It’s almost the bye weekend, folks!

Football is so important to student life here at Penn State that when the team has a week off, people often don’t know what to do with themselves. If you’re thinking about taking advantage of the free weekend to get out of town, we have some suggestions.

At Onward State, we’re no stranger to road trips, so we thought we’d compile some of the best weekend road trips to do from State College. Some of these are easier to accomplish than others, but maybe something will catch your eye and encourage you to do some traveling.

Niagara Falls & Toronto, Canada

Not a lot of Penn State students realize this, but the world-famous Niagara Falls is only about four hours away from State College. Canada’s largest city, Toronto, is only about an hour and a half further up the road. If you’re looking for an easy international getaway, this is probably your best bet.

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Only about three and a half hours south of Penn State, Shenandoah is one of the closest of America’s 63 national parks to State College. The park’s main attraction is Skyline Drive, a scenic byway that runs over 100 miles through the park.

Even if you don’t like hiking, it’s easy to drive along the road and stop at the lookouts along the way. If hiking is your speed, the most popular hikes are Old Rag Mountain, Hawksbill Loop, and the Rose River Trail.

Washington, D.C.

Our nation’s capital is only about three hours and 45 minutes from State College. The best part about traveling to Washington DC is that a majority of its major attractions are completely free to enter. This includes the Washington Monument, the National Archives, all of the Smithsonian museums, and more. If you’re looking for an inexpensive getaway, this could be it.

Montreal, Canada

If you’re looking for a European flare and are willing to make the drive, Montreal is about eight hours from State College. That’s a long drive for a weekend but is doable depending on when you leave on Friday.

Montreal is located in Canada’s French-speaking Quebec province and therefore feels much more like another country than many of the nation’s other cities. If you’re really gritty and willing to drive even further, Quebec City feels even more European and is just a few hours away from Montreal.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This obviously isn’t a “road trip” if you’re from the Pittsburgh area, but for those of us from eastern Pennsylvania or beyond, a weekend trip to Pittsburgh is a great way to see some new spots. If you go this weekend, you can catch a Pirates game at PNC Park, grab a bite at the original Primanti Bros., and take the funicular up Mount Washington.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio

If you continue west a bit further past Pittsburgh, you’ll reach Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This park is about three and a half hours from Penn State. While it often gets listed as one of America’s least interesting national parks, it truly shines in the autumn season as the leaves begin to change.

Lancaster County & Hershey, Pennsylvania

Another classic cultural piece of Pennsylvania is Amish Country. If you’ve never visited before, you have to go for the pretzels alone. Spend a day exploring Lancaster, Lititz, and Kitchen Kettle Village. If you’re an ice cream fan, visit the Turkey Hill Experience.

Not far from Lancaster is Hershey, home to the iconic chocolate company. Hersheypark is one of America’s premier theme parks, but if you’re traveling on a college student’s budget and don’t want to spend too much, Hershey’s Chocolate World is right next door to the park with free admission and an awesome ride. If you’re over 21, don’t forget to stop at Tröegs Independent Brewing right down the road.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The inverse of Pittsburgh, if you’re not originally from the Philadelphia area, Philly makes a great spot to check off your Pennsylvania bucket list. Grab a roast pork sandwich from Tommy DiNic’s, see the iconic Liberty Bell, and check out the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

New River Gorge National Park, West Virginia

At just about five hours away, New River Gorge National Park is a bit farther than the other national parks I’ve talked about, but its famous bridge and stunning views may make it a worthy destination for outdoor enthusiasts looking to cross another park off their bucket list.