The Graffiti Bridge in Berks County has been on my list ever since I first heard about it, so I was excited for a chance to check it out with my daughter in the summer of 2025.
While it’s called the Graffiti Bridge, this section is actually a bridge (and quite an impressive one at that) and a 3/4 of a mile section of abandoned roadway along the northwestern shores of Ontelaunee Lake near Leesport in northern Berks County, PA.
In recent years, this has become a hot spot for graffiti, making it the new Graffiti Highway after the one in Centralia was covered with dirt a few years ago. While this spot lacks the fascinating history of Centralia, it’s still a fun spot to visit, especially if you enjoy visiting abandoned places in PA.
Read on to find out its history and how you can visit it.
The History of the Graffiti Bridge
This section of roadway was completed in 1927 by the Reading Water Company. Known as West Shore Drive (Pennsylvania Route 1003), it follows along the shoreline of the Ontelaunee Reservoir.
According to HistoricBridges.com, this bridge is an open spandrel arch bridge and is 403 feet long. It has three arches and is made of concrete.
It’s definitely an impressive structure.
The bridge and roadway were in use for decades before being closed in the 1990s due to the deteriorating condition of the bridge. While it’s presumably safe to walk on, the bridge is showing its age, and even thirty years ago couldn’t handle the amount of traffic it was receiving.
Over the years, this has become a popular spot for walking and bicycling, as well as for fishermen. In fact, during my visit, nearly everyone there was there to fish, not to check out the graffiti or the beauty of the area.
If you love fishing, bring your gear as this is supposedly a great spot.
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How to Get to the Graffiti Bridge
As noted above, the Graffiti Bridge is located in northern Berks County, a few miles from Leesport, Showmakersville, and Kirbyville.
There is no parking lot near the bridge, but there is plenty of room to pull over on the side of Ridge Road. Obviously make sure you use care when you do this to not block traffic.
This parking area can be found at the following coordinates: 40.470306, -75.920667.
Conversely, if you plan to walk the entire length, you can also park about 7/10 of a mile away at the other end of the shuttered West Shore Drive at the intersection of Kemmerer Road. This spot can be found at the following coordinates: 40.477194, -75.911889.
[Click here for information on how to use the coordinates in this article to find your destination.]
Visiting Graffiti Bridge in Berks County
From the first listed parking area, it is less than 200 feet to the start of the Graffiti Bridge. However, you’ll notice that the graffiti starts as soon as you leave Ridge Road.
It should be noted upfront that there is all manner of graffiti here from quite well done pieces of art to random tags. There are also some curse words, paintings of human anatomy, and other things that might not be appropriate for all ages.
Going with my young daughter, I was hyper aware of this and was surprised that there wasn’t as many vulgar tags as I thought there would be. However, if you visit with kids, be prepared for some questions or embarrassed laughs as they are definitely there.
The bridge itself is covered in graffiti, and I really enjoyed looking around and checking out the different artwork found here. The view of the lake is also quite gorgeous, so make sure to take a few minutes to appreciate the area’s natural beauty.
As you cross over the bridge, you’ll come to a roughly half-a-mile section of West Shore Drive that is also covered in graffiti. The roadway is pretty much entirely covered in paint near the bridge, though it does start to peter out the further you walk.
Of course, this means that if you are visiting and want to add your own art to the area, this is a great spot to do it as you don’t have to paint over something else and your work is less likely to get painted over.
Speaking of painting, if you do bring cans of spray paint with you, PLEASE take them with you. Sites like this are a ton of fun, but no one wants to see a ton of trash on the bridge, road, or in the woods/water (This goes for any trash, not just paint).
Keep sites like this open and fun for everyone by keeping them free of litter.
I also don’t know the exact legality of painting here. While there is obviously a lot of spray paint, keep in mind that it might not technically be legal. Please make sure to obey all rules when visiting.
Overall, my daughter and I had a ton of fun visiting the Graffiti Bridge and Road in Berks County. Walking around and seeing the different pieces of art we could find was a lot of fun, and I also really appreciated the beauty of the bridge and the lake.
If you’re looking for somewhere fun and unique to visit in this part of PA, I definitely recommend a visit.
Looking for more places to visit nearby? Check out the Reading Pagoda, the covered bridges of Berks County, and the Golden Age Air Museum.
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