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Things to Do in Scranton PA – 3 Days in Scranton Itinerary
Have you ever seen hit TV series, The Office? If you have, you probably know about Scranton, Pennsylvania. It’s where the TV show was based on. (Although most of the filming was done in Hollywood.) While you can’t visit Dunder Mifflin, there are plenty of museums, parks, and other things to do in Scranton PA! If you’re interested in visiting, here’s a 3-day itinerary you can follow.
Day 1 of 3: Scranton, PA Itinerary
1. Check out Nay Aug Park and the Everhart Museum
Nay Aug Park is one of the best things to do in Scranton PA. They have some beautiful walking trails in the woods, including one part that overlooks the train tracks coming out of a big rock tunnel, and a natural waterfall where you can go swimming!
How to get there?
The address is 1901 Mulberry St, Scranton, PA 18510-2380. You can get these via Taxi, Uber (click to get the first ride for free) or by driving. It’s across the street from the Geisinger hospital.
How much time do you need?
It really depends on how much of it you want to do. You can walk the whole nature path in an hour or two, but there’s also the water park and even the Everhart Museum. The museum is just two floors and you could probably go through the whole thing in an hour or so.
To see and do everything, I’d budget a good 3-5 hours.
What’s the cost?
It’s totally free! Parking and entrance are both free. However, they do also have a waterpark you can enter for just $5 per person, with multiple pools and some waterslides. There’s also the Everhart Museum, which is $7 per person.
Tips
Bring a bikini or swim trunks!
There are plenty of places to swim here, between the public pools and the water hole. Don’t forget swimming apparel!
Go during the summer.
Nay Aug isn’t nearly as nice in the Spring or Fall as it is in the summer. In fact, the pool is only open June-August.
Don’t get too excited about the treehouse.
In all the pictures of Nay Aug, you’ll probably see a gorgeous treehouse. It was awesome back in its day, but unfortunately, they blocked access to it because it was becoming unstable and at risk of falling.
Leave and have lunch by 12:30 PM.
The next stop on our list is the Houdini Museum, and their show starts at 1 PM! It’s only a 15-minute drive from Nay Aug, but if you want to see the how, make sure you leave by 12:30 to get there on time.
2. Get your magic on at the Houdini Museum
The Houdini Museum is a well-known tourist attraction in Scranton! They have lots of equipment used by the great magician Houdini, as well as occasional events and magic shows!
How to get there?
The Houdini Museum is located at 1433 N Main Ave, Scranton, PA 18508-1822. You can get there via Taxi, Uber (click to get the first ride for free), or driving.
How much time do you need?
The entire museum takes about 2-3 hours to see.
What’s the cost?
It costs $20 per person at the door, but only $17.95 for adults & $14.95 for children 11 and under if you reserve in advance!
Tips
Make reservations.
They are only open on weekend and they fill up fast. Plus, you save a few bucks with a reservation. So if you want this to be part of your Scranton experience, be sure to book in advance!
Get there a little before 1 PM.
Every day, they have a tour, magic show, and a movie showing that all starts at 1 PM and goes until 2:30. So be there a little before 1 to see everything!
Day 2 of 3: Scranton, PA Itinerary
1. Head to the Steamtown Mall and Railway Museum
How to get there?
The Steamtown Mall is located at 300 Lackawanna Ave, Scranton, PA 18503 in the hear of downtown Scranton. There’s a parking garage under the mall with reasonable pricing ($5 for all-day).
You can get to the Railway Museum from the second floor, through the doors leading out of the food court where they often host The Marketplace at Steamtown, with local food vendors.
When you go out the big glass doors, you’ll walk across a bridge that runs over the old trains and railroads and leads to the museum shop.
How much time do you need?
You can see everything in an hour or two, but of course, big train fanatics can spend longer!
Or, you could spend the entire day at this one spot if you buy a roundtrip train ticket!
What’s the cost?
It’s free to see the trains. You can also purchase a train ride for $5 to $55 dollars per person depending on how far you’re going!
Tips
Go to the museum first, then back to the mall for food.
All that walking around trains is bound to make you hungry! Check out the sights, then head into the food court where you left from to grab a bite.
Budget enough time to walk around the mall and see the Aquarium.
The next stop on the agenda is the Steamtown Aquarium, which is inside the mall. So make sure you make enough time to check that out as well!
2. Go downstairs to the Steamtown Aquarium
Late 2018 was a big time for the Steamtown Mall because we got our very first aquarium! Until now, there weren’t any Aquariums within a 2-hour drive of Scranton.
How to get there?
Inside the Steamtown Mall, just head to the first floor in the main area with the fountain and elevator. You can’t miss the Aquarium!
How much time do you need?
The Aquarium is only about the size of two mall-stores, so it’s not the biggest place. You could probably walk through the whole thing in under an hour.
What’s the cost?
It’s $15.95 per child ages 2-12 and $18.95 per adult.
Tips
Bring a sweater.
It’s cold inside the aquarium, so make sure you bring a sweater and dress in layers!
