Region

Lehigh Valley

Base in Allentown or Bethlehem for 2 nights; use a car for Dorney Park, Easton and the covered bridges.

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Key facts · United States

Best months: Apr–May, Sep–Oct
Visa: Depends on your passport
Currency: US dollar (USD, $)
Language: English
Plugs: A · B · 120 V
Time zone: Six zones: UTC−5 to UTC−10

Month by month hereIn detail ↓

Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…

North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

The Lehigh Valley is three small cities — Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton — about 20–30 minutes apart, plus a big amusement park and a string of rural towns. It is a car region: LANTA buses cover the cities, but Dorney Park, the zoo, the covered bridges and the small towns need a vehicle. Two nights is enough for the cities; add a third for Dorney Park or a festival.

Where to sleep

10 places in this region

Sleep base

AllentownCity guide
Largest city; museums, PPL Center, IronPigs ballpark, bus terminal.
Best May–Jun, Sep–Oct
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BethlehemCity guide
Steel-stacks casino resort, Musikfest and Christmas markets.
Best May–Jun, Sep–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND
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Day trip

EastonCity guide
Crayola experience and the State Theatre; 20–30 min from Bethlehem.
Best Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND
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EmmausCity guide
Small borough south of Allentown, near the South Mall.
Best May–Jun, Sep–Oct
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Whitehall TownshipCity guide
Lehigh Valley Mall and US-22 access.
Best May–Oct
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NazarethCity guide
Northern borough; gateway to the rural north.
Best May–Oct
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SlatingtonCity guide
Northern Lehigh County, near the covered-bridge route.
Best Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND
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HellertownCity guide
South of Bethlehem, near the Promenade Shoppes.
Best May–Jun, Sep–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND
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FogelsvilleCity guide
US-22 exits 49A/49B; western edge of the valley.
Best May–Oct
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BangorCity guide
Far northeast, toward the Delaware Water Gap.
Best May–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND
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Plan the nights

How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags

Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags

Night sequences

2 nights: Allentown or Bethlehem 2 nights; one city day, one Dorney Park or Easton day
3 nights: Add a third night for a festival (Musikfest in August, Christkindlmarkt in December) or the covered-bridge drive

Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton all have rough blocks — East Allentown, South Bethlehem and the Pembroke area of East Bethlehem are the ones to avoid at night.
Lock the car and do not leave anything visible; theft is the main risk, not pickpocketing.
Do not walk alone late at night or on unlit streets away from the main drags.

Day-trips door to door

To	From	Door-to-door p50	Last return	Note
Easton	Bethlehem	25 min	unknown	Crayola experience and the State Theatre; check show times before you go.
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom	Allentown	20 min	unknown	South Whitehall Township; check the seasonal calendar — the waterpark is summer only.
Emmaus	Allentown	20 min	unknown	Small borough; pairs with the South Mall.
Whitehall Township	Allentown	15 min	unknown	Lehigh Valley Mall, just off US-22.
Nazareth	Bethlehem	25 min	unknown	Northern borough; a car is easiest.
Slatington	Allentown	35 min	unknown	Northern Lehigh County; start of the covered-bridge drive.
Hellertown	Bethlehem	20 min	unknown	Near the Promenade Shoppes at Saucon Valley.
Fogelsville	Allentown	20 min	unknown	US-22 exits 49A/49B.
Bangor	Easton	30 min	unknown	Far northeast, toward the Delaware Water Gap.

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Bags between cities

No luggage-forwarding culture here; you carry your own bags between hotels.

