A 13 mile stretch of the Pennsylvania turnpike was bypassed in 1968 leaving the roadway to be reclaimed by nature. There’s a rich history with the abandoned section including being a testing site for rumble strips, a movie location and much more. While this portion of the abandoned turnpike is not officially open; the public may visit at their own risk for walking, hiking, and biking but motor vehicles are not permitted.
We visited the abandoned section of the turnpike in October 2022. Because of the location of the access trail we used we entered the turnpike in the middle and walked to both ends. Overall we walked over 22 miles that day before my fitness tracker watch battery died and stopped recording our mileage. We walked so much that I nearly walked holes in my shoes while exploring the remains of the old tunnels and plaza. This isn’t even a dramatic statement… I must have not noticed my shoes had been getting worn and the soles were getting soft because by the end of the day I could actually feel everything beneath my feet.
If you somehow also end up nearly walking out of shoes while visiting the Abandoned PA Turnpike, definitely make sure to keep an eye on where you’re walking. Most of the still standing infrastructure has been graffitied or is covered in litter. Considering this section of the turnpike has been closed since the late 60’s I was surprised by the number of people that were also visiting as well as the amount of debris and defacing that had taken place. Obviously any time a landmark is being defaced it’s a shame future generations will not be able to experience the same cultural time capsule that we were able to enjoy. The amount of litter was especially annoying in my case since my shoes were nearly worn through and glass shards were covering all surfaces.
Overall, the abandoned section of the turnpike reminded me of an end of the world movie set where nature is starting to reclaim civilization. We walked the old roadways, hiked through the trails, peered through windows and photographed many of the structures. The inside of the tunnels are extremely dark and significantly cooler than outside. If you plan on going make sure to pack a good pair of walking shoes and a flashlight or headlamp along with plenty of snacks and drinks. We stopped and ate a small makeshift picnic outside the entrance to the second tunnel. Our visit to the tunnels was almost 8 hours which was about double the amount of time we expected to be there when planning our trip. Our favorite part was probably looking at the equipment still residing in the old plazas, the machines are massive. The Abandoned PA Turnpike has the allure of a museum but you get to be outside in nature while exploring.
If you have the time and are looking for a unique place for a walk or bike ride I highly recommend visiting the abandoned section of the Pennsylvania turnpike. Once a thoroughfare connecting the state’s bustling cities, this stretch of highway now stands as a haunting reminder of days gone by.
