GoldenBear
06-24-2012, 21:09
Few places along the AT have more build-up than the stretch near Carlisle PA. In less than two and a half miles, one not only crosses a busy highway (U.S. Highway 11) but two interstates. Because of this convergence of concrete, innumerable traveler services exist fairly close to the Trail. In addition, it is fairly easy to get to this road via mass transit. This article will detail the logistics of getting here, what to expect when here, and a slight road shortcut for those who want to minimize contact with busy roads while getting to services.
Harrisburg PA is easily reachable by many forms of transport, including train, bus, and airplane.
Amtrak Routes "Keystone" and "Pennsylvanian"
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Route_C&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=1241245666812
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Route_C&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=1241245666958
depart several times a day for Harrisburg from both New York and Philadelphia. There are also several Greyhound trips each day between Philadelphia and Harrisburg; and about seven airlines fly into Harrisburg Airport.
Check to see if which travel option offers the best combo of price, convenience, and ease of connections.
If you arrive at Harrisburg Airport, you'll need to get downtown Harrisburg by either cab or the #7 'CAT' bus -- the latter costing $1.75
http://www.cattransit.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Route-7-Middletown-052112.pdf
If you get to Harrisburg by Amtrak or Greyhound, you'll arrive at the Transportation Center at Fourth Street and Market. If you arrive by the #7 bus, get off at the Market Square Transfer Center -- which is just what it sounds like -- at Second Street and Market.
CAT -- Capitol Area Transit -- has a commuter bus that goes from downtown Harrisburg to the city of Carlisle, traveling along the Highway 11 that the AT goes right over.
http://www.cattransit.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Route-C-Carlisle-Local-052112.pdf
I note that it is a "commuter" bus in that its schedule is designed to get workers from Carlisle to Harrisburg in the morning and back home in the evening. If you arrive in Harrisburg at 2 pm, the next bus won't be till 4:45! You can pass the time in Transit Center, which has seating, travel info, restrooms, vending machines, and not much else.
At Third Street and Market is Strawberry Square
http://www.strawberrysquare.com/
which has several shops and fast food restaurants, and is probably a better place to spend a couple hours. Note that the Greyhound area (downstairs from the train lobby) has small coin lockers -- a rarity in the U.S. nowadays.
If you simply want to get to the CAT bus stop, follow these photos of mine:
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=51908&catid=member&imageuser=13863
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=51909&catid=member&imageuser=13863
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=51910&catid=member&imageuser=13863
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=51911&catid=member&imageuser=13863
CAT buses operate under a "zone" system, where travel within one zone is $1.75, and going to the next zone costs $2.35
Fares are paid as you board, and must be the exact amount. Buses do take $1 bills. Surprisingly, I found no place to get change in the Harrisburg Transit Center, so carry some coins when you arrive.
Along Route C, the zone boundary for travel along Highway 11 is Interstate 81. In other words, if you get off at about where the AT goes over Highway 11, you pay a lower cost than going barely half a mile further.
Highway 11 is right in the middle of an AT section where camping outside of shelters is explicitly forbidden, and places to stealth camp are not easy to find. Plain and simple, it's farm land, with many areas devoid of trees or shade. In addition, between Boiling Springs and the Scott Farm Work Center -- a ten mile trek -- there are no spigots, springs, or even creeks. Walking without shade or water in Pennsylvania summers can be QUITE tiring, so plan appropriately!
