15 Pennsylvania Restaurants So Remote They Turn The Drive Into Part Of The Experience
Some restaurants in Pennsylvania are not just a dinner plan, they are a little adventure with a destination at the end.
Roads get quieter, cell bars get weaker, and the scenery starts doing the entertaining while you drive.
One minute you are in traffic mode, the next you are rolling past woods, farms, winding hills, and stretches of sky that make you loosen your grip on the steering wheel.
That is the magic of a remote restaurant, the journey sets the mood before you ever see a menu. Remote dining has its own kind of reward.
The air feels cleaner, the pace feels slower, and the meal feels earned, like you traded noise for something more memorable.
These are the places where you spot a glow in the windows and instantly know you made the right call.
Comfort food tastes better when you worked a little for it, and a great view or a cozy dining room can make the whole drive feel like part of the story.
Hand me a scenic route and a far-off dinner address, and I start treating the car ride like the opening act to a really good night out.
1. TreeTops Restaurant
Perched in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands region, this dining spot rewards the drive with a setting that feels like part of the experience.
TreeTops Restaurant is associated with Polymath Park in Acme, a destination known for its wooded surroundings and getaway vibes.
Tall windows and a lodge-like feel keep the landscape front and center, turning an ordinary meal into something more scenic.
Brunch and dinner draw visitors who do not mind a longer route when the payoff is a memorable table.
Located at 187 Evergreen Lane, Acme, PA 15610, this stop fits the “remote dinner” idea in a way that feels natural and unrushed.
Travel days feel better when the final turn leads somewhere that actually feels special.
Warm interiors, a relaxed pace, and comfort-forward plates make it easy to linger a little longer than planned. Sometimes a far-off address is exactly what makes the meal feel earned.
2. Gateway Lodge Restaurant
Set deep in the Cook Forest area, reaching this restaurant means driving through some of Pennsylvania’s most beautiful woodlands.
Gateway Lodge Restaurant sits surrounded by towering trees that make the approach feel like part of the reward.
A log-cabin feel and a cozy dining room keep the atmosphere warm and rustic, the kind of setting that makes dinner feel like a getaway.
Comfort-forward plates and seasonal touches give people a reason to come back after one visit.
You’ll find it at 14870 Route 36, Cooksburg, PA 16217, right in the forested Cook Forest region. Roads in the area follow the river and the woods, so the drive stays scenic even before you park.
Desserts rotate and the evenings feel especially calm when the light drops over the trees outside. Quiet views and a steady pace make it easy to understand why people treat the trip like an occasion.
3. Clarion River Lodge
Finding this place requires commitment, but the forest-and-river setting makes every mile worthwhile.
Clarion River Lodge sits in the Cook Forest region where the scenery stays front and center and the pace feels naturally slower.
A lodge-style building and outdoor-friendly surroundings fit the area, with decks and views that make you want to linger after the plates are cleared.
Fresh, simply prepared dishes work especially well after a day outside.
Located at 159 Coleman Run Road, Cooksburg, PA 16217, the lodge is reached by quiet roads that keep the drive feeling like part of the outing. Getting there feels like you traded noise for trees, which is exactly the point.
Stone-and-timber touches blend into the landscape, and hearty meals feel right in a place like this. Plans tend to stretch out when the setting is this calm.
4. Venango Valley Inn Dining
Rolling farmland gives way to this countryside treasure, where the journey takes you past working farms and grazing livestock.
Venango Valley Inn Dining occupies a beautifully restored 1800s farmhouse that still retains its original wide-plank floors and vintage charm.
The white clapboard exterior with green shutters looks like something from a postcard.
Their chicken and biscuits dinner is comfort food perfection, with gravy so good people ask for extra servings.
The address is 1532 East Brady Road, Chicora, PA 16025, nestled in a quiet valley surrounded by agricultural land.
The drive there winds through Amish country, where horse-drawn buggies share the road with modern vehicles.
Inside, exposed brick walls and antique fixtures create an atmosphere that feels both elegant and homey.
Their homemade desserts rotate daily, with peanut butter pie being the most requested item that often sells out before dinner service ends.
5. TREE Restaurant
Winding through Allegheny National Forest leads you to this architectural marvel built among the branches.
TREE Restaurant occupies a stunning contemporary structure designed to minimize environmental impact while maximizing forest views.
The building features sustainable materials and large glass panels that blur the line between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Their mushroom risotto incorporates foraged fungi from the surrounding woods, changing with seasonal availability.
