Disclosure: This post is in partnership with the Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau. All opinions (and snake sightings) are my own. This post also contains affiliate links — if you book or buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Why the Susquehanna River Valley Should Be on Your Spring Travel List
The Susquehanna River Valley is one of those central Pennsylvania pockets that quietly does it all — easy river hikes, small-town main streets, a real arts scene, and the kind of hometown restaurants where the portions are absurd and the welcome is warmer. I drove up from Arlington, Virginia for a long weekend based in Lewisburg, and came home with muddy boots, a ceramic berry bowl, and a list of reasons to come back.
This guide rounds up the 8 best stops in and around Lewisburg, PA — the hikes, the meals, and the cultural moments that made the trip — plus where to stay and what’s happening in the Susquehanna River Valley year-round.
A Quick Tour of the SRV’s River Towns
The Susquehanna River Valley (locals call it the SRV) sits in Union, Snyder, and Northumberland counties that surround the confluence of the West and North Branches of the Susquehanna River. The towns are close enough that you can pick one home base and bounce around easily.
The ones to know: Lewisburg (the cultural heart, home to Bucknell University and a walkable Market Street), Mifflinburg (a.k.a. “Buggy Town” for its 19th-century carriage history), Selinsgrove (blends small-town friendliness and scenic countryside), Sunbury (historic river town, gateway to the Shikellamy overlook), and Milton (quiet riverfront with the lovely island trails I’ll get to). Drive a little farther east and you’ll hit Danville and Bloomsburg — both worth the detour.
If you love this corner of central PA, you’ll probably also love my ultimate weekend guide to State College & Bellefonte — same region, same small-town energy, totally different itinerary.
Travel Tip: Stop by the Visitor Center
If you're new to the Susquehanna River Valley, swing by the Visitor Information Center (2733 State Route 45, Suite 2, Milton, PA, confirm hours on visitcentralpa.org) before you do anything else. I picked up brochures, trail maps, and a couple of restaurant recs.
Where to Stay: The Inn at Lewisburg
📍 7701 West Branch Highway, Lewisburg, PA
🛏️ Book your stay at The Inn at Lewisburg →
The Inn at Lewisburg is in the middle of a full remodel and I got to stay in one of the newly renovated rooms — clean, fresh, and an easy upgrade from your standard roadside hotel. The property has a pool, terrace, and a peaceful walking path around a pond, which made it ridiculously easy to refresh between hikes. It’s about seven minutes from downtown and even closer to Milton State Park.
If you’re booking, ask specifically for one of the renovated rooms while the remodel is in progress.
Pro Tip: Book with Points
I always book hotels with one of my favorite travel credit cards so every trip earns points toward the next one. Learn more about my favorite travel cards.
Where to Hike
The Susquehanna River Valley is a sneaky-good hiking region — none of these are bucket-list-grueling, but every one of them rewards you.
1. Dale’s Ridge Trail
A 2.5-mile loop with vista lookouts that open up over the valley. I went in late April and the Virginia bluebells were in full bloom — magic. I had long stretches of the trail to myself and (small wildlife update) saw a snake doing snake things, which I respected from a distance. Check out the trail map →
2. Milton State Park
If Dale’s Ridge gives you the views, Milton State Park gives you the river. The park sits on an 82-acre island in the West Branch Susquehanna River, with flat hiking trails along the water. Check out the park map →
3. Shikellamy State Park Overlook
The showstopper. The overlook sits high above the confluence of the West and North branches of the Susquehanna, and the views are unreal.
There are three main parking areas along the road leading into the overlook section of the park, so you can start your visit from different points depending on how much walking you want to do. From any of the lots, you can either drive part of the way up or hike in. I’d personally recommend the hike if you’re up for it; the elevation gain was a bit more than I expected, but the trail is well-marked and I had the entire overlook to myself on a Sunday afternoon.
If you have extra time, don’t skip the Deer Trail where you might spot some deer. On the opposite side of the river near the marina area, there’s also a flat 1.5-mile ADA-accessible path that runs along the water. Check out the park’s trails →
Hiking Gear I Recommend
These beginner-friendly hiking essentials are what I’d recommend.
Where to Eat
From riverside lunch spots to hometown dinners, the Susquehanna River Valley punches well above its weight on food. These are the four restaurants that earned their place on the list.
4. Jackass Brewing Company (Lunch)
Right along the Buffalo Valley Rail Trail, which means you can earn your meal with a walk. The tater tots and jerk chicken tacos were both standouts, and I love that they had thoughtful non-alcoholic beer options on the menu — a small thing, but appreciated.
5. Skeeter’s BBQ (Lunch)
Fast-casual BBQ with knockout river valley views — this is one of those “the view is the décor” spots. The brisket was excellent and came with horseradish on the side, which I wasn’t expecting and ended up loving. Different from your standard sweet BBQ, perfectly matched to the smoke.
