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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Mount Gretna
Half a day to one night: see the lake and Playhouse in summer, or the art show in August. Sleep in nearby Hershey or Lebanon. Not a base.
Mount Gretna is a tiny Pennsylvania Dutch Country village built around a late-19th-century summer resort. Its main draws are the Mt Gretna Lake and Beach (swimming, canoeing, a high dive), the summer-stock Playhouse Theater, the annual Gretna Art Show and the Jigger Shoppe. Most visitors come for a few hours from Hershey or Harrisburg; there is one restaurant and almost no lodging in the village itself.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Jun–Aug (lake and outdoor events); the Gretna Art Show is a single weekend in August (check exact dates)
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (many places closed)
- Stay
- 1 night
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 $30–60 excl. bed · Mid $60–120 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 |
|---|---|
| Lake and beach entry | $8–12 |
| Miniature golf | $6–10 |
| Jigger Shoppe ice cream | $3–6 |
| Dinner at Timber's | $20–40 per person |
| Coffee | $2–4 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MDT · Harrisburg International Airport
- About 25 min by car; no direct public transport.
Typical fares
- Harrisburg (MDT) → Mount Gretna by car
- about 25 min, about 20 miles
- Hershey → Mount Gretna by car
- about 10–15 min
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
Walkable within the village. A car is needed to reach it and to explore the surrounding area.
See and do
Known for
- Mt Gretna Lake and Beach
- Gretna Art Show (August)
- Playhouse Theater
- Jigger Shoppe
- Timber's Restaurant
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Hershey | Car, about 10–15 min | About 15 min |
| Gettysburg | Car, about 45 min | About 50 min |
| Lancaster | Car, about 40 min | About 45 min |
| York | Car, about 30 min | About 35 min |
Sleep
- Hershey
- 10–15 min drive; hotels and motels near Hersheypark.
- Lebanon
- 15 min drive; budget chain motels.
- Mount Gretna itself
- Check for cabin rentals; very limited.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hello |
| Thank you | Thank you |
| How much? | How much? |
| Where is the lake? | Where is the lake? |
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
- Lake and beach hours vary by season; check the official site before going.
- The Gretna Art Show is a single weekend in August; book accommodation in Hershey or Lebanon well ahead.
- Timber's Restaurant hosts shows Tuesday–Saturday evenings; reservations recommended.
- No ATM in the village; bring cash for the Jigger Shoppe and small vendors.
Very safe. The main risks are summer heat at the lake and limited evening services.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Mount Gretna yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Mt Gretna Lake and Beach
- Gretna Art Show (August)
- Playhouse Theater
- Jigger Shoppe
- Timber's Restaurant
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: Mount Gretna, revision 5305191 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5305191
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Mount Gretna
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
English is the primary language; no phrasebook needed.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/mount-gretna). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.