Located at 3084 West State Road, Tionesta, PA 16353, the restaurant sits on elevated ground overlooking miles of protected forestland.
The access road is unpaved for the final stretch, adding to the sense of escaping civilization. Modern minimalist design inside lets the natural surroundings take center stage through strategically placed windows.
Their vegetable dishes shine because ingredients come from an on-site garden tended by kitchen staff during growing months, ensuring peak freshness.
6. Windsor Restaurant
Backroads through Somerset County eventually deliver you to this Victorian-era gem that time somehow forgot.
Windsor Restaurant operates inside a meticulously maintained building from the 1890s, complete with original tin ceilings and ornate woodwork.
The burgundy-painted exterior with white trim stands out against the rural landscape like a jewel. Their pot roast special runs every Thursday, slow-cooked until the meat falls apart at the touch of a fork.
You’ll discover it at 1225 Glades Pike, Somerset, PA 15501, positioned along a historic route once traveled by pioneers heading west.
The journey passes through covered bridges and past century-old barns that lean at impossible angles. Inside, vintage light fixtures cast a warm glow over tables set with crisp white linens.
Their coconut cream pie has won county fair ribbons multiple years running, with meringue piled impossibly high and toasted to golden perfection.
7. The Historic Summit Inn
Mountain switchbacks test your driving skills before revealing this grand resort perched atop the Laurel Highlands.
The Historic Summit Inn has welcomed travelers since 1907, when guests arrived by horse-drawn carriage rather than automobiles.
The sprawling white Colonial Revival structure commands breathtaking views across three states on clear days.
Their signature crab cakes are surprisingly excellent despite being hundreds of miles from any ocean, made with jumbo lump meat flown in fresh.
Located at 101 Skyline Drive, Farmington, PA 15437, the inn sits at 2,835 feet elevation along the historic Lincoln Highway.
The final approach climbs steeply, with hairpin turns that make passengers grip their armrests.
The main dining room features soaring ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and walls lined with historic photographs.
Their Sunday brunch buffet is an extravagant affair with carving stations, fresh seafood, and a dessert table that could feed a small army.
8. The Historic Dimmick Inn
Narrow country lanes through Endless Mountains territory lead to this stagecoach-era establishment that’s been feeding travelers since 1828.
The Historic Dimmick Inn occupies its original stone building, with walls thick enough to keep out the harshest winter cold.
The fieldstone exterior and low-slung roofline reflect construction techniques from nearly two centuries ago.
Their roasted duck dinner showcases French-inspired techniques, served with a cherry reduction that balances sweet and savory perfectly.
Find it at 108 East Harford Street, Milford, PA 18337, in a village that feels frozen somewhere around 1950.
The drive there meanders through covered bridge country, where fall foliage creates tunnels of blazing color.
Inside, wide-plank floors creak underfoot and the original fireplace still warms guests on chilly evenings.
Their wine selection is surprisingly sophisticated for such a remote location, with bottles carefully chosen to complement the seasonal menu offerings.
9. Hickory Bridge Farm Restaurant
Following signs through Adams County farmland eventually brings you to this working farm turned dining destination.
Hickory Bridge Farm Restaurant operates inside a converted 1750s barn, with original hand-hewn beams still supporting the structure overhead.
The red barn exterior looks exactly like what children draw when imagining farm buildings.
Their fried chicken is legendary across south-central Pennsylvania, crispy outside and juicy within, prepared using a recipe guarded like a state secret.
Located at 96 Hickory Bridge Road, Orrtanna, PA 17353, the farm sits in a peaceful valley near Gettysburg battlefield.
The approach road is unpaved and crosses an actual covered bridge that gives the property its name. Inside, rustic tables are set with checkered cloths and mason jar drinking glasses.
Their family-style dinners encourage passing platters around the table, creating a communal atmosphere that makes strangers feel like neighbors by meal’s end.
10. The Lodge at Glendorn
Remote doesn’t begin to describe this wilderness retreat accessible only by a private road through thousands of forested acres.
The Lodge at Glendorn offers dining in a 1929 hunting lodge built for a wealthy industrialist’s private escape.
The main building showcases Adirondack Great Camp architecture, with massive log construction and stone chimneys that rise three stories high.
Their elk tenderloin comes from animals raised on the property, prepared with wild mushroom demi-glace that elevates the dish to fine dining status.
You’ll find it at 1000 Glendorn Drive, Bradford, PA 16701, deep in the Allegheny Plateau region.
