3 WEEKEND ITINERARIES
ALL THERE IS TO DO SOUTH OF PA-322
Like an everchanging kaleidoscope, every mile of South Juniata County unveils a new scene-rolling mountains, winding rivers, and charming small towns that invite you to slow down and explore. For those who travel along the banks of the Juniata River or through the scenic valleys, this region offers a sense of discovery at every turn.
Rich in history and natural beauty, this land was once home to Native American tribes who left their mark with melodious names like Tuscarora and Juniata. Later, early settlers shaped the area into a thriving hub along the Pennsylvania Canal and Railroad- both of which played a vital role in connecting communities.

Today, Juniata County is easily accessible from major cities within a few hours' drive, making it the perfect getaway for outdoor adventurers, history lovers, and those simply looking to escape the every day.
Set out on one of our self-guided tours and uncover three of the biggest attractions in the southern end of the county. These carefully curated itineraries will lead you to hidden gems-quaint shops, historic sites, mouthwatering local flavors, and cozy places to stay-all south of Route 322.
Discover the true heartland of Pennsylvania, where the landscapes are breathtaking, the people are welcoming, and every road leads to something worth exploring. Your next adventure starts here!
SPEED PALACE TAILGREAT!
PORT ROYAL SPEEDWAY Known as “The Speed Palace,” Port Royal Speedway is arguably the premier half-mile dirt track on the East Coast, if not the country. The track is host to a jam-packed race schedule of sprint car and stock car races throughout its 8-month season.
The fan-friendly venue has undertaken several major projects that gives fans an experience that puts them close to the drivers and cars - a big attraction even when they aren’t going around the track.
For those who choose to travel by RV or camper, the track’s camping area will enhance the overall experience at the track. Set your camping area up for the weekend and visit the following locations to supply your tailgate with the freshest food or tastiest drinks from the area.
POUR DECISIONS
HAZARD’S DISTILLERY Great times start with Hazard’s. This micro-distillery is producing hand-crafted batches of artisan whiskey and moonshine. Their tasting room pays homage to the building’s former life as a car garage.
Make it a party by stopping by ROYAL BEVERAGE to pick up your choice of craft, domestic, and import beer, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages.
RACE DAY GRUB
BENNER’S BUTCHER SHOPPE This custom butchering and curing shop specializes in farm beef and pork. Select from a great variety of a freshly cut meats.
TURBETT BACK 40 Pack a ton of flavor into your next tailgate with their line of gourmet sauces and dips. Seafood available in the freezer section.
GRIDIRON PUB/GRIDIRON PIZZA It's two sports bars in one! The upper-level pub serves the best wings in the county. The lower-level pizzeria serves fresh Neapolitan brick oven pizza. Take food to go or stay and watch racing at the SPEED PALACE on FLO Racing or Dirtvision on the 10-foot-large screen TV.
TYSON HILL OIP Best pizza in town.
LODGING
BUTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND, RIVER’S EDGE RV PARK AND CAMPGROUND, and the CHRISTIAN RETREAT CENTER are nearby for more RV camping.
Gather your race family and head to either 13 OAKS CABIN or MILEPOST 142 for accommodations surrounded by the area’s natural beauty.
THE ECONO LODGE offers 47 individually furnished guestrooms.
HANDPICKED
LOVETWO FARM is a fourth-generation family farm where Dan Love continues his family's legacy with a deep commitment to agriculture and community. Passionate about sharing his knowledge, Dan provides customers with high-quality locally grown products straight from the farm.
The on-site market at LOVETWO FARM offers farm-fresh beef alongside a variety of local goods, including cheese, milk, ice cream, hickory syrup, pork, and even popcorn!
Visitors can tour the crop fields, meet the farm animals, and chat with the farmer himself. Don't miss the chance to meet Harry, the miniature Highlander, and Theo the water buffalo, during your visit!
RISE 'N SHINE
WALNUT CHEESE NOOK AND ONE WAY CAFÉ Gourmet coffee. Fresh smoothies. Delicious pastries. Homemade breakfast.
HOMEGROWN GOODIES
JUNIATA VALLEY WINERY Visit the 19th century estate and taste their Traminette, made with the white grapes grown in the on-site vineyard. The winery also hosts a Friday Night Music series during the summer.
JUNIATA RIVER COMMONS Discover the abundance of food, flowers, and artisans in the Juniata River Valley under one roof at the new market, café and gathering space.