Many people take advantage of the fact that Highway 11 has several inexpensive motels and restaurants. The road is called "Harrisburg Pike" (HbP) here, and you'll find these services as you walk west from the AT:
Days Inn Carlisle North 1825 HgP = 1-717-245-2242
Middlesex Diner 1803 HgP
Super 8 Carlisle North 1800 HgP = 1-717-249-7000
Hotel Carlisle / Embers Steakhouse 1700 HgP = 1-877-718-0592
Dunkin Donuts 1651 HgP
Flying J Truck Stop / Denny's 1501 HgP
America's Best Value 1460 HgP = 717-249-7775
Red Roof Inn 1450 HgP = 717-245-2400
Bob Evans 1400 HgP
Interstate 81
Sunoco / Subway 1257 HgP
Quality Inn 1255 HgP = 717-243-6000
Econolodge Carlisle 1252 HgP = 717-243-8585
Country Club Road, stop light
Country Club Diner 1251 HgP
Waffle House 1249 HgP
Travelodge 1247 HgP = 1-717-243-2960
Howard Johnson 1245 HgP = 1-717-243-5411
Rodeway Inn 1239 HgP = 717-249-2800
South Middlesex Road
Gulf Oil (convenience store) 1236 HgP
Arbys 1202 HgP
North Middlesex Road, stop light
Petro Truck Stop / Iron Skillet 1201 HgP
Donut Connection 1186 HgP
McDonalds 1176 HgP
Pilot Truck Stop / Wendy's 1165 HgP
Hampton Inn 1164 HgP = 1-717-240-0200
PA Turnpike
Hoss Family Steakhouse 1151 HgP
Giant Food Store 1149 HgP
The road is busy, so I include the locations of stop lights for those wishing a completely safe place to cross. I also include the local number for hotels. Many of the above facilities cater to truckers, and are thus open 24 hours.
If you decide to stay at a motel along here, note the following:
1) The name of the township is "Middlesex," but all places are listed as "Carlisle."
2) More than one chain has TWO motels listed as being in "Carlisle," so be certain to search for the one at "Carlisle North."
3) Check reviews of a place to ensure it meets your standards. Admittedly, backpackers are usually satisfied with a roof over their heads, but note the following: one motel I thought of staying at had nine reviews, with six of them giving the place a "Terrible" Rating!
4) Google Map identifies a Motel Six east of I-81. This is simply not true. There is a Motel Six in Carlisle, but it is far from where Google Earth shows it. That place is now a Red Roof.
If you decide to eat at or stay at a place west of I-81 AND you can live with yourself if you walk on road that bypass the AT (or you just don't feel safe walking on Highway 11), then there are shortcuts to this area for both NOBOs and SOBOs. If you ask me, however, these roads are barely less "wilderness" than what the AT actually goes on.
North from Highway 11, just west of I-81 (across from the Sunoco), is Country Club Road. After going north, it veers east and intersects the AT at the Bernheisel Bridge Road.
South from Highway 11, just west of the Rodeway Inn, is South Middlesex Road. It goes underneath I-81 and the PA-Turnpike, and then intersects with Old Stonehouse Road, which goes southeast. That road goes across a railroad, intersects with Appalachian Drive (along which the Trail used to run),
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=51912&c=520
and meets up with AT a little east of that.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=51913&c=520
Harrisburg PA is easily reachable by many forms of transport, including train, bus, and airplane.
Amtrak Routes "Keystone" and "Pennsylvanian"
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Route_C&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=1241245666812
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Route_C&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=1241245666958
depart several times a day for Harrisburg from both New York and Philadelphia. There are also several Greyhound trips each day between Philadelphia and Harrisburg; and about seven airlines fly into Harrisburg Airport.
Check to see if which travel option offers the best combo of price, convenience, and ease of connections.
If you arrive at Harrisburg Airport, you'll need to get downtown Harrisburg by either cab or the #7 'CAT' bus -- the latter costing $1.75
http://www.cattransit.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Route-7-Middletown-052112.pdf
If you get to Harrisburg by Amtrak or Greyhound, you'll arrive at the Transportation Center at Fourth Street and Market. If you arrive by the #7 bus, get off at the Market Square Transfer Center -- which is just what it sounds like -- at Second Street and Market.
CAT -- Capitol Area Transit -- has a commuter bus that goes from downtown Harrisburg to the city of Carlisle, traveling along the Highway 11 that the AT goes right over.
http://www.cattransit.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Route-C-Carlisle-Local-052112.pdf
I note that it is a "commuter" bus in that its schedule is designed to get workers from Carlisle to Harrisburg in the morning and back home in the evening. If you arrive in Harrisburg at 2 pm, the next bus won't be till 4:45! You can pass the time in Transit Center, which has seating, travel info, restrooms, vending machines, and not much else.
At Third Street and Market is Strawberry Square
http://www.strawberrysquare.com/
which has several shops and fast food restaurants, and is probably a better place to spend a couple hours. Note that the Greyhound area (downstairs from the train lobby) has small coin lockers -- a rarity in the U.S. nowadays.
