Major city · United States
Punxsutawney
Go for one night on 1–2 February for Groundhog Day, or as a 2-hour stop off I-80; skip it as a base — there is no other reason to sleep here.
Punxsutawney is a small borough in the Pennsylvania Wilds known for one thing: Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog of Groundhog Day. The Bill Murray film was shot in Woodstock, Illinois, not here. Outside 2 February the town is quiet — a weather museum, a groundhog zoo, a souvenir shop and 30-plus fiberglass groundhog statues. Come for the festival or as a short break on I-80.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Feb (for Groundhog Day); May–Oct for a quiet stop
- avoid Jan and Feb outside Groundhog Day (cold, little open); icy roads Dec–Mar
- Airports
- PIT · DUJ · SCE
- Nights
- 1
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.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Punxsutawney911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Pennsylvania State Police (non-emergency)717-783-1000
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Punxsutawney, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyA quiet rural borough; the real risks are winter driving on ice and cold exposure at the 2 February festival.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · 717-783-1000 Pennsylvania State Police (non-emergency)
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportPIT Pittsburgh International (About 2 h by car via PA-28 and US-119; the usual gateway.).
- Getting aroundYou need a car.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$2–4
- Beerdraught$5–8
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Weather Discovery Center)check$8–12
- Budget bedHighway motel double room, a night, per roomUS$70
- Mid-range bedHighway motel double room, a night, per roomUS$110
- High-end bedHighway motel double room, a night, per roomUS$160
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$70 · Mid US$120 · High US$200
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- PIT Pittsburgh International (About 2 h by car via PA-28 and US-119; the usual gateway.) · DUJ DuBois Regional (Smaller regional airport about 30 min away; limited flights — check.) · SCE State College Regional (About 2 h by car; limited flights — check.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
Feb
Care
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
Mar
Avoid
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Apr
not flagged
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
May
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Jun
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Jul
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Aug
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Sep
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Oct
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Nov
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Dec
Avoid
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
Best: May–Oct. Mixed: Feb. Avoid: Mar, Dec–Jan. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)), coolest Jan (−8°C (18°F)18°F (−8°C) low), wettest Jan (15 rain days), driest Sep (10). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Punxsutawney: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
−8°C (18°F)18°F (−8°C)
15 rd
Feb
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
13 rd
Mar
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
13 rd
Apr
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
13 rd
May
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
13 rd
Jun
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
12 rd
Jul
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
12 rd
Aug
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
11 rd
Sep
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
10 rd
Oct
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
11 rd
Nov
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
13 rd
Dec
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
15 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
You need a car. The town is small enough to walk between Mahoning Street, the museum and the souvenir shop, but Gobbler's Knob is about 2 km south of the centre on Woodland Avenue — walkable in summer, drive in winter. No local bus service; taxis are limited, so plan around your own vehicle.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
DuBois
goDoor to door: About 35 min
US-119 north, about 30 min by car
Closest larger town for fuel, groceries and chain hotels.
Clearfield
goDoor to door: About 55 min
US-322 east from DuBois, about 50 min by car
Cook Forest State Park
goDoor to door: About 1 h 20 min
PA-36 north then PA-899, about 1 h 15 min by car
Old-growth forest and river views; a half-day or overnight.
Door to door: About 2 h
I-80 east then PA-26 or US-322, about 2 h by car
Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep one night.
Pittsburgh
overnightDoor to door: About 2 h
US-119 south then PA-28, about 2 h by car
A full city; base there rather than day-tripping.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Downtown / Mahoning Street
Walk to the souvenir shop, museum and restaurants; a handful of rooms.
Alliance Drive (US-119 north)
Highway-side hotel with parking and a pool; 5 min drive from the centre.
Union Street B&B
Victorian house near the centre; six rooms, book ahead for festival week.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $60–100 excl. bed
- Mid
- $100–160 excl. bed
- High
- $160+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Highway motel double room1 × 1 night × US$110 | US$110 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$120 | US$240 |
| Rental car, one day1 × US$70 | US$70 |
| Fuel, Pittsburgh round trip1 × US$40 · check | US$40 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15 | US$30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$49 |
| Trip total≈ US$270 per person per day, bed included | US$539 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $2–4 |
| Pizza (large) | $15–22 |
| Beer, draught | $5–8 |
| Museum entry (Weather Discovery Center)check | $8–12 |
| Souvenir T-shirt | $20–30 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | $10–25 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Groundhog Day crowds: the borough goes from about 6,000 to 40,000 people on 2 February. Arrive before dawn, park where directed, and expect to stand outside in the cold for hours.
- Winter roads: PA-36, PA-255 and US-119 ice up; check conditions before driving from Pittsburgh or State College.
- Most businesses are small and family-run with limited hours; call ahead or check the official site before a special trip.
- Cell coverage is patchy on the rural roads in and out of town.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- Pennsylvania State Police (non-emergency)
- 717-783-1000
Pocket card
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PunxsutawneyPunxsutawney
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Pennsylvania State Police (non-emergency)717-783-1000
Embassy
No embassies here; the nearest consulates are in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia — check the official site.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Pittsburgh → Punxsutawney by car: about 2 h, fuel about $20 each way (check)
- DuBois → Punxsutawney by car: about 30 min
- Downtown → Gobbler's Knob: about 2 km (1.2 mi), 25 min on footabout 1.2 mi (2 km), 25 min on foot
Say or show
- Where is Gobbler's Knob? — Where is Gobbler's Knob?
- Is the museum open today? — Is the museum open today?
- How much is it? — How much is it?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- Where can I park? — Where can I park?
Groundhog Day is the only time the town fills up. Book beds months ahead and arrive before dawn.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Punxsutawney. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Feb (for Groundhog Day); May–Oct for a quiet stop · avoid Jan and Feb outside Groundhog Day (cold, little open); icy roads Dec–Mar · month by month →
- 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Groundhog Day arrival fixture: parking, dawn timing, cold-weather gear and a fallback if the event is cancelled or moved.
- Airport-to-bed contracts for PIT, DUJ and SCE with drive times and last-rental-car cutoffs.
- Place pages with verified hours for the Weather Discovery Center, Gobbler's Knob, the Groundhog Zoo and the historical society.
- Eat pages with last orders for the small downtown restaurants.
Sources
Ask about Punxsutawney
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