6. Elizabeth’s An American Bistro (Dinner)
A polished, warm spot for a slow dinner. I had the risotto and a fresh salad, and the dessert menu looked incredible — but as a solo traveler, I knew I couldn’t put a dent in it alone. Couples and groups: order the dessert.
7. La Primavera Italiano Ristorante (Dinner)
The classic hometown Italian spot — warm, generous, and the portions are enormous. The kind of place where you start with bread, end with leftovers, and feel taken care of the whole way through. If you only have one dinner in Lewisburg, this is the one.
Bonus: sweetFrog Frozen Yogurt
Walkable on Market Street and worth a quick after-dinner stop. The staff was incredibly accommodating with my nut allergy. Small-town hospitality in froyo form.
Things to Do in Downtown Lewisburg
8. Market Street, the Samek Art Museum & Bucknell Campus
Save an unhurried afternoon for downtown Lewisburg’s Market Street — a historic main street corridor to the river valley, with locally owned shops, cafés, and easy walking. Right on Market Street, the Samek Art Museum is a thoughtful one-room gallery (low commitment, high reward), and there’s a second, larger Samek gallery on the Bucknell University campus a short walk away. Pair it with a quick stroll through Bucknell’s brick-and-ivy quads and you’ve got the perfect rainy-day or post-hike pit stop — three of Lewisburg’s best small moments rolled into one easy afternoon.
Bonus: The Lewisburg Arts Festival
I happened to be in town for the Lewisburg Arts Festival, an outdoor day along Market Street with art vendors, live music, a food court, and a petting zoo. It rained the day I went — and people still showed up. Vendors stayed under their tents, the music kept playing, and I left with a handmade ceramic berry bowl, fresh local pasta, a sage-and-lavender shower scent, pierogies in my belly, and a sample of local spirits. A very SRV kind of afternoon.
Year-Round Events & Happenings in the Susquehanna River Valley
The Lewisburg Arts Festival is one of the SRV’s biggest weekends, but the region runs on a steady calendar of small-town events worth planning a trip around. (Always confirm dates closer to your visit — most are scheduled annually but timing shifts.)
- Lewisburg Ice Festival (February) — Ice sculptures, hot drinks, and bundled-up Market Street strolling.
- Lewisburg Arts Festival (late April) — The day I described above. Bring a rain jacket just in case.
- Bucknell University events (year-round) — Public lectures, concerts, gallery openings, and athletics. Always check the campus calendar.
- Knoebels Amusement Resort season (late April – October) — A world-class, award-winning, free-admission amusement resort, in nearby Elysburg.
- Summer farmers markets (Lewisburg, Selinsgrove) — Best in peak summer.
- Selinsgrove Brewfest (July) Unlimited tastings of beer, wine, and spirits.
- Apple & harvest festivals (September/October) — Pair with peak fall foliage along the river.
- Mifflinburg Christkindl Market (early December) — A traditional German Christmas market, beloved locally.
What I Missed (a.k.a. Reasons to Come Back)
I packed a lot into one weekend, but there’s plenty I left for next time:
- Woodward Cave for a visit to one one of the largest caverns in Pennsylvania
- R.B. Winter State Park for deeper-woods hiking
- Mifflinburg’s “Buggy Town” historic district for shopping, dining, and exploring the Buggy Museum
- Susquehanna River Water Trail for kayaking in summer
- Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland to see creatures at a world-class specialized zoo
- T&D Cats of the World to see felines in a santuary environment
Practical Tips for Your Susquehanna River Valley Trip
- Best time to visit: Late April through October. April for bluebells and the Arts Festival, October for peak fall foliage along the river.
- Getting there: ~3.5 hrs from DC, ~3 from Philly, ~3-3.5 from NYC, ~3.5 from Pittsburgh. A car is essential. (Looking for more weekend trips from DC? I’ve got a growing collection.)
- What to pack: Layers, a real rain jacket (the festival doesn’t cancel — and neither should you), and trail shoes that can handle mud.
- Solo travel friendly? Yes. Walkable towns, safe-feeling everywhere, restaurants comfortable seating solo travelers, and small-town kindness in spades.
What I Pack For Most Trips
From flight essentials to in-destination staples. These tried-and-true picks help me stay organized, comfortable, and prepared wherever I’m headed.
Final Thoughts
The Susquehanna River Valley rewards a slower kind of travel. A weekend here gave me hikes that emptied my brain, a rainy festival that filled my kitchen with handmade things, dinners where the server actually knew the chef, and a sunset overlook I had entirely to myself. If you’re craving a weekend that’s all river views, real food, and small-town warmth, this corner of central Pennsylvania is waiting for you.
If you go, tag me @emilygoesplaces — I want to see your bluebells, your festival haul, and your Skeeter’s brisket plate.
Disclosure: This post is in partnership with the Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau. All opinions (and snake sightings) are my own. This post also contains affiliate links — if you book or buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
