Highest-rated free things to do in Pennsylvania by visitors

Written by:
September 2, 2025
Zoran Zeremski // Shutterstock

Highest-rated free things to do in Pennsylvania by visitors

Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.

Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.

That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were cost-burdened, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Pennsylvania.

From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.

To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Pennsylvania using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.

Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

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Tripadvisor

#30. Point State Park

- Rating: 4.5/5 (958 reviews)
- City: Pittsburgh
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#29. Gettysburg Museum of History

- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,351 reviews)
- City: Gettysburg
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#28. Penn State University

- Rating: 4.8/5 (635 reviews)
- City: State College
- Read more on Tripadvisor

4 / 30
Tripadvisor

#27. SteelStacks

- Rating: 4.6/5 (662 reviews)
- City: Bethlehem
- Read more on Tripadvisor

5 / 30
Tripadvisor

#26. Kinzua Bridge State Park

- Rating: 4.8/5 (687 reviews)
- City: Mount Jewett McKean County
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#25. Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

- Rating: 4.7/5 (984 reviews)
- City: Philadelphia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#24. Rittenhouse Square

- Rating: 4.4/5 (864 reviews)
- City: Philadelphia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#23. Cathedral of Learning

- Rating: 4.6/5 (983 reviews)
- City: Pittsburgh
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#22. Dingmans Falls

- Rating: 4.7/5 (482 reviews)
- City: Dingmans Ferry Pocono Mountains Region
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#21. Harrah's Philadelphia

- Rating: 3.9/5 (14,837 reviews)
- City: Chester
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#20. Valley Forge National Historical Park

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,517 reviews)
- City: Valley Forge
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#19. Ohiopyle State Park

- Rating: 4.7/5 (790 reviews)
- City: Ohiopyle
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#18. Randyland

- Rating: 4.6/5 (436 reviews)
- City: Pittsburgh
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#17. Elfreth's Alley

- Rating: 4.3/5 (1,209 reviews)
- City: Philadelphia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#16. Independence National Historical Park

- Rating: 4.6/5 (3,020 reviews)
- City: Philadelphia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#15. King Of Prussia Mall

- Rating: 4.5/5 (984 reviews)
- City: King of Prussia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#14. Peddler's Village

- Rating: 4.3/5 (899 reviews)
- City: Lahaska
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#13. Bicycle Heaven

- Rating: 4.9/5 (1,023 reviews)
- City: Pittsburgh
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#12. Ricketts Glen State Park

- Rating: 4.8/5 (872 reviews)
- City: Benton
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#11. Flight 93 National Memorial

- Rating: 4.8/5 (2,122 reviews)
- City: Stoystown
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#10. Mount Washington

- Rating: 4.7/5 (3,042 reviews)
- City: Pittsburgh
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#9. Rocky Statue

- Rating: 4.2/5 (3,303 reviews)
- City: Philadelphia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#8. Lancaster Central Market

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,077 reviews)
- City: Lancaster Lancaster County
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#7. Liberty Bell Center

- Rating: 4.3/5 (4,973 reviews)
- City: Philadelphia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#5. Presque Isle State Park

- Rating: 4.7/5 (3,247 reviews)
- City: Erie
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#4. Gettysburg National Military Park

- Rating: 4.9/5 (8,518 reviews)
- City: Gettysburg
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#3. Reading Terminal Market

- Rating: 4.6/5 (3,954 reviews)
- City: Philadelphia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#2. Knoebels Amusement Resort

- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,733 reviews)
- City: Elysburg
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#1. Independence Hall

- Rating: 4.5/5 (9,196 reviews)
- City: Philadelphia
- Read more on Tripadvisor

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

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