12 Pennsylvania Picnic Spots Perfect For Memorial Day Weekend
A Memorial Day weekend picnic should feel easy, sunny, and just a little celebratory.
Pennsylvania has the kind of parks, lakes, overlooks, gardens, and quiet green spaces that make packing sandwiches, snacks, fruit, and something sweet feel like the start of a perfect long weekend. The right picnic spot does half the work for you.
A shady table, a soft patch of grass, a pretty view, or a peaceful trail nearby can turn simple food into a full afternoon plan.
It is low-pressure, budget-friendly, and exactly the kind of outing that lets everyone slow down without needing a complicated schedule.
I have always loved picnics because they make even ordinary food taste better, and a beautiful Pennsylvania setting on Memorial Day weekend sounds like the perfect excuse to spread out a blanket and stay awhile.
1. Presque Isle State Park, Erie
Sandy beaches on a freshwater lake in Pennsylvania? Presque Isle State Park makes it happen, and Memorial Day weekend is absolutely the right time to show up.
This 3,200-acre peninsula curling into Lake Erie near the city of Erie, Pennsylvania, offers a rare combination of beach access, calm lagoons, and wooded trails all in one place.
Picnic tables are scattered throughout the park, and the Barracks Beach area is a particularly beloved spot for families who want to eat with a lake breeze in their faces.
Presque Isle State Park also has some serious wildlife credentials, with over 320 species of birds recorded here, so bring binoculars alongside your sandwiches.
The sunsets over Lake Erie from this peninsula are the kind that make you forget you were ever stressed about anything. Arriving early on the holiday weekend is a smart move, since the park draws large crowds and the best picnic spots fill up fast.
2. Ricketts Glen State Park, Benton
Few places in Pennsylvania pack as much visual drama into a single park as Ricketts Glen State Park, located near Benton in Sullivan and Luzerne counties.
The park is home to 22 named waterfalls, some of them plunging more than 90 feet, and the hiking trails that wind past them are genuinely spectacular.
For picnicking, the area near Lake Jean is the sweet spot, offering flat grassy ground, picnic pavilions, and a peaceful lakeside atmosphere that feels a world away from everyday life.
Ricketts Glen State Park also has a sandy beach on Lake Jean where kids can wade in after lunch, making it a natural fit for Memorial Day weekend families looking for a full day of activity.
The old-growth forest here includes trees that are hundreds of years old, and sitting beneath them with a good meal feels like a privilege. Pack layers because the forest keeps things cool even on warm late-May days.
3. Ohiopyle State Park, Ohiopyle
The little town of Ohiopyle sits right inside one of Pennsylvania’s most exciting state parks, and the energy here on Memorial Day weekend is electric in the best possible way.
Ohiopyle State Park covers nearly 20,000 acres in the Laurel Highlands region of southwestern Pennsylvania, and the Youghiogheny River cuts right through the middle of it with churning rapids that draw kayakers and rafters from across the region.
Picnic areas are well-maintained and plentiful, with spots near the river offering front-row views of the action without requiring anyone to get wet.
Cucumber Falls, a stunning 30-foot waterfall tucked into the park, is a short walk from one of the most popular picnic zones and makes for a memorable post-lunch stroll.
Ohiopyle State Park also connects to the Great Allegheny Passage trail, a paved rail-trail perfect for a post-picnic bike ride. The combination of scenery, outdoor activities, and natural beauty here is tough to beat on a long holiday weekend.
4. Valley Forge National Historical Park, King of Prussia
There is something especially fitting about celebrating Memorial Day at a place where American history was quite literally forged under pressure.
Valley Forge National Historical Park, located near King of Prussia in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, is one of the most storied landscapes in the entire country, and it also happens to be a genuinely lovely place for a picnic.
Picnicking here is centered around designated picnic areas, which provide shaded, first-come, first-served tables, seasonal restrooms, and easy access to hiking and biking trails.
Valley Forge National Historical Park is free to enter, which makes it an easy choice for families working with a holiday weekend budget.
Historic cannons, reconstructed log cabins, and interpretive signs are scattered throughout the grounds, so the picnic doubles as a history lesson for curious kids.
The park sees a lot of visitors on Memorial Day weekend, so arriving before 10 a.m. is the best way to snag a prime picnic location.
5. Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square
Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Chester County, Pennsylvania, is the kind of place that makes people stop mid-bite just to look around in disbelief at how beautiful everything is.
Spanning over 1,000 acres, this world-class botanical garden was established on land originally purchased by Pierre du Pont in 1906, and the horticultural craftsmanship on display here reflects more than a century of dedicated care.
Memorial Day weekend lands right in the middle of peak spring bloom, which means visitors get to enjoy roses, wisteria, peonies, and hundreds of other flowering plants all hitting their stride at once.
Longwood Gardens does have a designated Picnic Area, but outside food and beverages are not permitted elsewhere inside the Gardens, so planning ahead matters here more than at a typical park.
Admission is required, so booking tickets online in advance is strongly recommended for holiday weekends.
The choreographed fountain shows in the evening add a spectacular bonus for anyone planning a late-afternoon visit to Longwood Gardens.
6. Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg
Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Columbia County, Pennsylvania, earns a spot on this list by doing something almost no other amusement park in America does: it lets you bring your own food and picnic for free.
There is no general admission charge to enter the grounds, which means a family can pack a full Memorial Day spread, claim one of the hundreds of picnic tables shaded by mature trees, and enjoy the entire atmosphere without spending a dime on entry.
Knoebels has been operating since 1926, and the old-school charm of its wooden roller coasters, classic carousel, and hand-dipped ice cream stands gives the whole place a nostalgic, small-town-fair feeling that is genuinely hard to find anywhere else.
