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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Lebanon
Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Half a day for the Union Canal Tunnel and a meal; not a base. Use it as a stop between Harrisburg and Reading or as a lunch detour from Hershey.
Lebanon is a small Pennsylvania Dutch Country town with one standout sight — the Union Canal Tunnel, the oldest transportation tunnel in the US — and a handful of solid Amish/Mennonite bakeries and markets. Most travellers use it as a quick stop on US 422 between Harrisburg and Reading, or as a side trip from Hershey (about 15 min).
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Lebanon, Pennsylvania
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, some sights limited hours)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $40–70 excl. bed · Mid $70–120 excl. bed · High $120+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $2–4 |
| Sandwich or market lunch | $8–14 |
| Dinner at a sit-down restaurant | $15–30 |
| Beer (bottle at a bar / six-pack at a store) | $4–7 / $8–12 |
| Union Canal Tunnel park entry | Free (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MDT · Harrisburg International Airport
- About 25 min drive; limited regional flights
Typical fares
- Harrisburg → Lebanon, US 422
- about 25 min by car
- Hershey → Lebanon, US 422
- about 15 min by car
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
You need a car. Lebanon is spread along US 422; the tunnel park is north of town. Parking is free and easy.
See and do
Known for
- Union Canal Tunnel
- Pennsylvania Dutch markets and bakeries
- Lebanon bologna
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Hershey | US 422 west, about 15 min | About 20 min |
| Harrisburg | US 422 west, about 25 min | About 30 min |
| Reading | US 422 east, about 25 min | About 30 min |
| Gettysburg | US 422 west to US 15 south, about 1 h | About 1 h 15 min |
Sleep
- US 422 corridor
- Chain motels near the highway; practical for a one-night stop.
- Downtown Lebanon
- A few inns and B&Bs; walkable to the market and a handful of restaurants.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hellohello |
| Thank you | Thank youthank you |
| How much is this? | How much is this?how much is this |
| Where is the market? | Where is the market?where is the market |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Union Canal Tunnel park hours vary by season; check the official site before going.
- Many Amish/Mennonite businesses close on Sundays.
- Lebanon bologna is a local processed meat — not a sausage, not a salami.
Very safe. Standard small-town caution: lock your car, don't leave valuables visible.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Lebanon yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Union Canal Tunnel
- Pennsylvania Dutch markets and bakeries
- Lebanon bologna
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Lebanon (Pennsylvania), revision 4502512 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4502512
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
LebanonLebanon, Pennsylvania
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
English is universal; no local dialect needed.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/lebanon-pennsylvania). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.