Travel To & Within The Area
Make Wedding Weekend a Mini Getaway!
Mechanicsburg is close to many world-renowned attractions and regions, such as Hershey, Gettysburg, and Amish country. Read below about the wide array of fun things to do and see (and eat!) while you're in town. Links to all attractions are provided under each highlight.
First Up: Hershey
The town of Hershey (about 21 miles or a ~30–35 minute drive from Mechanicsburg), aka "The Sweetest Place on Earth," is home to a variety of Hershey-branded attractions. Just take your pick!
1. Hersheypark (the main theme park): A classic for families, thrill-seekers, and anyone who wants a playful day of rides, fun, + treats.
Tickets: Hersheypark runs frequent online deals, and they offer both group and package pricing.
2. The Boardwalk (Hershey's waterpark): Included with summer admission; typically open Memorial Day–Labor Day.
3. ZooAmerica (Hershey's Zoo): included with Hersheypark admission when accessed via the Hersheypark bridge during public operating hours.
Parking note: Parking is charged per vehicle/day.
4. Hershey’s Chocolate World (free + paid activities): Great on its own – even if you’re not doing the park!
✔ FREE Chocolate Tour ride (includes a sweet sample at the end).
✔ Fun add-ons like Create Your Own Candy Bar (ticketed).
5. Hershey Gardens: Beautiful, relaxing, and very “Hershey.”
✔ Includes the Butterfly Atrium (no extra fee; it’s included in admission).
✔ The Children’s Garden is a hit for kids.
6. The Spa at The Hotel Hershey: A super indulgent treat (even for a couple of hours). The spa is open 7 days a week, and they recommend booking in advance.
7. Shows in Hershey
✔ Hershey Theatre (Broadway touring shows, concerts, comedy, etc.).
8. Outlet Shopping
✔ Tanger Outlets Hershey (easy stop if you have downtime).
OTHER DAY TRIPS BEYOND HERSHEY
1. Indian Echo Caverns (near Hershey/Hummelstown)
A fun, unique stop — and it’s always ~52° inside, which is great in summer. Take an hour tour of these caverns with impressive limestone formations & underground lakes, plus a gem mill & petting zoo on the property! Typical summer hours are longer (Memorial Day–Labor Day). Bring a jacket—even in summer!
2. Turkey Hill Experience (Columbia, PA)
Interactive, fun, and full of samples — you can even “create” your own virtual ice cream flavor.
3. Lake Tobias Wildlife Park (Halifax, PA)
A really popular family day with animals + safari options (seasonal hours).
Lake Tobias Wildlife Park Link
4. The National Civil War Museum (Harrisburg, PA)
A well-done museum with substantial exhibits; hours vary by day (generally open most days).
National Civil War Museum Link
5. Lancaster / Amish Country (classic PA experience)
If you want the “Amish Country” vibe (markets, farms, buggy rides, countryside, shops full of handcrafted items), Lancaster County is the place.
Explore Pennsylvania Dutch Country (Amish country)
6. Gettysburg, PA (for the history buffs)
For all you history nerds (and any lovers of small, quaint towns), Gettysburg is your place to explore! It's a doable day trip, and summer is a big season for events.
7. Wineries & “Relax and Sip” Spots
✔ Royal Winery (Central PA winery with weekend hours/events).
✔ Spring Gate Vineyard & Brewery (farm vibe, popular local hangout).
Spring Gate Farm Vineyard & Brewery Link
8. Great Indoor Markets
✔ Broad Street Market (Harrisburg): Open Thu–Sat (vendors open 10–4, many with extended hours).
✔ West Shore Farmers Market (Lemoyne, ~ 15 min drive from M’burg): A huge dual-level indoor market (open since 1950!), full of specialty shops, vendors, and booths that are mostly Amish-run and owned. Open Tue 8am-3pm / Fri 8am-5pm/ Sat 8am-2pm.
If you’re traveling by plane, these are the most convenient airport options to get you to the Mechanicsburg area (using the hotels we have room blocks at as a reference point).
Closest / easiest
Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) — about 20 miles (~25 min drive): This is the closest international airport and usually the simplest option, although do keep in mind— MDT doesn't offer as big a selection of flight times as the larger airports listed below it do, and flights are typically a bit pricier.
Guests can currently fly nonstop into Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) from these cities: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Myrtle Beach, Nashville, Philadelphia, Punta Gorda, Orlando/Sanford, Sarasota-Bradenton, Tampa-St. Pete, Washington Dulles, and more.
Major Airports Within 1-3 hrs
Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) — about 83 miles (~1.5 hrs to 2 hrs drive)
Philadelphia International (PHL) — about 109–122 miles (~2 hr drive)
Washington, DC area
Washington Dulles (IAD) — about 105–107 miles (~2 hr 15 min drive)
Reagan National (DCA) — about 116 miles (~2 hrs drive)
NYC / NJ options
Newark Liberty in New Jersey (EWR) — about 165 miles (~3 hr 14 min)
NYC – JFK (JFK) — about 189 miles (~3 hr 50 drive)
NYC – LaGuardia (LGA) — about 184 miles (~3 hr 40 min drive)
Other airports within a few hours
Lehigh Valley International (ABE – Allentown) — about 99 miles (~1 hr 45 drive)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International (AVP) — about 122 miles (~2 hr 20 min drive)
Pittsburgh International (PIT) — about 210–211 miles (~3 hr 45 drive)
Shuttles & Other Transportation Options To/From Wedding
We’ll be providing shuttle service between our hotel blocks and the venue (Rich Valley Golf / RVG) so you can relax and enjoy the evening. All three hotel blocks are only about a 7–10 minute drive from the venue.