Check their website for events.
Some times they do special feeding events where you can watch them feed and play with the fish. If you want to see one of these, check their site before you go to find out what time they are!
3. Get a movie and dinner at the Iron Horse Theater
Across from the Steamtown Mall is the Iron Horse movie bistro, which has theaters as well as dinner options to eat while you view!
How to get there?
Once you’re done checking out the trains and fish, simply head back out to the main area of the Steamtown Mall with the fountain and elevator, go around to where the fast food spots are and go out the doors past the Starbucks. The Iron Horse movie bistro is right across the street!
How much time do you need?
It depends on which movie you’re seeing! Anywhere from 1.5 to 3 hours.
What’s the cost?
It’s $9 per movie ticket, plus $12 to $20 per dinner.
Tips
Get there early.
You have to order your meal, so get there before the movie starts so you can place your order! The last thing you want is to be ordering while the movie is playing!
Day 3 of 3: Scranton, PA Itinerary
1. Go to the Anthracite Heritage Museum and Coal Mine Tour
The Anthracite Heritage Museum shows you what life was like during hard coal mining times. Next to the museum is the Lackawanna Coal Mine, which you can also take a tour of.
How to get there?
The museum is at 22 Bald Mountain Rd, Scranton, PA 18504.
How much time do you need?
It depends on which movie you’re seeing! Anywhere from 1.5 to 3 hours.
What’s the cost?
It’s $7 per adult, $5 per child 11 and under for the museum. The coal mine tour is an additional $10 per adult and $7.50 per child 12 and under.
Tips
Bring a sweater.
It gets very cold in the coal mine as you go further underground!
Get there early – they close at 5 PM.
While you’re at it, call ahead of time to book a spot on one of their tours, as they do fill up and they run at set times.
2. Walk around the iconic Lake Scranton
In The Office, one of their episodes was titled Lake Scranton. While they didn’t actually film on the real lake Scranton, you can go walk the path around it! Just keep in mind that due to a recent tornado, only half of the lake is open to visitors.
How to get there?
Lake Scranton is just outside the city on Route 307. There’s a visitor parking entrance with a parking lot. It’s got a sign with a yellow gate. Park there, then walk down the hill to get to the paved lake path.
How much time do you need?
The section of the lake that’s currently open is a good 2.5 miles one way. To walk the entire thing and see the gazebo, you’ll probably need at least an hour and a half depending on how fast you walk and if you stop for lunch.
What’s the cost?
Parking and entrance are totally free!
Tips
Bring a bagged lunch.
There are lots of beautiful spots along the lake path to stop and grab a bite to eat, including a gazebo and picnic table at the very end, which are seldom used by the locals.
3. Hop on a NEPA Party Bike [Adults Only]
Interested in a fun night out on the town? Renting a Party Bike is a great way to experience Scranton (and get tipsy while doing it)!
How to get there?
They’re so exclusive to the locals, they don’t even have a website! The only way to book a bike is to call the company at (570)561-3616.
How much time do you need?
It depends on how much time you book. Anywhere from 1-3 hours is typical.
What’s the cost?
It costs $400 per hour to rent the bike (it’s a 14-person bike), plus the cost of any alcohol you want to bring along.
Tips
Book in advance.
These bikes book fast, especially on summer weekends! Book these well ahead of time if you want it to be part of your trip.
General Tips for Visiting Scranton
Go during First Friday if you can.
On the first Friday of every month, Scranton throws an event called First Friday, where they have food trucks and all kinds of vendors and live music downtown.
You HAVE to get some Italian food.
Scranton is well-known for its Italian food, particularly pizza. One of our favorite places to eat is A Little Pizza Heaven located in Dunmore, which is a bit of a drive from Scranton but worth it if you have the time.
Follow this guide to save on airfare.
We’ve got an excellent guide to save on airfare during your trip to Scranton!
Where to Stay in Scranton, PA
Hotels in the city for luxury travel.
There are some beautiful hotels right in downtown Scranton, like the Marriot and the Radisson. If you want luxury, these are the places to stay.
Check out latest prices for Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel Scranton—> click here.
Check out latest prices for Four Points by Sheraton Scranton–> click here.
Check out latest prices for Residence Inn Scranton by Marriot–> click here.
Cheap hotels in Scranton PA.
Scranton has its fair share of Airbnb (click to get $36 off of your first stay) options throughout the city and in the neighboring towns. This is an excellent choice for budget travelers.
Consider renting an RV.
You can also rent an RV and stay in the nearby campgrounds. The Promised Lands has some incredible views, great spots for fishing, and is only a 30-minute drive from the city. There are also closer spots if you don’t want such a long drive. Great for people who love nature and for families traveling together.
Click here for more information on renting an RV.
Pin For Later:
We hope you enjoy your trip to Scranton, PA! If you have any questions or ideas, feel free to leave a comment below and we’ll get back to you!
The post was contributed by Bill Widmer from The Wandering RV Travel Blog
