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From our travel archives · Pennsylvania overnight + road-trip stops

Breaking up the NY-to-Ohio drive: State College, Reptiland and Bellefonte

A comfortable one-bedroom suite, a small but mighty pool, reptiles and dinosaurs, and a coffee-and-stroll stop we return to. This was a great way to break up our long drive from New York to Ohio.

One-bedroom suitePool + breakfastIndoor + outdoor stopsRoad-trip breaks
The Susquehanna River and wooded hills in Williamsport, a stop from a separate road trip
Our baseCountry Inn & Suites, State College
ReptilandAbout an hour for us
Repeat stopCoffee + Talleyrand Park, Bellefonte
Separate visitBreakfast + river walk, Williamsport

Country Inn & Suites: a great overnight base

We stayed at the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson in State College, and this was actually a great hotel overall. We had a nice one-bedroom suite, a small but mighty pool, and a great free breakfast buffet. The staff were super sweet. There were also a few dinner delivery options, which we took advantage of for dinner in.

Reptiland: an hour that worked for us

Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland was the perfect mix of indoor and outdoor, and manageable for about an hour-long stop. There were lots of great things to see, from animatronic dinosaurs outside to alligators and Komodo dragons inside. When Isamu got bored, it was easy to keep moving between the indoor and outdoor areas.

Bellefonte: our repeat coffee-and-stroll stop

Bellefonte is a go-to coffee break on our long drives to Ohio, which we have done frequently. Talleyrand Park and the riverwalk have been so accessible for us. There is a coffee shop right there, plenty of parking, a playground, and a ton of fountains. It is a lovely way to get out of the car and stroll before getting back on the road.

Another stop we’ve tried: Williamsport

On a separate trip, we stopped for breakfast at The James, then walked the Susquehanna River Walk and Timber Trail. Breakfast was good enough, and the hotel restaurant was empty, which worked just fine for us. The bridge over the Susquehanna was beautiful! It was a great walk to break up the drive.

Williamsport deserves another visit

The town looked amazing and very historical. We were there too early and did not have enough time to explore, so this was a breakfast-and-walk pit stop rather than a full visit to town.

What made this overnight work

The State College hotel gave us a comfortable suite, pool time and breakfast before another driving day. Reptiland was easy to keep moving through, and Bellefonte gave us a familiar outdoor break. Williamsport is another stop we have enjoyed on this route, on a different visit.

Our State College hotel and a road-trip pause

Liz and Isamu in the indoor hotel pool
The small but mighty pool at our State College hotel.
Isamu eating breakfast at the hotel
Free breakfast before another driving day.
Isamu sitting in the open back of the car beside our luggage
A road-trip pause with our luggage.

Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland

Liz and Isamu beneath the Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland sign
Our stop at Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland.
Isamu beside a bench with a large dinosaur behind him at Reptiland
Checking out the dinosaurs outside.
Liz and Isamu taking a selfie beside a green dinosaur at Reptiland
A dinosaur selfie together.
Liz and Isamu beside a horned dinosaur at Reptiland
Another stop along the outdoor dinosaur exhibits.
Liz and Isamu beside the American alligator exhibit at Reptiland
A selfie by the alligator exhibit.
Isamu looking through the glass at a large snake at Reptiland
Getting a closer look at the indoor exhibits.

Bellefonte · Talleyrand Park

Isamu in his stroller beside the water and fountain at Talleyrand Park
A stroll by the water in Bellefonte.
Isamu in his stroller on a walkway beside the water at Talleyrand Park
An easy stroller outing to break up the drive.
Isamu sitting on a black park bench in Bellefonte
Taking a little park break.

Williamsport photos · a separate road-trip stop

Isamu smiling at the breakfast table at The James in Williamsport
Breakfast at The James: a quiet hotel restaurant worked for us.
Liz and Isamu together on the bridge over the Susquehanna
A sunny, windy walk together.
The Susquehanna River and wooded hills beneath a blue sky in Williamsport
The beautiful Susquehanna view from our Williamsport stop.
Isamu in his stroller on the wide sidewalk of the bridge over the Susquehanna
A great walk to break up the drive.

For current exhibit and route information: Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland, Talleyrand Park, and Susquehanna River Walk & Timber Trail.

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