Pennsylvania has several well-known national parks that attract millions of visitors each year. Some people assume that anything near a national park becomes a “hot real estate zone.” That’s not always the case. These parks help local housing markets in different ways depending on tourism, traffic, and how close homes actually are to the park entrances.
Below are the five major national parks in Pennsylvania and how each one influences the nearby housing market.
Gettysburg National Military Park
Gettysburg is one of the most famous historic battlefields in the country. It brings in tourists year-round—history lovers, students on field trips, and families visiting the museum.
Real estate impact:
Homes near Gettysburg tend to hold value well because the area is steady, not trendy. You don’t usually see big jumps in price, but it’s rare for the area to crash either. People like the small-town feel and the strong tourism economy. The downside is traffic—tour buses and crowds can be annoying if you live too close to downtown.
Valley Forge National Historical Park
Valley Forge sits in a busier part of Pennsylvania, close to King of Prussia and the Philadelphia suburbs. It’s a popular place for jogging, biking, picnics, and school trips.
Real estate impact:
This area does push prices up, mainly because it’s already close to high-income suburbs. The park gives the neighborhoods a cleaner, greener feel. Buyers like that. But you also get higher taxes and more competition, because people move here for jobs in Philly while wanting nature nearby.
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
This park covers forests, mountains, and the Delaware River. It’s a big spot for hiking, camping, and kayaking. A lot of New Jersey and New York residents drive here on weekends.
Real estate impact:
Homes near the Delaware Water Gap can be tricky. Some areas see higher demand because city workers want cheaper housing in PA and are willing to commute. But parts of the region feel remote, which slows down appreciation. If you want peace and quiet, this area works. If you want strong long-term growth, it depends on the town.
Flight 93 National Memorial
This memorial site near Shanksville honors the passengers and crew of Flight 93 from September 11, 2001. It’s peaceful, quiet, and visited mostly for remembrance, not recreation.
Real estate impact:
This park doesn’t create the same real estate boost as larger recreation areas. It’s in a rural part of Pennsylvania where prices generally stay affordable. The memorial brings tourism, but it doesn’t change the housing market in a major way. What it does add is a sense of community pride, which helps keep the area stable.
Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site
This smaller park tells the story of early American transportation and railroads. It’s located between Altoona and Johnstown.
Real estate here stays fairly low-cost. These towns don’t get the same tourist pressure as places like Gettysburg or Valley Forge. The park adds some local tourism and helps small businesses, but it doesn’t push home prices up sharply. If anything, people move here because it’s cheaper, not because of the historic site.
How These Parks Affect Pennsylvania Real Estate Overall
Here’s the simple truth:
National parks in Pennsylvania create steady demand, not rapid price spikes. They make areas more attractive to buyers who want green space, lower stress, and weekend activities. But they don’t turn towns into expensive resort markets like you’d see near parks in Colorado or Utah.
The biggest benefits are:
- Clean, protected land nearby
- Tourism that supports local jobs
- More outdoor activities for residents
- Stronger long-term stability
- The drawbacks can be:
- Traffic from tourists
- Higher taxes in popular areas
- Limited land for new housing
- Prices are rising faster in the suburbs near Valley Forge
Overall, these parks help create healthy and stable markets, especially in places already growing, like the Philadelphia metro area.
