Plymouth, PA

Plymouth is a small riverside borough in Luzerne County, in northeastern Pennsylvania, with a population of roughly 5,800 residents. Tucked along the western bank of the Susquehanna River, it sits directly across the water from Wilkes-Barre and forms part of the broader Wyoming Valley. Historically tied to anthracite coal mining and later manufacturing, Plymouth has a working-class, blue-collar character that gives it an authentic, unpretentious feel compared to the more polished resort towns nearby. It is approximately 120 miles northwest of New York City and about 100 miles north of Philadelphia, making it a practical stopover for travelers exploring the Wyoming Valley and the Pocono foothills. Its position along Interstate 81 and the Pennsylvania turnpike system makes it a convenient base for visitors heading into the Poconos, the Endless Mountains, or the historic coal-region towns of Lackawanna and Luzerne counties.

Just across the Susquehanna from Plymouth, downtown Wilkes-Barre offers a compact urban experience with the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, a restored 1938 Art Deco theater that hosts concerts, comedy, and touring Broadway shows. The riverfront is also home to the Mohegan Sun Pocono casino and a growing list of restaurants and breweries. The drive from Plymouth to downtown Wilkes-Barre is only about ten minutes via the Market Street Bridge, making it an easy evening out for rental guests.

About 20 miles to the north lies Scranton, the cultural hub of the Lackawanna Valley. Two of its most popular draws are the Steamtown National Historic Site, a working railroad museum operated by the National Park Service with vintage steam locomotives and seasonal train rides, and the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour, which takes visitors underground into a former 19th-century anthracite mine. Both are well suited to families and history enthusiasts, and both can be reached from Plymouth in roughly 30 minutes.

South of Plymouth, the Pocono Mountains region begins within a 30- to 45-minute drive, offering hiking at state parks such as Frances Slocum State Park, which has a lake, swimming beach, and miles of wooded trails. Further west, about an hour and a half by car, Ricketts Glen State Park is renowned for its 21 named waterfalls and the challenging Falls Trail loop, one of the most celebrated hikes in the Mid-Atlantic.

Plymouth's appeal for short-term rental investors lies in its combination of affordability, central location, and proximity to a surprisingly diverse set of attractions. Guests can spend a morning hiking beneath waterfalls, an afternoon riding a historic steam train, and an evening catching a show or trying their luck at the casino, all while staying in a quiet, walkable river town with easy highway access to the wider region.