If you simply want to get to the CAT bus stop, follow these photos of mine:
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=51908&catid=member&imageuser=13863
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=51909&catid=member&imageuser=13863
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=51910&catid=member&imageuser=13863
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=51911&catid=member&imageuser=13863
CAT buses operate under a "zone" system, where travel within one zone is $1.75, and going to the next zone costs $2.35
Fares are paid as you board, and must be the exact amount. Buses do take $1 bills. Surprisingly, I found no place to get change in the Harrisburg Transit Center, so carry some coins when you arrive.
Along Route C, the zone boundary for travel along Highway 11 is Interstate 81. In other words, if you get off at about where the AT goes over Highway 11, you pay a lower cost than going barely half a mile further.
Highway 11 is right in the middle of an AT section where camping outside of shelters is explicitly forbidden, and places to stealth camp are not easy to find. Plain and simple, it's farm land, with many areas devoid of trees or shade. In addition, between Boiling Springs and the Scott Farm Work Center -- a ten mile trek -- there are no spigots, springs, or even creeks. Walking without shade or water in Pennsylvania summers can be QUITE tiring, so plan appropriately!
Many people take advantage of the fact that Highway 11 has several inexpensive motels and restaurants. The road is called "Harrisburg Pike" (HbP) here, and you'll find these services as you walk west from the AT:
Days Inn Carlisle North 1825 HgP = 1-717-245-2242
Middlesex Diner 1803 HgP
Super 8 Carlisle North 1800 HgP = 1-717-249-7000
Hotel Carlisle / Embers Steakhouse 1700 HgP = 1-877-718-0592
Dunkin Donuts 1651 HgP
Flying J Truck Stop / Denny's 1501 HgP
America's Best Value 1460 HgP = 717-249-7775
Red Roof Inn 1450 HgP = 717-245-2400
Bob Evans 1400 HgP
Interstate 81
Sunoco / Subway 1257 HgP
Quality Inn 1255 HgP = 717-243-6000
Econolodge Carlisle 1252 HgP = 717-243-8585
Country Club Road, stop light
Country Club Diner 1251 HgP
Waffle House 1249 HgP
Travelodge 1247 HgP = 1-717-243-2960
Howard Johnson 1245 HgP = 1-717-243-5411
Rodeway Inn 1239 HgP = 717-249-2800
South Middlesex Road
Gulf Oil (convenience store) 1236 HgP
Arbys 1202 HgP
North Middlesex Road, stop light
Petro Truck Stop / Iron Skillet 1201 HgP
Donut Connection 1186 HgP
McDonalds 1176 HgP
Pilot Truck Stop / Wendy's 1165 HgP
Hampton Inn 1164 HgP = 1-717-240-0200
PA Turnpike
Hoss Family Steakhouse 1151 HgP
Giant Food Store 1149 HgP
The road is busy, so I include the locations of stop lights for those wishing a completely safe place to cross. I also include the local number for hotels. Many of the above facilities cater to truckers, and are thus open 24 hours.
If you decide to stay at a motel along here, note the following:
1) The name of the township is "Middlesex," but all places are listed as "Carlisle."
2) More than one chain has TWO motels listed as being in "Carlisle," so be certain to search for the one at "Carlisle North."
3) Check reviews of a place to ensure it meets your standards. Admittedly, backpackers are usually satisfied with a roof over their heads, but note the following: one motel I thought of staying at had nine reviews, with six of them giving the place a "Terrible" Rating!
4) Google Map identifies a Motel Six east of I-81. This is simply not true. There is a Motel Six in Carlisle, but it is far from where Google Earth shows it. That place is now a Red Roof.
If you decide to eat at or stay at a place west of I-81 AND you can live with yourself if you walk on road that bypass the AT (or you just don't feel safe walking on Highway 11), then there are shortcuts to this area for both NOBOs and SOBOs. If you ask me, however, these roads are barely less "wilderness" than what the AT actually goes on.
North from Highway 11, just west of I-81 (across from the Sunoco), is Country Club Road. After going north, it veers east and intersects the AT at the Bernheisel Bridge Road.
South from Highway 11, just west of the Rodeway Inn, is South Middlesex Road. It goes underneath I-81 and the PA-Turnpike, and then intersects with Old Stonehouse Road, which goes southeast. That road goes across a railroad, intersects with Appalachian Drive (along which the Trail used to run),
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=51912&c=520
and meets up with AT a little east of that.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=51913&c=520