Best Things to do in Jim Thorpe PA

Jim Thorpe is a cute and charming town in eastern Pennsylvania that’s also known as the “Switzerland of America.” It is a charming town filled with history and surrounded by natural beauty. Jim Thorpe makes a perfect day or weekend trip to explore. It is only a two hour drive from New York City and an hour and half drive from Philadelphia. It’s filled with historic attractions, unique inns, cool shops, and great restaurants. From scenic train rides to historic mansions and outdoor adventures, Jim Thorpe offers a variety of excursions for every visitor! I visited Jim Thorpe for the day at the end of October and it was a beautiful day with peak fall foliage colors. Here are the best things to do in Jim Thorpe, PA in one day!

Best Things to do in Jim Thorpe

Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway

One of the best things to do in Jim Thorpe PA is to take a scenic train ride the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway. The Lehigh Gorge trains are operated by the Reading and Northern Railroad from downtown Jim Thorpe into the Lehigh Gorge State Park. You can take in the beautiful fall foliage scenery as you travel over rivers, bridges, and through a tunnel.

The train ride is 70 minutes long, except in October they are only 45 minutes. Tickets are sold at the station and on their website. They offer a variety of seating options like open air car, standard coach, crown-class seating, and vista-class dome car seating.

I recommend getting tickets to their open air car seating. The open air car features large open windows that are completely open for unobstructed beautiful views. Benches are lined down the center of the cars facing out toward the window so you don’t have to worry about which side of the train to sit on (the right side is the best!). You are free to get up and walk around and you have the option to get the best photos. Tickets for the open air car are $23.

Lehigh Gorge State Park

Another fun thing to do in Jim Thorpe is exploring the outdoors! I recommend checking out Lehigh Gorge State Park. You will find beautiful waterfalls and great hiking and bike trails.

Here are the top five hiking trails in Lehigh Gorge State Park:

Glen Onoko Falls + Lehigh Gorge Overlook Trail (3.3 miles / Est. 1h 59m)
Cave Falls and Jim Thorpe Overlook (2 miles / Est. 1h 31m)
Lehigh Gorge Trail from Jim Thorpe to Abandoned Tunnel (3.7 miles / Est. 1h 11m)
Buttermilk and Luke’s Falls (1.2 miles / Est. 27m)
Lehigh River Gorge: Jim Thorpe to Penn Haven Junction (12.4 miles / Est. 3h 52m)

A great biking trail is the Lehigh Gorge Rail Trail. It features a 26 mile rail trail that runs along the river. You will see fantastic rock formations, tumbling waterfalls, and abundant wildlife. You can picnic at one of the little picnic stops along the trail, explored the ruined locks of the former Lehigh Canal, or marvel at the Penn Haven Planes. Check out Pocono Biking on more information regarding bike rentals and shuttle service.

In the summer, you can go white water rafting and kayaking. And in the winter, Jim Thorpe transforms into a snowy wonderland and becomes a popular place for skiing and snowshoeing!

Old Jail Museum

The Old Jail Museum is a historic site located in downtown Jim Thorpe that offers visitors a glimpse into the region’s intriguing dark past. The museum used to be a county jail that was constructed in 1871. The jail housed several members of the Molly Maguires, a secret Irish-American organization involved in labor disputes in the coal-mining regions of Pennsylvania. It became the site of their trials and executions.

Today, the Old Jail serves as a museum that showcases the history of the Molly Maguires and provides insight into the the region’s industrial and mining heritage. You are able to take a tour of the building and learn all about its history. The tour starts off with a presentation about the 7 Molly Maguires and history of the jail. A guide will then walk you through the dungeon, cell blocks, and the warden’s living quarters. Tours are 30 minutes long and tickets are $11. They are open from June through October.

Asa Packer Mansion

The Asa Packer Mansion is a historic mansion museum that was home to Asa Packer, a 19th century industrialist, philanthropist, and the founder of Lehigh University. He played a significant role in the development of the Lehigh Valley region. The mansion is well-preserved and a great example of Victorian architecture. The mansion is open to the public and guided tours are available. The mansion is furnished with period pieces and visitors can explore the various rooms including the parlor, dining room, bedrooms, each decorated with the style of the mid-1800s. You will get to learn more about the life of Asa Packer, the history of the mansion, and the social customs of the Victorian era.

The museum is open from June through October and only open on weekends in November, April and May. General admission tickets are $12.

Shopping

Shopping in Jim Thorpe is so much fun! It’s filled with so many eclectic and unique shops and cute boutiques. You will also find art galleries and antique shops. The shops at Jim Thorpe include everything from fashion, home decor, books, outdoor gear and more! Most of the boutiques are on Broadway and you can find a few on Race Street.

In addition to shopping for items, Jim Thorpe also is filed with cafes, bakeries, and specialty food shops. Here are my favorites to check out:

Looking to visit another cute and charming town in Pennsylvania?

Check out my Day Trip to New Hope!