Hellertown is a borough in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. Smaller than the region's main municipalities, Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, Hellertown is located south of South Bethlehem. The two municipalities are separated by South Mountain, making Hellertown the perfect place to stay for visitors who want to be slightly removed from the city atmosphere.
Hellertown lies in the center of the highly populated Northeast megalopolis region of the U.S., 13 miles (21 km) west of the Skylands and New Jersey state line, 57 miles (92 km) north of Philadelphia, and 82 miles (132 km) west of New York City.
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]- 1 Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE IATA), 3311 Airport Rd. Allentown, ☏ +1-800-FLY-LVIA (359-5842). This airport lies in the center of the Lehigh Valley, 9 miles (14 km) northwest of Hellertown, and has nine gates, six aircraft holding spots, and two runways. Allegiant Air, American Eagle, Delta Connection, and United Express offer direct flights to Lehigh Valley International from Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit, Nashville, Fort Lauderdale, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and elsewhere. Car rental services and commercial and public bus services are available for ground transportation from the airport.
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL IATA), ☏ + 1-800-PHL-GATE (745-4283), contactPHL@phl.org. A second option is Philadelphia International Airport, which is 64 miles (103 km) north of Hellertown. An extensive number of domestic and international carriers offer direct flight service to PHL from most U.S. cities, Canada, and a number of Caribbean, European, and Latin American destinations. Cars are available for rent at the airport.
By train
[edit]- 30th Street Station, 2955 Market St., Philadelphia, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. This major East Coast United States train station, the third-busiest Amtrak station in the United States, is 56 miles (90 km) south of Hellertown. Cars are available for rent inside the station.
By bus
[edit]- 2 Allentown Bus Terminal, 325 Hamilton St., Allentown, ☏ +1 610-434-6188. The primary bus terminal for Hellertown is the Allentown bus terminal at 325 Hamilton Street in center city Allentown, and several commercial bus companies offer transportation to Allentown, including:Trans-Bridge Lines offers daily service to Allentown from New York City and Newark, New Jersey. There are several express buses per day into New York City.Trailways offers service from most major Northeastern cities.OurBus offers daily service from New York City and weekend service from Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Binghamton, and Ithaca, arriving at the I-476 Allentown Service Plaza near Wescosville.
By car
[edit]- From the east/west, take Interstate 78 to Exit 67 (Hellertown/Bethlehem), and make a left at the stoplight, regardless of what direction you were traveling.
- From the south, there are two options. One option is to take Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (North); that has an exit in nearby Allentown, and Hellertown can be accessed by taking the turnpike to the Lehigh Valley Interchange, and getting on Interstate 78 west from there. Another option is to take Route 309 North to Interstate 78 west, and follow to exit 67.
- From the north, there are also two options. Once again, the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike can be taken to the Lehigh Valley Interchange, and from there take Interstate 78 west to exit 67. The other option is to take Route 33 South (which runs from Interstate 80 in Mount Pocono to Interstate 78 in Easton) to Interstate 78 east, then exiting at #67 for Hellertown/Bethlehem.
Get around
[edit]By limo
[edit]By bus
[edit]The town is also served by LANTA (Lehigh And Northampton Transportation Authority) Buses via the Westgate/South Bethlehem Line (Route 215). Bus routes and stop schedules are accessible LANta.
See
[edit]- Lost River Caverns. Are the main tourist destination of the town. Located underneath the town, the caverns are open to the public to be toured. One can learn about rock formations of the area and purchase their own samples of these rocks at the gift shop.
- For great panoramic views of Lehigh Valley, take a drive or hike up South Mountain on Lehigh University's campus. The mountain separates South Bethlehem from Hellertown and boasts the Bethlehem Star, illuminating the night sky. One can see the star from most places in Bethlehem and is a great tool for navigating the town.
- Saucon Valley Farmers Market. Runs from May to November at the borough's Water Street Park every Sunday morning from 9AM to 1PM. It features produce and gift-type accents from all around the Lehigh Valley.
For more things to do in the area, check out the Allentown, Bethlehem or Easton pages.
