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.

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Where to Eat in Lancaster

If you’re looking for affordable options, Belvedere Inn Restaurant and Bar (402 N Queen St.) and Iron Hill Brewery - Lancaster (781 Harrisburg Pike) are great picks.

When to visit Lancaster

Lancaster in December
Estimated hotel price
$133
1 night at 3-star hotel
Lancaster in December
Estimated hotel price
$133
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. Airlines that fly from the United States to Lancaster include Southern / Mokulele, Breeze Airways and United Airlines. 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 Ardmore takes 1h 04m and costs around $20 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from New York, expect to pay about $56 for a 2h 43m 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 Drive Tri-State, 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. Airlines that fly from the United States to Lancaster include Southern / Mokulele, Breeze Airways and United Airlines. 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 Ardmore takes 1h 04m and costs around $20 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from New York, expect to pay about $56 for a 2h 43m 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 Drive Tri-State, 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 (7,972 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,511 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,943 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,460 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,344 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,935 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,208 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,583 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (911 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,680 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,568 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,769 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,723 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,995 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,192 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,392 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (405 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,230 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,433 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,312 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Lancaster

Where to stay in Lancaster

Average rates range from around $179 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $350 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Tru By Hilton Lancaster East and Comfort Suites Lancaster Amish Country. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Lancaster, with prices from $57 to $776 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Lancaster are about 98% 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

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Eden Resort & Suites, BW Premier Collection
3 stars
Excellent (9.1, 924 reviews)
$149+
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Cork Factory Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, 1242 reviews)
$118+
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La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Lancaster
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, 1685 reviews)
$78+
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Country Living Inn
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 776 reviews)
$74+
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Courtyard by Marriott Lancaster
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 245 reviews)
$141+
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Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lancaster-Lititz By IHG
2 stars
Excellent (8.4, 689 reviews)
$113+
View

Renting a car in Lancaster

Renting a car in Lancaster costs $60 per day, on average, or $120 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 4% cheaper than airport locations in Lancaster.

Expect to pay $4.43 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 $53.15 and $70.86. Standard (Toyota Tacoma or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Lancaster, while also 15% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in Lancaster costs $60 per day, on average, or $120 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 4% cheaper than airport locations in Lancaster.

Expect to pay $4.43 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 $53.15 and $70.86. Standard (Toyota Tacoma or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Lancaster, while also 15% cheaper than other types, on average.

Best car rental deals in Lancaster

Intermediate

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$48/day

Intermediate

Standard

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$49/day

Standard
Find car rentals in Lancaster