Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour

Go down in history!

The Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour is an award-winning history attraction and is recognized as one of USA Today’s best underground attractions. Descend slowly into the earth in a bright yellow mine car as you enter the historic Slope #190 and watch the sky slowly disappear. When you reach “the foot,” 300 feet below the surface, you’ll begin exploring an actual anthracite coal mine originally opened in 1860

Follow your knowledgeable guide through winding gangways and a rock tunnel, where you’ll see three different anthracite coal veins. Pass the Mule Boy and the Nipper, look up into the Monkey Vein and the Dead Chute, and discover the fascinating methods used to extract coal. Along the way, your guide will demonstrate mining techniques and share stories of the courage, resilience, and hard work of the miners, young and old, who labored in the damp darkness deep underground.

Located in McDade Park in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour brings the region’s industrial heritage to life. Northeastern Pennsylvania would not be what it is today without the generations of men who worked in its coal mines and the women who powered its textile factories from the late 19th through the mid-20th century. Many were immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe whose determination helped build the region and shape its communities.

See where they worked. Hear their stories. Enter the mine and experience firsthand what life was like 300 feet underground. Then, continue your journey through the region’s industrial past at the nearby Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum, where you can stand at the controls of a lace machine and imagine preparing a meal in the small kitchen of a company house.

Insider Tips

• The descent down the slope takes 3–4 minutes.
• The walking portion of the tour is approximately ½ mile and lasts one hour.
• The mine's temperature remains a consistent 53°F year-round.
• A light jacket and comfortable shoes are recommended.
• While waiting for your tour, you can watch an introductory mining video in the theater located inside the interpretive center, where tour tickets are sold.

Season Opens: April 1, 2026

Season Closes: November 30, 2026
*Opening and closing dates may vary—please check before your visit.

The Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour will be closed for Easter Sunday and Thanksgiving Day.

Tour Days & Hours

The Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour is open to the public on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, & Mondays. The ticket office, gift shop, and snack bar open at 10:00 AM.

First Tour Departs: 10:45 AM

• Guests must arrive 30 minutes (10:15 AM) or earlier for the first tour.
• Tours are given on an hourly basis.

Last Tour Departs: 2:30 PM

• Guests must arrive 30 minutes (2:00 PM) or earlier for the final tour.
• Last tour is not always guaranteed and depends on daily demand.

Admission Fees

2026 Lackawanna County Coal Mine admission fees

Planning a group visit with 20 or more people? Contact the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour to schedule your group experience. Reservations must be made at least four days in advance.

• Tuesdays & Wednesdays: Reserved exclusively for pre-scheduled group tours.
• Group Rates: Available for schools, motor coaches, and civic groups of 20 or more (based on advance reservations).

Browse the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour gift shop for unique anthracite coal souvenirs, miner-themed gifts, and collectibles. Shop glazed coal figurines, exclusive coal trees, coal jewelry, fossils, trilobites, and over 50 types of rocks and minerals. Find books on mining history, miners’ scrip, slate coasters, magnets, and Coal Breakers of Lackawanna County apparel. Kids love the light-up miner helmets and toy lanterns. It's a must-visit stop for collectors and fans of Scranton’s coal mining heritage.

Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour Address

Bald Mountain Road, McDade Park, Scranton, PA 18504
The entrance is located within McDade Park, just off Keyser Avenue in Scranton.

📞 Phone: (570) 963-6463

Parking Information

• Free on-site parking is available for cars, buses, and group vans.
• The main parking area is located near the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour entrance.
• Accessible parking is provided.
• During busy days or group visits, overflow parking may be used within McDade Park.

Accessibility Details

• The Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour is accessible for guests with disabilities, with certain restrictions:
  • Guests must be able to transfer or be assisted in transferring from a wheelchair or mobility device to the mine car.
  • A companion is required to assist guests during the underground portion of the tour.
  • Personal wheelchairs and mobility devices are not permitted on the mine car due to space and safety limitations.
  • A written handout is available for guests who are deaf or hard of hearing and not accompanied by an interpreter.
• The Visitor Center and gift shop are wheelchair accessible.
• Accessible and motorcoach parking are available. Please follow the posted signs.

For questions or to learn more about specific accessibility accommodations, please contact the tour office in advance at (570) 963-6463.