Shuttle to RVG: Exact pickup times are TBD, but shuttles will arrive with enough time for guests to be seated at least 15 minutes before the ceremony.
Shuttle back to hotels: We anticipate two return trips, likely around 10:00ish PM and then 10:45 or 11:00ish PM (timing may adjust slightly). Final times will be posted here once confirmed.
*Note: When you RSVP on this site, please say whether you think you'll be using the shuttles (a prediction is fine), so we can let the shuttle service know what to expect and what size vehicle is needed.
Other options
Rideshare or taxi: Uber, Lyft, and local taxis are available.
Drive yourself: If you’ll be enjoying more than a couple of adult beverages, you’re welcome to leave your car overnight and pick it up in the morning. The RVG parking lot is safe and surveilled (plenty of golfers choose this option after a post-golf happy hour).
Designated driver: Always a great option.
If you’re flying into a larger airport and would rather not drive the whole way, Amtrak can be a really easy alternative—especially from NYC/Newark or Philadelphia. You may also want to use Amtrak simply to go explore NYC, DC, or Philly before or after wedding day.
New York City / Newark → Harrisburg
✔ Amtrak’s Keystone Service runs between New York City (Moynihan Train Hall / Penn Station) and Harrisburg Transportation Center (often with multiple daily departures).
✔ You can also catch Keystone Service from Newark Liberty Airport’s Amtrak station (EWR) on select trains.
✔ Typical ride time is roughly 3–4 hours, depending on the train.
DC / Baltimore / VA→ Harrisburg
✔ Baltimore: There’s an Amtrak station branded “BWI Marshall Airport (BWI)” with a free shuttle between the terminal and the rail station.
✔ Washington, DC (DCA): Take Metro from DCA to Washington Union Station, then Amtrak onward. DCA has a Metro station connected to the airport.
✔ Dulles: IAD connects to Metro’s Silver Line; you’d ride Metro into DC and then get to Union Station for Amtrak.
✔ All rides from the DC / Baltimore / Virginia area are roughly 4 hrs.
Philadelphia → Harrisburg
✔ Amtrak Keystone Service also runs directly from Philadelphia 30th Street Station to Harrisburg (frequent service).
✔ If you fly into PHL, you can take a metro directly from the airport to Amtrak at 30th Street Station.
✔ Typical ride time is roughly 1 hr 45 mins, and the metro from PHL airport to 30th Street Station is about 15 mins.
Once you arrive in Harrisburg
✔ From Harrisburg (HAR), you can rent a car in the area or coordinate a ride to your hotel (Mechanicsburg is a short drive).
✔ If you’re flying into Harrisburg International (MDT), the airport is close to both the Middletown Amtrak station and the downtown Harrisburg Amtrak station (both are on the Keystone line).
Link for up-to-date train times: www.amtrak.com/train-schedules-timetables
Car Rentals
Getting between your accommodations, the wedding venue, and anywhere you'd like to explore while in town will be challenging without your own vehicle. Uber, Lyft, and taxis are certainly an option, but going this route could get pricey and inconvenient.
You can rent a vehicle from any number of commercial rental companies at any airport you fly into, OR you can use Turo, which is often more convenient, cheaper, and an easier, faster process than the commercial companies.
Turo is a vehicle-rental "share economy" marketplace (think "Airbnb for vehicles"), where you rent from local hosts at comparatively affordable rates, with convenient pickup options and a smooth, user-friendly process. You can choose from the standard sedan to EV's to pickup trucks to sports cars to minivans to convertible-tops and more.
All rentals come standard with insurance and a certain number of miles included. There are several add-on options, such as added insurance, unlimited mileage, prepaid fueling (incl. EV charging), Apple CarPlay, child safety seats, sporting equipment racks, a backup cam, pet allowances, blind spot warning, GPS trackers, paying in installments, and more. Tolls are handled by billing you through the app after your rental is complete, so no need to stock up on coins & bills or bring a toll transponder or tag.
Turo vehicles are available throughout most cities and towns across the world, but are particularly easy to access at airports. The host will provide the vehicle’s exact parked location and instructions in the Turo app. Most of the time, the keys are located in a lockbox on the car, so entry is done on your own without the host ever needing to be present at pickup or drop-off.
You'll need to download the Turo app in order to rent, but to first scope it out, you can go to Turo's website: https://turo.com/
Once you secure your rental, it'll be waiting for you at the stated location. The app will instruct you to snap some photos before you start driving and upon return, which will all be stored within the app. All other instructions & details will be easily accessible to you in the app, as well as the ability to easily & quickly communicate with your host before, during, and after your rental.