Carlisle is a city in the Harrisburg area of Pennsylvania. Settled by Europeans in 1751, it is the seat of Cumberland County and home of Dickinson College.

Get in

By car

The Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) and I-81 pass through Carlisle.

By bus

Reaching Carlisle by public transport is limited, but not impossible.

RabbitTransport provides a bus route between Carlisle and Harrisburg on Route C of its Capital Area Transit service. It caters mostly to working commuters, and does not operate on weekends.

Harrisburg had bus and rail connections to larger cities, and an international airport.

Get around

Most of downtown is very walkable, notably Hanover, High, and West Pomfret Streets.

See

The two main streets in Carlisle are Hanover and High Streets. These streets intersect in the middle of town, creating a nice square by the courthouse. Most of the buildings of interest in Carlisle are located along one of these two streets.

• 1 U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center, 950 Soldiers Dr, ☏ +1 717 245-3972. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su Noon-5PM. Free. (updated Oct 2019)
• 2 Carlisle Armory. (updated Nov 2019)

Do

• Carlisle Theatre, High St. Has regular movies and performances (updated Nov 2019)
• Weiss Center for the Arts, West High Street 240. M-Sa 10AM-4PM. An art center operated by Dickinson College, hosts several small rotating exhibitions throughout the year. (updated Nov 2019)
• 1 Create-A-Palooza, 11 East High Street, ☏ +1 717 4095036, contact@create-a-palooza.com. 11AM-6PM. Walk-in paint-your-own pottery, glass, canvas, wood board; party & special event venue; rear parking. (updated Feb 2022)

Buy

• 1 Whistlestop Bookshop, 129 W High St, ☏ +1-717-243-4744. (updated Nov 2019)
• 2 Exquisite Chocolates of Carlisle, 35 South Hanover St, ☏ +1 717 220 7081. M-F 10:00-18:00; Sa 10:00-15:00; Su off. One of twenty places in the US licensed to sell Belgian Neuhaus chocolate, they also offer macrons and other sweet treats. (updated Nov 2024)

Eat

• Carlisle Thai Cuisine, 141 High St, ☏ +1 717-249-2007. Focuses on healthy Thai food. Has options for dietary restrictions. (updated Nov 2019)
• Miseno's Ristorante and Pizzeria, W High St. (updated Nov 2019)
• Mt. Fuji, 149 N Hanover St. Good sushi for reasonable prices. Ask for the Mt. Fuji (not on the menu). (updated Nov 2019)

Sleep

• Econo Lodge, 1252 Harrisburg Pike, I-81 Exit 52, ☏ +1 717-243-8585. 
• 1 Residence Inn by Marriott Harrisburg Carlisle, 1 Hampton Court (Exit 226 off Turnpike and Exit 52 off I 81.), ☏ +1 717-610-9050. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. 
• Hampton Inn – Carlisle, 1164 Harrisburg Pike, ☏ +1 717-240-0200. 
• Sleep Inn Carlisle, 5 East Garland Drive (I81 Exit 47), ☏ +1 717-249-8863. Free breakfast. 

Go next

• Allentown, 103.5 miles (166.6 km)
• Philadelphia, 124 miles (200 km)

Routes through Carlisle

Pittsburgh ← Breezewood ←	W  E	→ Mechanicsburg → Harrisburg
Wilkes-Barre ← Harrisburg ←	N  S	→ Chambersburg → Hagerstown