BRUMMER’S HAPPY BREEZE FARM The three-generation farm sells only what they grow. Known for their potatoes, they also grow a variety of produce, fresh flowers, and they specialize in 100% Berkshire Pork.
MIDWAY MARKET Start your Saturday early at the market, where bargain hunters can explore a variety of treasures and find fresh produce and flowers from local farmers. The market runs every Saturday, March through October.
FARM TO FORK
SPRUCE HILL LUNCH Known for their famous homemade pies, this charming restaurant will take you a step back in time.
GUANTE FAMILY RESTAURANT This Hispanic restaurant presents a menu featuring diverse Latino flavors from around the world while sourcing as much as possible from our local farmers and butcher shops.
BEST BUDS
SUNRISE GREENHOUSE Open year-round, this Amish-owned greenhouse offers a vast selection of flowers, trees, shrubs, and garden vegetables. Bring cash or good check. Closed Sundays.
WILDING HOPE A specialty cut flower farm and design studio featuring blooms April through November. Growing and design workshops throughout the season. Specialty u-picks during lavender, peony, sunflower and dahlia season. Tickets available at wildinghope.com. Visit their sister organic farm, Village Acres, located on-site.
SARAH’S BLOOMERS A wide variety of annuals and perennials and a gift shop inside a yurt.
RV THERE YET?
Stay at the nationally known, award-winning BUTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND and you will be surrounded by the best of Central PA’s natural scenery. Located along the Juniata River, this fun-filled campground has a plethora of amenities to keep you entertained, including an on-site winery.
Play in the Juniata River, the swimming pool, or the mini golf course. Take a hayride or participate in one of their many themed weekends and golf cart parades. Mid-season wristband packages give campers daily use of river innertubes, the jumping pillow, pedal karts, and laser tag. Reserve early!
RISE 'N SHINE
JUNIATA JUNCTION Start the day with a hearty breakfast at Juniata Junction. Take your time selecting from their large menu.
SCOOPER DOOPER
HARSHBARGER’S SUB ‘N MALT Nostalgia is being served at this 1950s themed restaurant and ice cream parlor. Choose from old-fashioned milkshakes, sundaes, parfaits, or a good ole’ float. Lunch and dinner are served, too.
JACK’S DRIVE-IN Nothing better than stopping by this ice cream shop on a warm summer’s night. Try the Jackpot Sundae Boat!
MOVIE NIGHT
MIDWAY DRIVE-IN THEATER This drive-in movie theater, serving the Juniata River Valley since 1950, plays first-run movies all summer long. Grab some snacks at the concession stand and enjoy the evening outdoors. Visit their Facebook page for the weekly movie announcement.
HISTORICAL PURSUITS
TUSCARORA ACADEMY This site is home to the Juniata County Historical Society’s Museum. Exhibits include an old-fashioned post office, general store, doctor’s office, Native American artifacts, and artwork. Open Sundays June-August from 1-4 p.m.
COVERED BRIDGES Juniata County is home to four covered bridges, with two located in South Juniata County. THE LEHMAN COVERED BRIDGE, and the POMEROY-ACADEMIA COVERED BRIDGE, the longest one in PA.
LEWISTOWN NARROWS CANAL PARK Discover the Pennsylvania Mainline Canal System history while viewing remnants of one of the lift locks and lock keeper’s house. Informational signs and markers will inform hikers along the three-mile, out and back hike.
ADDITIONAL LANDMARKS
JUNIATA COUNTY COURTHOUSE The Juniata County Courthouse is nearly 150 years old, yet still plays a vital governing role. Constructed of 425,000 good bricks and 20,000 pressed bricks, the courthouse was completed Jan. 1, 1875. The building was completed as designed with the addition of a bell tower, clock, furniture and more for a total cost of $63,000. A revolving display of county artifacts is on display in the hallways by the Juniata County Historical Society.
BOOK INDIAN MOUND Early landowners and others, unaware and disregarding its significance to the Native American culture, scattered most of its contents over their fields or removed the artifacts. By the time the Pennsylvania Historical Commission performed an investigative dig in 1929, the plow and vandalism had significantly altered the mound’s characteristic elements. A small monument marks the location of the former mound.
FORT BIGHAM Placed in 1934, a monument for Fort Bigham was erected and dedicated to mark the area where the fort once stood. The fort was erected in 1754 by pioneer settlers who were captured and killed in 1756 by Native Americans. The fort was rebuilt in 1760 but was again destroyed in 1766. However, the inhabitants were warned by a friendly native of the coming attack and were able to escape unharmed.
