Taylor, PA Area Guide

Silk mills and coal operations once defined daily life in Taylor, leaving behind a grid of streets and architecture that still shapes the borough's character today. That industrial past is easy to explore: the Anthracite Heritage Museum near McDade Park features exhibits on mine and factory workers, and the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour lets visitors descend 300 feet into a restored mine to experience that world firsthand.

Just seven minutes away, the Steamtown National Historic Site celebrates the region's railroad heritage and makes for a compelling afternoon trip. Together, these destinations give Taylor a layered sense of place that rewards anyone curious about how northeastern Pennsylvania was built.

Main Street sets the dining tone in Taylor, with Italian-American flavors and classic deli traditions leading the way. Taylor Deli and Cafe is a longtime local fixture serving breakfast and lunch -- pizza, soups, and salads keep regulars coming back from across the borough. For evenings out, The Union Craft House brings a neighborhood pub feel with an extensive beer selection and standout bites like steak-and-cheese eggrolls. Lucca, a local Italian spot, doubles as a community gathering place, hosting events that bring neighbors together throughout the year.

Personal vehicles are the primary way to get around Taylor. I-476 (the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension) is accessible via the Keyser Avenue Interchange, while I-81 connects the region north toward Upstate New York and south toward eastern Tennessee, and Route 11 offers a direct corridor into Scranton.

For public transit, COLTS bus service makes stops along Continental Street, Stauffer Industrial Park, and North Main Street. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport is approximately 8 miles away, roughly a sixteen-minute drive.

John Derenick Memorial Park near Union Street offers a full spread of recreational amenities: ball fields, basketball and tennis courts, picnic tables, and a playground. McDade Park, managed at the county level, adds walking trails, shaded pavilions, sports facilities, and a playground, along with direct access to the Anthracite Heritage Museum and the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour.

Across town, the Underwood Skatepark occupies a converted factory building by the rail line, giving skaters and BMX riders a covered, year-round space. Pine Hills Country Club rounds out the local options with a par 71 golf course and on-site dining. Further out, Montage Mountain is a sixteen-minute drive and offers skiing, a waterpark, and outdoor concerts, while Nay Aug Park in Scranton is just twelve minutes away.

Rental rates in Taylor run above the Pennsylvania state average and noticeably above nearby Scranton and Old Forge. The broader Scranton metro area carries an overall cost of living below the national average, with housing, grocery, and healthcare costs all running below national benchmarks.

Everyday retail along Main Street covers the basics efficiently. Walmart and Tractor Supply Co. are within easy reach for groceries, hardware, and household goods. Taylor Commons shopping center is a five-minute drive, and Birney Mall is accessible in about eight minutes for a broader range of stores.

For specialty finds and local staples, Taylor Deli and Cafe functions as a neighborhood gathering spot as much as an eatery, and independent businesses along Main Street fill in the gaps between larger retailers.

Built over abandoned coal mines and rich with history, Taylor offers genuinely affordable housing, charming vintage architecture, and standout local dining alongside quick access to Scranton, the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour, McDade Park, and Montage Mountain.