The final mile winds through the estate’s private forest, where wildlife sightings are common and cell service is nonexistent.
Inside, trophy mounts and vintage fishing gear decorate walls paneled in rich wood. Their wine cellar holds over 10,000 bottles, with a sommelier on staff to guide selections for each course.
11. The River Room
Serpentine roads along the Susquehanna River eventually reveal this waterfront dining room with views worth the challenging drive.
The River Room occupies a modern glass-walled structure that maximizes sight lines across the wide river.
The contemporary design features clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic that lets the natural scenery dominate.
Their seafood paella is an unexpected highlight, loaded with shrimp, mussels, and scallops over saffron-infused rice that tastes like summer vacation.
Located at 30 North Packer Avenue, Sayre, PA 18840, the restaurant sits right at water’s edge where the river bends dramatically.
The access road is prone to flooding during spring thaws, occasionally cutting off the restaurant for days at a time.
Floor-to-ceiling windows provide every table with river views, especially spectacular at sunset when the water turns gold.
Their outdoor patio opens seasonally, with heaters extending the dining season into cool autumn evenings.
12. Forest House Hotel
Gravel roads through Pike County wilderness test your vehicle’s suspension before delivering you to this 1850s hotel still operating in original form.
Forest House Hotel serves meals in a dining room that has hosted guests for over 170 years, with wide pine floors worn smooth by generations of footsteps.
The white clapboard building sits in a clearing surrounded by dense forest on all sides.
Their venison stew is a cold-weather favorite, simmered for hours with root vegetables and herbs until everything melds into hearty perfection.
Find it at 126 Sawkill Road, Milford, PA 18337, in one of Pennsylvania’s most remote corners. The property once served as a stagecoach stop, and the old carriage house still stands beside the main building.
Inside, vintage wallpaper and antique furniture create an atmosphere of stepping backward through time.
Their breakfast is included for overnight guests, featuring buttermilk pancakes that arrive at the table still sizzling from the griddle.
13. Fulling Mill Inn
Following quiet roads through central Pennsylvania brings you to this longtime inn with a setting that feels removed from the rush.
Fulling Mill Inn is tied to a rural stretch near Middletown, where the drive itself feels calmer the farther you go.
A stone-and-country feel still shapes the atmosphere, giving the place a grounded, old-fashioned kind of comfort. Meals here fit the mood, steady and classic, without needing extra fuss.
Located at 3268 Fulling Mill Road, Middletown, PA 17057, the inn sits in a quieter pocket where the scenery does most of the talking.
Getting there feels like choosing the backroads on purpose, because dinner is better when the day slows down.
Inside, cozy rooms and a candlelit feel make the meal land in a more memorable way. Local touches and seasonal plates keep it feeling personal instead of predictable.
14. The Grille at Bear Creek Mountain Resort
Climbing through ski country brings you to this slope-side restaurant that serves meals year-round regardless of snow conditions.
The Grille at Bear Creek Mountain Resort occupies a modern lodge building with enormous windows overlooking the ski runs below.
Timber-frame construction and stone accents create a classic mountain resort aesthetic.
Loaded nachos are a favorite among skiers and snowboarders, piled high with pulled pork, cheese, and jalapeños that provide fuel for another run down the mountain.
You’ll find it at 101 Doe Mountain Lane, Macungie, PA 18062, at the base of the ski area’s main lift.
The access road climbs through steep switchbacks that can feel challenging during winter weather, so slower, careful driving helps.
Inside, a massive stone fireplace anchors the main dining area during cold months. A rotating selection of regional drinks and warm, filling food makes it a natural stop when the mountain air builds an appetite.
15. Summit House
Hairpin turns up Crystal Lake mountain reward determined drivers with this peak-top dining experience.
Summit House commands 360-degree views from its mountaintop perch, with dining rooms wrapped in windows on all sides to take advantage of the spectacular location.
The contemporary building features clean lines and a flat roof that seems to hover above the landscape.
Their filet mignon is cooked to perfection, with a peppercorn crust that adds just enough spice without overwhelming the quality beef.
Located at 600 Route 390, Canadensis, PA 18325, the restaurant sits at the highest point for miles around.
The journey up takes you through seven distinct elevation zones, with vegetation changing noticeably as you climb.
Inside, the décor stays simple to avoid competing with the views outside every window.
Their sunset dinner service is particularly popular, with reservations required weeks in advance to secure a table during golden hour when the mountains glow.