How to get to PPP?

So I'm looking at perhaps going to PPP for the first time, but I'm not sure where I should fly into. Philly is far, but Harrisburg and Allentown are way pricier to fly into.

Are there any other options?

What do others do?

I always fly into NYC...from there its only a 2-2.5 hour drive west on I-80 to the park.

Allentown is the closet I believe. So if possible I would fly in there! Good luck and have a safe trip!!

Allentown may be closer but its still a 2 hour drive on mostly country roads.

Yeah, but if you do 476 to 80, it's longer but quicker.

Your choices from Allentown are roughly 100 miles at interstate speeds or roughly 75 miles at PA backroad speeds.

Should be able to do Allentown to Knoebels via the highways in under 1 1/2 hours.

Williamsport airport, as in Williamsport, PA- home of the Little League World Series is closer to Knoebels than most other airports. The roads are a bit trickier perhaps, but it's the closest airport. I believe the main airline is USAir, but be warned: the biggest planes that fly into the airport are usually "puddle jumpers." :)

You could fly into Avoca. Avoca isn't too far away from Knoebels, maybe 2 hours.It's in the Scranton area.

Oh please! I take those "country roads" all the time and I get to Knoebels much quicker than it took me to drive a damn 8 lane "parking lot" from DC to Fredericksburg on the way to PKD. You wimps just can't hack it. :) You just need a local to do the driving. But yes, from Allentown to Knoebels the non-interstate route would be about an hour 45 or 50 minutes. (78-61-54)

I would think flying to Avoca (Wilkes-Barre Scranton) would be comparably priced to flying to HBG or LVI (Lehigh Valley). But you never know when you might be able to get a good deal. Did you check Newark-- Ok they still consider that NYC-- but it's a good hour closer than JFK.

One advantage to HBG or LVI is that you could work in a Sunday trip to either Hershey or Dorney on the way back.

There's an airport in Catawissa, about 5 miles from the park ;)

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RatherGoodBear said:
You wimps just can't hack it.

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You're right. In my world, 35 is a waist size, not a speed limit. ;)

I lived in Allentown for two years, and can proudly say I never traveled those 'country roads' to Knoebels.

Seriously though, Streets and Trips backs all of our Allentown estimates:

Using interstate roads (476-80) - 98.4 miles, 1h 22m
Using the 'shortest route' (309-54) - 67.8 miles, 1h 57m
Using custom route (78-61-54) - 75.9 miles, 1h 50m

For additional reference the other suggestions in this thread (all assume the 'fastest route' over the 'shortest route' which usually means interstate highways as opposed to the less beaten path):

From JFK (NYC) - 194.5 miles, 2h 53m
From EWR (Newark) - 154.3 miles, 2h 25m
From AVP (Wilkes Barre) - 63.2 miles, 59m
From IPT (Williamsport) - 51.2 miles, 48m
From PHL (Philly) - 152.3 miles, 2h 6m

*** Edited 8/22/2005 7:43:47 AM UTC by Lord Gonchar***

Fly into Columbus, OH. From there it is only a nice little 6-7 hour jaunt.

Q: How to get to PPP?

A; Any way you can! ;)

OK, get it straight. Only some of them are "country roads." The rest are "coal mining haul roads." And nobody takes 309 north from Allentown-- well, actually everybody does, that's the problem. Avoid 309.

BTW, Gonch, does your interstate estimate go all the way to the park (487 or 42 to 487)? I'd think driving from 80 to the park would take 15 minutes or so by itself.

One more thing... unless you're really in a hurry, the first weekend of October will be a really nice time for leaf-watching in northeastern PA, not the peak, but still pretty nice.

You mean we're really supposed to be driving 35? :)

RGB, who'll give you all the shortcuts you need to navigate your way from Allentown to Elysburg.

Yeah, that includes the 42-487 bit too. I'm just going by what Streets and Trips says, but if memory serves me correctly, it sounds pretty accurate.

It has you getting off I-80 at exit 232 at the 1 hour and 11 minute mark with the last 8.0 miles taking 11 minutes.

(Now that I really look at it, they seem to be assuming a speed of about 76 mph on the highways - so keep that in mind and compare to your own driving habits)

Get to PPP anyway you can!

My PPP checklist is almost complete. We got the day clear from work. The campsite reserved. Now All I need is to figure out a costume and make the three hour trek from South Jersey :)