The Pennsylvania Turnpike Fuels Excitement for Summer Fun Across the Commonwealth
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Fuels Excitement for Summer Fun Across the Commonwealth
America’s First Superhighway Brings Customer Experience to the Forefront with Service Plaza Additions
MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — As Pennsylvania prepares to welcome the world for historic celebrations and premier athletic contests – in addition to summer travel – the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike) is introducing new customer experiences and activities.
“With national and international attention focused on our Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is committed to welcoming visitors with modern amenities and new experiences,” said CEO Mark Compton. “Customers already value service plazas for their convenience and dependability. Celebrating events and adding kid-friendly activities are just some of the ways we’re improving our customer experience.”
The PA Turnpike kicks off in-plaza customer service experiences, coinciding with the Philadelphia area’s FIFA World Cup matches June 14-July 4, at five of its 17 service plazas.
Visitors to the Allentown, King of Prussia, Bowmansville, Peter J. Camiel and Valley Forge service plazas can take advantage of special promotions and activities, including soccer-themed photo opportunities. The sports-themed experiences continue at those service plazas July 10-14 in celebration of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia.
Allentown, King of Prussia and Valley Forge customers will also enjoy a 3D chalk art experience that blends World Cup and America250 imagery by artist Erik Greenawalt, known as the Chalking Dad for his social media followers. Follow the PA Turnpike’s accounts and watch for special posts from English and Spanish-speaking social media influencers.
These activities come as Pennsylvania prepares for its America250 celebrations on July 4. Visitors traveling during the holiday can look forward to patriotic-themed giveaways, promotions and in-plaza activities.
Beyond event-specific experiences, the PA Turnpike is launching a permanent children’s activity area for its youngest visitors at all 17 service plazas.
Building on 2025’s successful holiday-themed children’s activity zone, the new sections offer families screen-free ways to relax and reconnect during their travels. Each section features kid-sized tables and chairs, free PA Turnpike-themed activity books and crayons, as well as summer holiday, soccer and America250-themed decorations and coloring pages.
Adults can grab coffee or take a break from driving while youngsters get creative. Guests are encouraged to take their activities along.
Activity center themes will change throughout the year, so frequent travelers can look forward to events highlighting safety, winter holidays and more.
As more visitors travel for major summer events, the PA Turnpike Commission continues its core commitment to safe, reliable travel that helps them reach favorite destinations faster.
Motorists are never alone when traveling the PA Turnpike. A dedicated police force and the PA Turnpike Commission’s GEICO Safety Patrol vehicles, each covering approximately 25 miles, patrol around the clock. By dialing *11 from a mobile phone, drivers can request assistance, report incidents, or alert authorities to emergencies. Calls are promptly connected to the Traffic Operations Center, which operates 24 hours a day.
Drivers who find themselves in an unexpected backlog, when fully stopped, can text “info” to 47676 to receive free, location-specific updates every 15 minutes.
Whether you’re planning a road trip or other travel, E-ZPass makes every trip on the PA Turnpike more efficient. Mount your transponder once, and tolls are instantly deducted from a prepaid account as you drive – at savings of up to 50% on tolls every time.
Looking for more family fun? Visit paturnpike.com/bingo to play the newly redesigned E-ZPass Bingo online game.
The PA Turnpike offers 17 modern service plazas along its system, providing 24/7 gasoline and diesel fuel, restrooms, pet relief areas and a variety of food options. Additionally, service plazas hosting a Burger King or Starbucks offer online, order-ahead options (accounts required) alongside other amenities, such as electric vehicle charging stations and outdoor seating, that make travel comfortable and efficient.
A national transportation leader, the Pennsylvania Turnpike (PA Turnpike) is the second largest tolling facility in the United States with the most miles. The PA Turnpike proudly supports safety and convenience for its more than 550,000 daily customers through 24-7 roadside assistance, round-the-clock food and fuel at 17 service plazas and a dedicated maintenance force and State Police Troop. The PA Turnpike’s approximately 1,400-person local workforce is unified in its mission; to operate a safe, reliable, customer-valued toll road system that supports national mobility and commerce. For more information about the PA Turnpike’s mission, vision and values, please visit Home | PA Turnpike.
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Media Contacts:
Marissa Orbanek, Press Secretary: (267) 408-5151, morbanek@paturnpike.com
Crispin Havener, Assistant Press Secretary: (717) 870-2841, chavener@paturnpike.com