Hawley, PA

Enjoy farm-to-table dining, outdoor recreation, arts, music, family fun, and much more in this charming small town.

Located at the northeastern tip of Lake Wallenpaupack, the town of Hawley Pennsylvania offers a wide variety of memorable experiences, from the rustic to the refined. Fill your Poconos escape with fun things to do in Hawley PA! Get in a vacation frame of mind as you explore downtown shops, attractions, music venues, and an active art and cultural community. After a day of Hawley PA activities, relax and recharge at award-winning hotels, spas, and restaurants.

About the Beautiful Downtown

You won't want to miss the colorful storefronts, rich history, and unique businesses in Hawley's downtown!

Hawley PA directions are simple: most visitors arrive along historic Route 6. As you approach Hawley from the south, the first landmark to catch your eye will be the Hawley Silk Mill. Once home to the first large-scale silk factory in Northern Pennsylvania, this building was refurbished as a lifestyle center in 2011 and now features art galleries, dining, entertainment, a fitness center, and Lackawanna College. Continuing onto Main Street, you'll discover unique places to eat, shop, and explore. Venture down Church Street to see our beautiful churches or down Keystone Street to see the Ritz Company Playhouse, celebrating over 40 years of bringing great entertainment to the community in the form of live theater productions.

Cross the Lackawaxen River to find the Bandstand at Bingham Park. The 5.51 acres of land the bandstand sits on were donated to the Borough of Hawley in 1929 by Adelbert and Margaret Bingham. The park comes alive with baseball games, tennis, playground activities, summer picnics, and events like the Hawley Farmer’s Market, open on Fridays from May through October.

Before you make the turn toward Honesdale, be sure to check out The Settlers Inn. Built with native blue stone and chestnut wood, The Settlers Inn delights visitors and locals with beautiful accommodations, farm-to-table menus, and entertainment throughout the year.

Find itinerary ideas on our list of Top 15 Things to Do in Hawley. Check out a Hawley Pennsylvania map as you explore the historic Hawley Trail. We are proud of our town and invite you to visit and stay for awhile!

Wondering what county is Hawley PA in? The town is located at the southern tip of Wayne County, close to the border of Pike County. Some Hawley zip codes are located within Pike County.

Live Camera:

Take in an in-the-moment view of the town of Hawley. Check out more live cameras in the Poconos.

History

Hawley's history dates back to the 1790s when early settlers began to harness the powerful current of Paupack Falls (now part of the grounds of Ledges Hotel) for manufacturing. The community was known by several names: Paupack Eddy, Falls Port, and Hawleysburgh. Named for Iran Hawley, the first president of the PA Coal Company, the town adopted its present name in 1851, and the Borough of Hawley was officially formed in 1884.

In the nineteenth century, the arrival of the Delaware and Hudson Canal and the Pennsylvania Coal Company (PCC) gravity railroad led to a population boom and the rapid development of the town. The success of the railroad opened the door for shops, eateries, stores, and lodging facilities. Hawley even had a boardwalk, where locals and visitors could walk along the water and watch boats as they tied up to the docks. At the end of the 1800s, the town experienced setbacks with a series of fires and the closure of the canal, but the creation of Lake Wallenpaupack, the third largest reservoir in Pennsylvania, in the 1920s soon brought tourists to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and many opportunities for outdoor recreation. Follow the Tri-County Independent to read more about the history of Hawley!