Do
[edit]- The borough has many parks to enjoy, the main of which being Dimmick Park. The park entrance is located at Depot & Durham Streets in Hellertown, but the parking lot is just a few feet down Durham Street. This park houses a community pool (open June through September, $2-$5 daily admission), many baseball fields, a pavilion, stage, public restrooms and a playground. Hellertown's other notable park is the Water Street Park on West Water Street, between Front Street and Creek Road. It houses another pavilion, walking trails, a bike park, a playground, and a volleyball sand court area. Other, smaller parks in the borough include Third Avenue Park (basketball courts and playground) and the East High Street Playground. The "Grist Mill", as it is locally known, also houses a number of baseball fields on West Walnut Street.
- Skiing. This is a popular activity in nearby mountains. Most skiing areas are closed seasonally, since snow can usually only be manufactured from about November to April. Bear Creek Mountain Resort and Blue Mountain Ski Area are a short drive away in Macungie and Palmerton, respectively. Larger, world-famous ski resorts, including Jack Frost & Big Boulder, are in the Poconos, about an hour drive north on Route 33 to Interstate 80.
- The summer provides a great opportunity to float down the Delaware river through Bucks County River Country. In Jim Thorpe, River Adventures Inc. will take you white-water rafting down the Lehigh River. There are numerous lakes, creeks, rivers, ponds, and canals for water sports.
For more things to do in the Lehigh Valley, check out the Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton pages.
Eat and drink
[edit]- Braveheart Highland Pub, 430 Main Street, ☏ +1 610-883-6566. Hailed as being the "only authentic Scottish pub in Lehigh Valley."
- Beer Mussels, Main & Bachman Streets, ☏ +1 610-838-8200. M-W 4PM-midnight, Th-Sa 11AM-2AM, Su noon-midnight. The local, hometown bar with good food. $3-15.
- Hellertown Crossroads Hotel, Main & High Streets, ☏ +1 610-838-8278. M-Sa 11AM-10PM. "Crossroads", as it is known by locals, has been voted "Best Cheesesteak" in the Lehigh Valley in the past, and is known for its inimitable pizza. $3-15.
- Vassi's Drive In, Main St & Kichline Ave, ☏ +1 610-838-1877. Tu-Su 11AM-9PM, changes in summer. Vassi's echoes a 1950s malt shop by featuring a tantalizing selection of ice cream in a quaint and casual setting. The menu is equally minute, but a few key staples, including hot dogs, burgers, gyros and cheesesteaks, keep patrons coming back for more. $2-8.
- Many pizzerias and Italian Restaurants also line Hellertown's Main Street. Local names include Antonio's Pizza (at West Depot Street), DiMaios Italian Restaurant (in Shoppes at Hellertown Plaza at McAdoo Avenue/Polk Valley Road), and Feasta Pizza (in Creekside Marketplace Plaza just outside of Hellertown near Meadows Road).
- A wealth of restaurants can be found just five minutes away from Hellertown in Bethlehem. Bethlehem Brew Works, Starter's Pub, and Godfrey Daniel's Coffeehouse are hot spots for area college students and adults alike.
For more places to eat and drink in the Lehigh Valley, check the listings on the Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton pages.
Sleep
[edit]The closest hotel is the Holiday Inn Express, which is in South Bethlehem, but is half a block away from the border with Hellertown on Cherry Lane.
The region has over 100 hotels and motels and many quaint Bed and Breakfasts for a quick romantic getaway. Find them on the Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton pages.
Connect
[edit]Tourist information
[edit]- Discover Lehigh Valley, 1250 Simon Blvd., Easton, ☏ +1-610 882-9200
Phones
[edit]In Hellertown, like all Lehigh Valley locations, you must dial an area code when you place a call. Area codes in the Lehigh Valley are 610 and 484.
Go next
[edit]Other Lehigh Valley locations
[edit]- Allentown, 10 miles (16 km)
- Bangor, 28 miles (45 km)
- Bethlehem, 5 miles (8.0 km)
- Easton, 12 miles (19 km)
- Emmaus, 13 miles (21 km)
- Fogelsville, 18 miles (29 km)
- Nazareth, 15 miles (24 km)
- Phillipsburg, NJ, 13 miles (21 km)
- Slatington, 26 miles (42 km)
- Whitehall Township, 12 miles (19 km)
Regional cities and locations
[edit]- Atlantic City, 118.9 miles (191.4 km)
- Harrisburg, 91.7 miles (147.6 km)
- New York City, 81.9 miles (131.8 km)
- Philadelphia, 56.8 miles (91.4 km)
- The Poconos, 54.6 miles (87.9 km)
Routes through Hellertown |
Harrisburg ← Allentown ← | W E | → Bethlehem → New York City |