Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour in Scranton, Pennsylvania
Museum with a major rail exhibitOpen seasonally, early spring to late fall
The Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour takes visitors 300 feet below McDade Park into a restored anthracite mine that first opened in 1860, where guides share the daily lives of the miners whose coal fed the railroads and factories of the Industrial Revolution.
- 300 feet underground
- Mine first opened in 1860
- Steady 53 degrees year-round
- About one hour, half a mile walking
- Hoist House Museum on site
Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour at a glance
- Hours
- Seasonal, early spring to late fall; ticket office opens 10 am; check the county website for current days
- Admission
- Not clearly posted; check with Lackawanna County before you go
- Train rides
- Descent into the mine down the original slope as part of the tour
- Plan for
- About 1 hour for the tour, plus time for the Hoist House Museum
- Best for
- Families with school-age kids and history fans
- Best ages
- Ages 6 and up
- Accessibility
- Hearing-impaired materials available; ask about accessibility accommodations
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Scranton.
Rally Takes the Train
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The hard coal mine that reopened for visitors
Anthracite, or hard coal, from northeastern Pennsylvania fueled furnaces, factories and locomotives through the Industrial Revolution. This mine beneath what is now McDade Park in Scranton first opened in 1860 and became part of a vast network of tunnels. After it was abandoned, Lackawanna County restored it so the public could walk the same gangways that generations of miners worked.
Visitors have been coming since 1985, according to a state tourism guide, and the attraction has received national awards as a historical site. Tours are led by guides who know mining first-hand, and they bring the people of the mine to life: the miners, the mule boys and the families who depended on the coal.
Down the slope and into the gangways
The tour begins with a three to four minute descent down the original mine slope to 300 feet below the surface. Your guide then leads about half a mile on foot through gangways and tunnels, past three different veins of coal and stops with names like the Monkey Vein, the Mule Boy and the Dead Chute. The whole tour lasts about an hour.
Above ground, the ticket office, gift shop and snack bar open at 10 am. While you wait, you can watch an introductory video in the theater in the ticket office building or look through the mining exhibits in the Hoist House Museum.
Don’t miss
- The descent down the original slopeThe ride 300 feet down the mine's original slope takes three to four minutes and sets the mood for the whole tour.
- The Monkey VeinOne of the named stops on the tour, where guides explain the hard work of reaching coal in tight spaces.
- The Mule Boy stopTells the story of the young workers who handled the mules that pulled coal through the tunnels.
- The Hoist House MuseumMining exhibits above ground, a good place to spend the wait before your tour.
An underground adventure for school-age kids
The tour is billed as family friendly, and kids who love trains and big machines usually enjoy the ride down the slope and the stories of the mule boys, many of whom were children themselves. Expect about half a mile of walking underground in cool, dim tunnels, so this suits kids who can walk for an hour more than toddlers in carriers. Light jackets help, and rentals are available on site.
Plan your visit: tips for Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour
- Bring a light jacket: the mine stays at 53 degrees, though rentals are available.
- Arrive by 2 pm to make the last tour of the day.
- Wear comfortable shoes for about half a mile of underground walking.
- Watch the introductory video in the ticket office theater while you wait.
- Combine the tour with Steamtown or the Electric City Trolley Museum in Scranton.
A county attraction led by miners
The Coal Mine Tour is a Lackawanna County attraction listed under its parks and recreation department, and its guides share first-hand knowledge of mining. Visitors support it by taking the tour, shopping in the gift shop and snack bar, and booking group visits through the county.
Make it a Scranton rail day
Steamtown National Historic Site and the Electric City Trolley Museum are both right in Scranton, so you can follow the coal from the mine to the locomotives that burned it. About 24 miles away, the Stourbridge Line in Honesdale runs excursion trains. See more Pennsylvania train museums.
- Steamtown National Historic SiteScranton, PA · same town
- Electric City Trolley MuseumScranton, PA · same town
- Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway historic exhibitsScranton, PA · about 15 mi
- Honesdale Wayne County Historical Society / Stourbridge Lion replicaHonesdale, PA · about 24 mi
- Stourbridge LineHonesdale, PA · about 24 mi
- Lehigh Gorge Scenic RailwayJim Thorpe, PA · about 38 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
The first tip for this tour is to bring a light jacket, because it is 53 degrees down in the mine all year. That made me think of packing day in our book. Rally fills his bag with his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball, and he is not leaving any of them behind. A jacket would never make his list, so Mom packs it.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
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Work or volunteer at Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour?
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Sources
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour: 20 questions before you go down
Where is the Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour?
The Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour is in McDade Park on Bald Mountain Road in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The mine itself lies beneath the park. Follow signs within McDade Park to the ticket office, where tours begin, and ask the county about parking for large groups.
What are the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour hours?
The tour is open seasonally from early spring through late fall. The ticket office, gift shop and snack bar open at 10 am, and the county says the last tour descends at 2:30 pm, with guests asked to arrive by 2 pm. Open days can change each season, so check the county website before you go.
How much does the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour cost?
Current ticket prices are not clearly posted online. Check the Lackawanna County parks and recreation page for the Coal Mine Tour or call the county before your visit, and ask about group rates if you are bringing a school or club.
How deep is the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour?
The tour takes you 300 feet beneath the earth's surface. The descent down the original mine slope takes about three to four minutes, and once at the bottom you walk through gangways and tunnels with your guide.
How long is the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour?
Each guided tour lasts about one hour and covers roughly half a mile of walking underground. Allow extra time before your tour to buy tickets, watch the introductory video in the theater and look through the Hoist House Museum.
How cold is it in the Lackawanna coal mine?
The mine holds a steady 53 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, so it feels cool even on a hot summer day. A light jacket is recommended, and the attraction says jacket rentals are available on site if you forget one.
When did the Lackawanna coal mine open?
The mine originally opened in 1860 and later was abandoned before being restored for visitors. A state tourism guide says the attraction has been welcoming visitors since 1985. It is an anthracite, or hard coal, mine, part of a much larger network of tunnels under the region.
Who leads the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour?
Tours are led by guides with real mining knowledge who share first-hand stories and insights about life underground. They explain how miners, mule boys and their families lived and worked, and they point out the coal veins and historic stops along the way.
What will I see on the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour?
Guides lead you through gangways and tunnels past three different veins of coal and named stops such as the Monkey Vein, the Mule Boy and the Dead Chute. Above ground, the Hoist House Museum holds mining exhibits, and the theater in the ticket office shows an introductory video.
Is the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour good for kids?
Yes, for kids who can handle about an hour of walking in cool, dim tunnels. The tour is described as family friendly and educational, and the descent and the mule boy stories tend to grab young visitors. Very young children may find the dark and the length tiring, so plan accordingly.
What should I wear on the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour?
Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a light jacket, since you will walk about half a mile underground where the temperature is a constant 53 degrees. Jackets can be rented on site. Dress in layers if you plan to spend time in McDade Park afterward.
Is the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour accessible?
The attraction says it welcomes guests of all abilities and can provide hearing-impaired materials and accessibility guidance. Because the tour involves a slope descent and underground walking, contact the county ahead of time to discuss mobility needs and any accommodations available.
What is the Hoist House Museum?
The Hoist House Museum is the above-ground exhibit space at the Coal Mine Tour, with displays on anthracite mining. It is a good place to wait for your tour time along with the theater video, and it gives younger kids a chance to look at mining artifacts in daylight.
Can groups book the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour?
Yes. The attraction invites questions about group reservations, parking and tour availability. If you are planning a school trip, scout outing or bus tour, contact Lackawanna County well in advance to reserve a time and confirm group pricing.
Is there food at the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour?
Yes. A snack bar opens at 10 am along with the ticket office and gift shop. For a longer day, McDade Park around the mine has open space where families can relax before or after the tour.
Does the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour have a gift shop?
Yes. The gift shop opens at 10 am along with the ticket office and snack bar. It is a good stop for a souvenir of your trip 300 feet underground, and purchases help support this county-run attraction. Browse it while you wait for your tour time or after you come back up into daylight.
What is the connection between the coal mine and railroads?
Anthracite from mines like this one fueled the Industrial Revolution, including the steam railroads that hauled coal out of the Lackawanna Valley. Pairing the tour with Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton shows both ends of that story: the mine and the locomotives.
Who runs the Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour?
The tour is a Lackawanna County attraction listed under the county's parks and recreation department. One state tourism guide credits the County of Lackawanna Transit System as operator, so contact the county directly with business or partnership questions.
Is the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour open in winter?
No regular winter tours are listed. The attraction runs seasonally from early spring through late fall, so plan a visit in that window. The mine itself stays 53 degrees year-round, so the underground part feels the same in April as in October.
What train museums are near the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour?
Steamtown National Historic Site and the Electric City Trolley Museum are both in Scranton, very close by. The Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley Railway exhibits are about 15 miles away, and the Stourbridge Line and the Stourbridge Lion replica in Honesdale are about 24 miles away.
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