The picnic grove at Knoebels is large, well-maintained, and surrounded by the sounds and sights of the rides, which makes it lively without being overwhelming.
For families who want thrills and chills between sandwich bites, Knoebels Amusement Resort is the most uniquely fun picnic destination on this entire list.
7. Nockamixon State Park, Quakertown
Lake Nockamixon is the centerpiece of this popular Bucks County park, and its 1,450 acres of shimmering water set an undeniably impressive backdrop for a Memorial Day picnic.
Nockamixon State Park sits just outside Quakertown in southeastern Pennsylvania, making it a convenient escape for visitors coming from Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs who want nature without a long drive.
The park has multiple picnic areas with tables, grills, and open lawn space, and several of them offer direct views of the lake that make every meal feel a little more special.
Nockamixon State Park also has boat rentals, a pool, and hiking trails, so there is plenty to do between courses.
One of the quieter picnic areas is near the marina, where the sound of sailboats and the smell of fresh water create a relaxed, almost coastal atmosphere.
Parking fills up fast on holiday weekends, so an early arrival at Nockamixon State Park will make the whole day run more smoothly.
8. Promised Land State Park, Greentown
The Pocono Mountains have a way of delivering exactly what you hope for, and Promised Land State Park near Greentown in Pike County, Pennsylvania, is one of the region’s most rewarding destinations.
The park sits at an elevation of about 1,800 feet, which keeps temperatures noticeably cooler than the lowlands even on warm Memorial Day weekends, making outdoor dining genuinely comfortable.
Two lakes, Promised Land Lake and Lower Lake, anchor the park, and the wooded picnic areas along their shores feel like private retreats even when the park is busy.
Promised Land State Park has been welcoming visitors since the 1920s, and the old Civilian Conservation Corps structures throughout the grounds add a layer of historical character to the natural scenery.
Hemlocks and hardwoods tower over the picnic tables, creating deep shade that is a serious luxury on a sunny holiday afternoon.
Hiking trails of varying difficulty connect the picnic areas to the lakes, so a post-lunch walk is always just steps away at Promised Land State Park.
9. Cook Forest State Park, Cooksburg
Walking into the old-growth forest at Cook Forest State Park near Cooksburg, Forest County, Pennsylvania, is one of those experiences that genuinely recalibrates your sense of scale.
The Cathedral Forest section of the park contains white pines and hemlocks that soar over 180 feet tall, and the silence beneath them is the kind that makes a picnic feel almost ceremonial.
Cook Forest State Park has multiple picnic areas along the Clarion River, where the sound of moving water provides a natural soundtrack for a long, relaxed Memorial Day lunch.
The park is a designated National Natural Landmark, which means the forests here are recognized as some of the finest examples of original eastern forest remaining in the United States.
Trail options range from easy riverside walks to more challenging forest loops, giving picnickers plenty of ways to work up an appetite before the main event.
The remoteness of Cook Forest State Park is part of its appeal, and arriving prepared with all your supplies is the key to a perfect day.
10. French Creek State Park, Elverson
Tucked into the rolling hills of Chester and Berks counties in southeastern Pennsylvania, French Creek State Park near Elverson is one of the largest blocks of contiguous forest in the mid-Atlantic region.
The park covers over 7,700 acres and features two lakes, Hopewell and Scotts Run, both of which anchor scenic picnic areas that are popular on holiday weekends for good reason.
French Creek State Park sits adjacent to Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, an 18th-century iron-making community that adds a fascinating historical dimension to any visit and is just a short walk from the picnic grounds.
The forest here supports an impressive range of wildlife, including white-tailed deer that occasionally wander close to picnic areas with the confidence of animals who know exactly whose park this really is.
Over 35 miles of hiking trails wind through the park, and the terrain is varied enough to satisfy everyone from casual strollers to serious hikers. French Creek State Park is a genuinely well-rounded destination for a full Memorial Day weekend outing.
11. Memorial Lake State Park, Grantville
There is a certain poetry in celebrating Memorial Day at a park that carries the same name, and Memorial Lake State Park near Grantville in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, delivers a quietly meaningful experience.
The park is smaller than many others on this list, covering just 230 acres, but its intimacy is one of its greatest strengths, giving visitors a calm, unhurried atmosphere that bigger parks sometimes struggle to offer.
Memorial Lake itself is a 85-acre reservoir that reflects the surrounding hills beautifully, and the flat, grassy areas along its banks are ideal for spreading out a picnic blanket with a view.
The park has a fishing pier, a boat launch for non-powered craft, and a loop trail around the lake that takes about an hour to complete at a relaxed pace.
Memorial Lake State Park sees lighter crowds than many of its more famous counterparts, which makes it a genuinely peaceful choice for a holiday weekend.
Birding is excellent here in late May, with warblers and shorebirds making regular appearances near the water.
12. Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Gardners
Pine Grove Furnace State Park near Gardners in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, is the kind of place that rewards visitors with layers of interest the longer they stay.
The park sits in the South Mountain region and is perhaps best known among long-distance hikers as the unofficial midpoint of the Appalachian Trail, a fact that gives it a subtle adventurous energy even on a relaxed picnic day.
Two lakes, Laurel Lake and Fuller Lake, sit within the park’s 696 acres, and both have sandy swimming beaches that are perfect for a post-picnic cool-down on a warm Memorial Day afternoon.
Pine Grove Furnace State Park also contains the ruins of an 18th-century iron furnace, and the historic ironmaster’s mansion on the grounds adds architectural interest to a landscape already rich in natural beauty.
The park has well-shaded picnic areas near both lakes, and the combination of swimming, hiking, history, and scenery makes it easy to fill an entire holiday weekend here without running out of things to enjoy at Pine Grove Furnace State Park.