There are two kinds of people in Pennsylvania during the summer.

People who jump on the Turnpike, put their head down, and try to get where they’re going as fast as possible.

And people who decide the journey might actually be worth experiencing.

I’ve never been much of a Turnpike person.

Maybe it’s the endless construction zones. Maybe it’s the tolls. Maybe it’s the feeling that you could be crossing one of the most beautiful states in the country without actually seeing any of it. Whatever the reason, I’ve always preferred the slower roads - the roads that actually let you experience Pennsylvania.

As an Air Force brat, I’ve lived all over the country. Moving around so much gave me an appreciation for regional character - the little things that make a place feel distinct. And truthfully, avoiding the Turnpike is how I first discovered the eastern stretches of the Lincoln Highway myself.

Years ago, while heading east and intentionally taking the slower route, I found myself following US 30 through small towns, mountain gaps, old diners, roadside attractions, and stretches of scenery I never would have experienced otherwise. Suddenly, Pennsylvania stopped feeling like something to drive through and started feeling like something to explore.

That’s the magic of the Lincoln Highway.

Long before interstate exits and GPS rerouting, the Lincoln Highway connected communities across America as the nation’s first coast-to-coast highway. Here in Pennsylvania, the route winds through nearly 200 miles of history, culture, roadside Americana, and beautiful mountain landscapes - from the Pittsburgh region all the way toward Gettysburg, York, and Philadelphia.

And this summer, more travelers than ever may find themselves making that journey east.

With Philadelphia welcoming the world next month for World Cup events, Pennsylvania’s roads will be busy with travelers heading across the state. But for anyone coming from the Pittsburgh area, I’d argue this: don’t just race to Philadelphia. Take the scenic route.

Because some of the best parts of Pennsylvania happen between the big cities.

The Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor is filled with places that reward curiosity. You’ll pass through classic small towns where old neon signs still glow at night. You’ll discover mom-and-pop diners, vintage motels, roadside ice cream stands, scenic overlooks, quirky attractions, historic main streets, and museums preserving stories that helped shape American travel culture.

You can stop in Latrobe at the Lincoln Highway Experience Museum, where exhibits explore everything from the birth of the road trip to the famous Roadside Giants that once beckoned travelers from the highway. A little farther east, the mountains begin to open up around Ligonier and Bedford, where travelers have been crossing the Alleghenies for centuries. Continue on and you’ll find landscapes shaped by the Civil War, the industrial age, and the dawn of automobile tourism.

The Lincoln Highway doesn’t rush you.

That’s kind of the point.

In an era where we optimize every route and shave minutes off arrival times, there’s something refreshing about choosing the road that gives you more stories instead.

That spirit is exactly what inspired our upcoming Great American Road Trip Celebration at the Lincoln Highway Experience Museum on Saturday, June 20, 2026. The event is rooted in the same idea that made the Lincoln Highway special in the first place: travel isn’t only about the destination. It’s about discovery, connection, and the memories you make along the way.

Classic cars, summer music, roadside nostalgia, family fun — it’s all a celebration of a uniquely American tradition that still resonates today.

Road trips are having a bit of a comeback lately, and honestly, I think people are craving exactly what roads like the Lincoln Highway offer: experiences that feel authentic.

So if you’re heading east this summer — whether for the World Cup, a weekend getaway, or just because the weather is nice and the tank is full — consider skipping the Turnpike.

Roll the windows down.

Take US 30.

Pull over somewhere unexpected.

Because the best trips usually aren’t the fastest ones.