When to go

Months and weather

Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

Only good-now countries

Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table

Country	JJan	FFeb	MMar	AApr	MMay	JJun	JJul	AAug	SSep	OOct	NNov	DDec
Allentown	×	×	ok	ok	go	go	×	×	go	go	ok	ok
Bethlehem	×	×	ok	ok	go	go	ok	ok	go	go	ok	ok
Easton	×	×	ok	go	go	go	×	×	go	go	ok	ok
Emmaus	×	×	ok	ok	go	go	×	×	go	go	ok	ok
Whitehall Township	×	×	ok	ok	go	go	go	go	go	go	ok	ok
Nazareth	×	×	ok	ok	go	go	go	go	go	go	ok	ok
Slatington	×	×	ok	go	go	go	×	×	go	go	ok	ok
Hellertown	×	×	ok	ok	go	go	ok	ok	go	go	ok	ok
Fogelsville	×	×	ok	ok	go	go	go	go	go	go	ok	ok
Bangor	×	×	ok	ok	go	go	go	go	go	go	ok	ok
United States (country-wide)	ok	ok	go	go	go	go	ok	ok	go	go	ok	ok

Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Climate strip

Month by month

Zone	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Lehigh ValleyAllentown, Bethlehem, Easton and the surrounding townships	cold	cold	ok	best	best	ok	hot	hot	best	best	ok	cold

best: dry, mildok: workablehot: short walking windows

Lehigh Valley: Four real seasons: humid summers around 30 °C (86 °F), cold winters with snow, and the best walking weather in spring and autumn. Summer afternoons can bring thunderstorms.Four real seasons: humid summers around 86 °F (30 °C), cold winters with snow, and the best walking weather in spring and autumn. Summer afternoons can bring thunderstorms.

Late August and early September bring the Great Allentown Fair; August brings Musikfest to Bethlehem; December brings Christkindlmarkt. Book beds around those dates.

Getting in and passes

Arrival times and regional passes

Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate

From	To	How	p50	Note
ABE (Lehigh Valley International)	Allentown / Bethlehem	Taxi, rideshare or rental car	~15–25 min to Allentown, ~15 min to Bethlehem	In the middle of the valley; direct flights from Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit, Nashville and several Florida cities.
PHL (Philadelphia International)	Lehigh Valley	Rental car or rideshare	~1 h 15 by car	About 114 km (71 mi) south; far more domestic and international flights than ABE.About 71 mi (114 km) south; far more domestic and international flights than ABE.
Philadelphia 30th Street Station	Lehigh Valley	Car; no direct train to the valley	~1 h 10 by car	About 100 km (62 mi) south. Train gets you to Philadelphia, not into the valley.About 62 mi (100 km) south. Train gets you to Philadelphia, not into the valley.
New York City	Allentown / Bethlehem	Car via I-78, or bus to the Allentown bus terminal	~1 h 45–2 h by car	About 148 km (92 mi) west. I-78 runs straight into the valley.About 92 mi (148 km) west. I-78 runs straight into the valley.

Regional passes

Verdict first

LANTA bus

check

Covers the cities and some suburbs; useful only if you are staying in Allentown or Bethlehem without a car. Check current fares and routes.

Rental car

buy

The default for Dorney Park, the zoo, the covered bridges and the small towns; book ahead for festival weekends.

Eat and move on

Regional food and where to go next

Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next

Regional food

Where and when it works

Dish	Where	Timing / trap
Fair and festival food	Allentown Fairgrounds (late Aug–early Sep)	The Great Allentown Fair is the big food event of the year; expect crowds in the evening.
Casino and resort dining	Wind Creek, Bethlehem	Built on the old Bethlehem Steel grounds; restaurants and shopping under one roof.
Mall and chain dining	Lehigh Valley Mall, Whitehall Township	Easy, predictable meals just off US-22.
Brewery and tavern food	Allentown and Bethlehem centres	Check hours — many kitchens close earlier than big-city ones.

Go next

Philadelphia Region

planned

~1 h 10 by car south

The natural next stop; 30th Street Station for trains onward.

Pocono Mountains

~1 h by car north

Ski resorts and the Delaware Water Gap.

New York

~1 h 45–2 h by car east on I-78

Many valley residents commute this way.

Pennsylvania

Statewide guide

For the rest of the state beyond the valley.

Planning aids

Built from this guide's own data

Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…

Region in numbers

Where to sleep: 2 bases
Day trips: 9, 15 min to 35 min
Nights suggested: 2–3 nights
Ways in: 4 listed
Best months: Apr, May, Sep, Oct

Going in…

Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.

Pick a month.

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Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

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Sources

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