Overview
Wilkes-Barre (the last part is variously pronounced "Berry", "Bury", "Bare", or "Berrah" by locals, and "Barry" or "Barr" by others) is a city of 41,000 people (2018) in Northeastern Pennsylvania, approximately 20 miles southwest of Scranton. The city is named for John Wilkes and Isaac Barre, both of whom were members of the British Parliament who opposed royal rule of the colonies. Although the city is named after them, neither one ever set foot in North America.
5 things to do · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Wilkes-Barre
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs
Casino, 1280 Highway 315. 1,100 slots casino, table gaming, harness racing track, five restaurants. Open 24/7, with racing M Tu F Sa from 31 Mar. to 17 Nov. Free admission/parking.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins' minor league hockey affiliate. They play home games from October through April. Check the website for tickets and dates.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
The highest level minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees. They play home games from April through August. Check website for tickets and dates.
F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts
Art deco theater circa 1938 with lineup of performing arts events.
Seven Tubs Recreation Area
Notable river with bedrock pools and cascades where people enjoy exploring.
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.
- AVP Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton — 10 mi away. Directions
- ABE Lehigh Valley International Airport, Allentown/Bethlehem — 47 mi away. Directions
- EWR Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark — 97 mi away (major hub). Directions
The easiest way to arrive in Wilkes-Barre is via the highway. The following highways connect Wilkes-Barre to other regional cities:
Full “Get in” guide ↓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 Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Afternoon F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, Seven Tubs Recreation Area
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
This area is known for its many authentic diner car restaurants. La Tolteca, near the mall, is popular for Mexican. Pete's Place downtown has very reasonably priced Lebanese food, with fish on Fridays for the local Catholic population.
Wilkes-Barre is at the northeast frontier of the Pierogi Belt. Mom & Pops Pierogi on 131 Casey Ave, Wilkes Barre Township +1 570-825-9303 sells fresh and frozen ravioli (and pasties) to go; the adjacent Abe's Hot Dogs serves the same pierogi prepared with butter and onion.
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
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
The easiest way to arrive in Wilkes-Barre is via the highway. The following highways connect Wilkes-Barre to other regional cities:
- I-476 south to (Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension) Allentown & Philadelphia.
- I-81 north to Scranton & Binghamton and I-81 south to Harrisburg.
I-476 is tolled from mile 20 to 115.
By plane
The city is also about 15 minutes south of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP) in Avoca. The airport operates daily flights to Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago-O'Hare, Detroit, Newark, and Philadelphia. Rental cars are available from Avis, Budget, Hertz, National, and Alamo at the terminal. Take I-81 south to Exit 170B.
Wilkes-Barre is also within three hours driving distance from Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, JFK International Airport and LaGuardia International Airport in New York City, Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, Harrisburg Int'l Airport in Harrisburg, and Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia.
By bus
Martz offers long distance services to and from Philadelphia and New York City. Martz Trailways Bus Terminal is located downtown on 47 S Washington St. Greyhound and other bus services operate from the same terminal, serving upstate New York, Toronto, Baltimore, Washington DC, the Midwest and West, and many other cities.
By bus
Uptown Vans offers service from Paterson and New York City, with door-to-door service available throughout the city of Wilkes-Barre.
Get around
Public transportation is available through busses run by Luzerne County Transportation Authority (LCTA), which also travel to other points throughout Luzerne County, and several local taxi services.
See
If you drive outside the city, you may see steam rising from the ventilation shafts of the old coal mines.
Do
You can catch an ice hockey game or concert at the Wachovia Arena. Kings College and Wilkes University often feature art exhibits in their libraries. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders AAA baseball team plays 15 minutes north near Montage Mountain, which also features a major concert venue and skiing in the winter.
Buy
- The Wyoming Valley Mall is north of the city, +1 570 823-1224, it features JCPenney, Sears, and Macy's, among other stores. Check website for directions and full store directory.
- The Arena Hub Plaza is located across the street from the Wyoming Valley Mall. It features a sporting goods store, clothing stores, some restaurants, and a Barnes & Noble book store.
Nearly all of the shops are chain stores in the mall area outside of downtown. Boscov's is on Main Street.
Eat
This area is known for its many authentic diner car restaurants. La Tolteca, near the mall, is popular for Mexican. Pete's Place downtown has very reasonably priced Lebanese food, with fish on Fridays for the local Catholic population.
Wilkes-Barre is at the northeast frontier of the Pierogi Belt. Mom & Pops Pierogi on 131 Casey Ave, Wilkes Barre Township +1 570-825-9303 sells fresh and frozen ravioli (and pasties) to go; the adjacent Abe's Hot Dogs serves the same pierogi prepared with butter and onion.
Drink
There are quite a few choices for night life. Main Street in downtown Wilkes-Barre features a few college bars. Furthermore, there are corner bars all throughout the city, and a few alternative bars. There is karaoke almost every night of the week, often hosted by DJ Scott Stephens.
Sleep
Nearby
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My experience
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