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The hang gliding and paragliding launch site used for the Festival is known as The Pulpit, and is located a few minutes outside McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania on top of the ridge just to the east of town.
McConnellsburg is in south-central Pennsylvania about 40 minutes from the point where I-81 crosses the PA state line, and is convenient to:
♦ Baltimore
♦ Washington
♦ Philadelphia
♦ Harrisburg
♦ Pittsburgh
♦ Morgantown
The Landing Zone is a quick 10 minutes from launch, via Lincoln Way East (Old US 30) into McConnellsburg, followed by a left onto South Seventh Street.
Travel time from the Washington DC and Baltimore MD areas is about an hour and 45 minutes. Visit our Maps webpage for some helpful maps of the south-central PA and McConnellsburg areas.
I-270 North.
I-70 West.
I-81 North, into PA. Follow I-81 for about 15 miles.
EXIT I-81 onto Route 16 West.
Follow Route 16 West for 12 miles, through Greencastle, to Mercersburg.
RIGHT onto Route 75 North, just past the downtown area.
Follow 75 North for 6 miles.
LEFT onto Route 30 West.
Follow Route 30 West about 4 miles to the top of the ridge (Tuscarora Summit)
LEFT onto the dirt road next to the Mountain House Bar and Grill. If you start going downhill, you missed the turn.
RIGHT into the parking lot located about 100 yards down the road. If the lot is full, parking should be available near the Mountain House Bar and Grill. Please do not park along the dirt road, as this inconveniences nearby residents.
Continue on Route 30 West, cresting the top of the ridge.
Go downhill about 1.5 miles. Watch for the left-turn lane, at the point where Route 30 briefly becomes a divided highway.
LEFT onto Lincoln Way East (this road is also variously named Old Route 30 and Route 1006).
Follow Lincoln Way East about 1.25 miles, into McConnellsburg.
Get onto the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76). Eastbound if you are travelling from the Pittsburgh area, Westbound if you are travelling from the Philadelphia/NJ/NY area.
Take Exit 13 from the Turnpike (McConnellsburg, Fort Littleton).
Follow Route 522 South towards McConnellsburg. Proceed 8.3 miles.
LEFT onto Route 30 East, just before downtown McConnellsburg.
Proceed 3.7 miles up to the top of the ridge (Tuscarora Summit)
RIGHT into the parking lot located about 100 yards down the road. If the lot is full, parking should be available near the Mountain House Bar and Grill. Please do not park along the dirt road, as this inconveniences nearby residents.
At the junction of Route 522 and Route 30, stay on Route 522.
Proceed about 0.5 miles to Route 16 East (traffic light at this intersection).
LEFT, following Route 16 East into downtown McConnellsburg.
If you go straight at the intersection where Route 16 bears to the right (look for Johnnie's Motel on your right), you'll be on Lincoln Way East (aka Old Route 30), which will lead back to Route 30 and then up to The Pulpit.
Follow the dirt road from the Pulpit parking area back to Route 30. The Mountain House Bar and Grill will be on your left.
LEFT onto Route 30 West, towards McConnellsburg.
Go downhill about 1.5 miles. Watch for the left-turn lane, at the point where Route 30 briefly becomes a divided highway.
LEFT onto Lincoln Way East (this road is also variously named Old Route 30 and Route 1006).
Follow Lincoln Way East about 1.25 miles until it merges with Route 16. There's a stop sign at this intersection. You are now in downtown McConnellsburg.
Go straight at the stop sign. Be careful of traffic from your left, which doesn't have to stop.
LEFT onto South Seventh Street (look for McDonald's on your right, Johnnie's Motel on your left).
Follow Seventh for exactly 2.1 miles, to the Landing Zone. The entrance is on the left side of the road. You may park along the dirt road that parallels the LZ's western edge.
DO NOT drive or park vehicles more than 100 feet along this dirt road. The land owner wants to prevent erosion of the road, and the field from becoming compacted. If you land in the middle of the field, then you must carry your glider out, do not use a vehicle to retrieve your gear!
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