In 1940, the U.S. inaugurated its first major toll highway; 86 years later, a 13-mile stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike is a ghost road reclaimed by nature

Dubbed “America’s First Superhighway”, the Pennsylvania Turnpike was the country’s first long-distance limited-access toll road, running west to east across the state and now forming part of the U.S. National Highway System.

The original route used seven tunnels built for the South Pennsylvania Railroad in the 1880s, opening in the fall of 1940, some 60 years after work on the tunnels first began.

The Turnpike, often shortened to the PA Turnpike, was an immediate success, with the Turnpike Commission reporting more than two million journeys in its first year of operation. By the 1960s, however, congestion had become a major problem, particularly at the tunnels, where traffic was forced into a single lane in each direction. Delays sometimes stretched for up to five miles.

A solution to congestion on the Pennsylvania Turnpike

A report into the congestion issue recommended expanding four of the tunnels (Blue, Kittatinny, Tuscarora and Allegheny Mountain) with additional tubes, and building bypasses around the other three: Sideling Hill, Rays Hill and Laurel Hill.

The 13-mile stretch of highway that had passed through those tunnels was taken out of use and became known as the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike.

The abandoned section also includes the cleared site of the former Cove Valley Travel Plaza, which once served motorists using the original route.

What is the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike used for?

The abandoned highway has been used to test rumble strips and road reflectors, while the area has also hosted military training exercises and served as a filming location for movies and television productions. Its tunnels have also become well known for their large-scale graffiti.

Is the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike open to the public?

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Turnpike is not officially open, but “the public can go there on an ‘at your own risk’ basis.”

The department adds: “The Internet is full of documented trips by nature lovers, bikers and other outdoor adventurers who have explored the roadway and the tunnels.”

Since that guidance was first published, the abandoned highway has gradually been transformed into a recreational trail. Most of the 13-mile route is now managed as The Old PA Pike (TOPP) Trail, with ownership transferred from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to conservation groups before being acquired by the Bedford Fulton Joint Recreation Authority in 2018. The authority has since secured grants to improve the trail and develop a long-term plan for preserving the historic tunnels.

Today, visitors can walk or cycle along much of the former highway, including through the Sideling Hill and Rays Hill tunnels, although some sections remain closed or inaccessible. The route has become a popular destination for hikers, cyclists, photographers and urban explorers drawn by its unusual combination of abandoned infrastructure and returning wilderness.

Conditions can change, so anyone planning a visit should check the latest local guidance before travelling.

Disclaimer: Although much of the former turnpike is accessible, there are no visitor facilities along the abandoned section and the tunnels are unlit. Anyone choosing to explore the route does so entirely at their own risk and should carry appropriate equipment, remain on open public routes, and obey all barriers, closures and warning signs.

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