding Berks County is included.

    Cities

    • Accomac
    • Carlisle
    • Chambersburg
    • Gettysburg — provides opportunities to explore the history of the critical Civil War battle that took place here
    • Grantville
    • Hanover
    • Harrisburg
    • Hummelstown
    • Lancaster
    • Lebanon
    • Lititz
    • Mercersburg
    • Mount Gretna
    • Shrewsbury
    • Wrightsville
    • York

    Other destinations

    • Hershey

    Get in

    By plane

    There are several regional airports in south central Pennsylvania but the largest and most used is Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) located in Middletown, just minutes from Harrisburg and PA Route 283. Harrisburg International Airport has over a dozen non-stop flights to cities in the U.S. and Toronto in Canada.

    Get around

    By car

    The easiest way to get around the region is by car. There is an extensive network of roads and the area is criss-crossed by several major interstates (81, 76, 83) and U.S. routes (11, 15, 22, 30).

    By train

    Amtrak's high-speed Keystone line travels through Lancaster and Dauphin county with stops in Lancaster, Mount Joy, Elizabethtown, Middletown, and Harrisburg is useful if traveling between Lancaster and Harrisburg but does not link up the rest of the places in PA Dutch Country.

    See

    The Plain and Fancy Farm provides a good all-around tour of the Amish community including a restaurant, bus tours and a movie. Particularly good if you're a foreign visitor without a car.

    The Gettysburg National Military Park, just south of Gettysburg, is one of the most famous battlefields of the American Civil War. The National Apple Museum, north of Gettysburg, has exhibits on the apple industry in the region, and a recreated 1880s farm kitchen and a General Store.

    Eat

    Scrapple is of Pennsylvania Dutch origin. It is made from pork by-products, such as the pigs head, intestines, brains any of the scraps (hence the name scrapple) and cornmeal, cooked into a thick pudding, formed into a loaf, sliced then fried. A spicy pork breakfast product. A scrapple egg and cheese sandwich served on toast is common place.

    Nearby

    Breezewood

    Breezewood

    City / town · 10 listings · 27 mi away

    Carlisle

    Carlisle

    City / town · 13 listings · 30 mi away

    Hagerstown

    Hagerstown

    City / town · 48 listings · 32 mi away

    Port Royal

    Port Royal

    City / town · 35 mi away

    Lewistown

    Lewistown

    City / town · 5 listings · 35 mi away

    Catoctin Mountain Park

    Catoctin Mountain Park

    Park · 2 listings · 35 mi away

    Hancock

    Hancock

    City / town · 6 listings · 36 mi away

    Mifflintown

    Mifflintown

    City / town · 37 mi away

    My experience

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