Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Lancaster travel guide

Lancaster Tourism | Lancaster Guide

You're Going to Love Lancaster

With a population of 59,322, Lancaster is a must-see destination in Pennsylvania, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Lancaster deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

Article

Where to Eat in Lancaster

If you’re looking for affordable options, The Pressroom Restaurant (26-28 West King Street) and John J Jeffries at the Lancaster Arts Hotel (300 Harrisburg Ave) are great picks.

When to visit Lancaster

Lancaster in December
Estimated hotel price
$134
1 night at 3-star hotel
Lancaster in December
Estimated hotel price
$134
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Lancaster in July, when the average temperature is 73.4 °F, and the highest can go up to 84.2 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 21.2 °F, with an average temperature of 28.4 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in July, when precipitation is around 4.4″. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Lancaster, with an average rainfall of 2.5″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Lancaster

Plane

When flying to Lancaster, you’ll arrive at Lancaster (LNS), which is located 6 miles from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Lancaster departs from Pittsburgh and takes around 1h 26m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Lancaster. The train journey from Lancaster to New York takes 2h 47m and costs around $51 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Washington, D.C., expect to pay about $33 for a 3h 41m trip. The train station in Lancaster is called Lancaster, and is located 1.1 miles from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Lancaster is to pick up a car rental from New York, which is about 132 miles from Lancaster. You’ll find branches of Turo and Thrifty, among others, in New York.

Bus

Lancaster’s bus station is located 0.2 miles from the city center.

Plane

When flying to Lancaster, you’ll arrive at Lancaster (LNS), which is located 6 miles from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Lancaster departs from Pittsburgh and takes around 1h 26m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Lancaster. The train journey from Lancaster to New York takes 2h 47m and costs around $51 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Washington, D.C., expect to pay about $33 for a 3h 41m trip. The train station in Lancaster is called Lancaster, and is located 1.1 miles from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Lancaster is to pick up a car rental from New York, which is about 132 miles from Lancaster. You’ll find branches of Turo and Thrifty, among others, in New York.

Bus

Lancaster’s bus station is located 0.2 miles from the city center.

Airports near Lancaster

PHLPhiladelphia
BWIBaltimore/Washington
MDTHarrisburg

Airlines serving Lancaster

Lufthansa
Good (7,480 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,402 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,453 reviews)
Delta
Good (7,973 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,767 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,007 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,988 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,974 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,475 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,375 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,647 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (853 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,288 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,531 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,277 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,130 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,023 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,332 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,069 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,379 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Lancaster

Where to stay in Lancaster

Average rates range from around $173 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $487 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Tru By Hilton Lancaster East and Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Lancaster East at The Outlets. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Lancaster, with prices from $70 to $393 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Lancaster are about 130% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Most popular hotel in Lancaster by neighborhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Lancaster

Most booked hotels in Lancaster

See all
Hotel Rock Lititz
3 stars
Excellent (9.5, 657 reviews)
$165+
View
The Inn At Leola Village
4 stars
Excellent (9.1, 480 reviews)
$148+
View
Eden Resort & Suites, BW Premier Collection
3 stars
Excellent (9, 835 reviews)
$144+
View
Red Caboose Motel & Restaurant
2 stars
Excellent (8.8, 1280 reviews)
$92+
View
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Lancaster
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, 1544 reviews)
$87+
View
Classic Inn Lancaster
2 stars
Excellent (8.6, 1612 reviews)
$79+
View

Renting a car in Lancaster

Renting a car in Lancaster costs $55 per day, on average, or $110 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 7% cheaper than airport locations in Lancaster.

Expect to pay $3.48 per gallon in Lancaster (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $41.79 and $55.72. Standard (Toyota Tacoma or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Lancaster, while also 19% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in Lancaster costs $55 per day, on average, or $110 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 7% cheaper than airport locations in Lancaster.

Expect to pay $3.48 per gallon in Lancaster (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $41.79 and $55.72. Standard (Toyota Tacoma or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Lancaster, while also 19% cheaper than other types, on average.

Best car rental deals in Lancaster

Compact

4 Adults, 2 Bags

$44/day

Compact

Economy

2 Adults, 2 Bags

$44/day

Economy
Find car rentals in Lancaster

Lancaster Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Lancaster city guide for the best Lancaster travel tips. To help you organize your Lancaster trip ideas, this Lancaster visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.