BONUS IDEAS
4TH & MARKET | 315 MARKET ST., PORT ROYAL Naturals by Val’s high-quality natural product line provides nurturing benefits to your body and is environmentally friendly! Find her homemade products inside this cute women-owned boutique.
RIVER VALLEY FLY FISHING | 717-994-1233 @RIVERVALLEY_FLYFISHING Offering full and half day float or wade trips on central Pennsylvania's premier trout and smallmouth bass waters.
STAN’S COFFEE COMPANY | 624 W. MAIN ST., THOMPSONTOWN Share your story and make great connections over a cup of coffee at the new Stan's Coffee Company in Thompsontown. The 1860s era home has been meticulously renovated and the owners are ready to show you the hospitality that this home’s former owners were known for.
BARN QUILTS
For an added treat during your travels, add the Quilt Mural Trail to your itinerary. The trail is a loop of 8’ square painted quilts, mounted on barns and buildings in three counties. For the downloadable map, visit perrycountyarts.org and select the public art option.
THE OLDE HATCHERY | 211 W. 6TH ST., PORT ROYAL Every home tells a story, and the ladies at the Olde Hatchery are here to help you craft yours with their great selection of home decor, candles, and seasonal items.
RAGAMUFFIN HALL | 2584 MCCOYSVILLE ROAD, MIFFLIN Ragamuffin Hall, a former 1871 church, is now a vibrant music venue owned by singer-songwriter Conrad Fisher. Transforming the historic space into a concert hall and recording studio, Fisher has brought world-class musicians to this small rural community. For tickets, visit theragamuffinhall.com.

SPEED PALACE TAILGREAT!
1. Port Royal Speedway- 308 W. 8th St., Port Royal
2. Gridiron Pub/Gridiron Pizza- 32 N. Main St., Mifflintown
3. Hazard’s Distillery- 26555 Route 75, Mifflintown
4. Royal Beverage- 5530 William Penn Highway, Mifflintown
5. Benners’ Butcher Shoppe- 56 Platt Hollow Road, Thompsontown
6. Original Italian Pizza-Tyson Hill- 27171 Route 75 N., Mifflintown
7. Turbett Back 40- 25834 Route 75, Port Royal
8. River’s Edge RV Park and Campground- 1274 William Penn Highway, Mifflintown
9. Christian Retreat Center- 369 CRC Drive, East Waterford
10. 13 Oaks Cabin- Red Oak Lane, Honey Grove
11. Milepost 142- 21132 Route 333, Thompsontown
12. The Econo Lodge- 29 Stop Plaza Drive, Mifflintown
HANDPICKED
13. Midway Market- 1380 William Penn Highway, Mifflintown
14. LoveTwo Farm- 417 Smokey Hollow Rd., East Waterford
15. Juniata Valley Winery- 19175 Route 35, Mifflin
16. Juniata River Commons- 2218 William Penn Highway, Mifflintown
17. Brummer’s Happy Breeze Farm- 316 Butchershop Road, Port Royal
18. Walnut Cheese Nook and One Way Café- 17815 Route 35, Port Royal
19. Spruce Hill Lunch- 21769 Route 75, Port Royal
20. Guante Family Restaurant- 111 Bridge St., Mifflintown
21. Sunrise Greenhouse- 9318 William Penn Highway, Mifflintown
22. Wilding Hope- 229 Cuba Mills Road, Mifflintown
23. Sarah's Bloomers- 13617 Route 333, Port Royal
RV THERE YET?
24. Buttonwood Campground- 1515 E. River Road, Mifflintown
25. Juniata Junction- 5813 William Penn Highway, Mifflintown
26. Harshbarger’s Sub ‘n Malt- 716 Swamp Road, Mifflintown
27. Jack's Drive-In Twin Service- 8 Wilson St., Mifflin
28. Midway Drive-In Theater- 1380 William Penn Highway, Mifflintown
29. Tuscarora Academy- 472 Academia Road, Mifflin
30. The Lehman Covered Bridge- 10966 Route 333, Mayer Road, Port Royal
31. The Pomeroy-Academia Covered Bridge- 70 Mill Road, Port Royal
32. Lewistown Narrows Canal Park- William Penn Highway, Mifflintown
ADDITIONAL LANDMARKS
33. Juniata County Courthouse- 1 N. Main St., Mifflintown
34. Book Indian Mound- 1547 Indian Mound Rd., Mifflin
35. Fort Bigham- Intersection Route 75 and State Route 3006, Honey Grove