Fayetteville offers a rural feel near the action in Chambersburg
Along Lincoln Highway between two historic boroughs, Fayetteville is a cozy, commuter-friendly area. “Fayetteville is just far enough away from the busyness in Chambersburg, but it’s close enough to be involved,” says Jeremy Burkholder, a local Realtor with JAK Real Estate who was born and raised in the nearby city of Chambersburg. “It’s a great alternative, and it’s much more rural. And affordable.” Residents have direct access to Lincoln Highway, which connects to Interstate 81 just west of town. And while the highway bisects the community, the 3,000 residents who call Fayetteville home typically live off the main drag in more suburban sections of the town.
Established ranch-style homes sit near newer Colonial Revivals
Lincoln Highway bisects the community, while quieter lanes, drives and avenues with sidewalks branch off from the main drag. Many homes have driveways, manicured front lawns with oak and pine trees, and small backyards. Ranch-style homes originally built in the 1960s, many with more recent renovations, offer attached garages and 1,300 to 2,000 square feet of interior space. Prices range from $280,000 to $400,000 for properties on more than a half-acre. Select Colonial Revivals built later in the 2000s typically offer 1,500 to 2,000 square feet and cost around $300,000 to $450,000. On Fayetteville’s east side, a manufactured home community has available units from $90,000 to $150,000. There are also a few 1960s duplexes and 2010s townhomes that feature attached garages, priced between $185,000 and $280,000.
Civil War history lives on in Chambersburg and Gettysburg
Chambersburg, a more populous city and the seat of Franklin County, is about 5 miles west of Fayetteville. The city embraces its historical contributions to the Civil War. Several of the town’s buildings and former homes are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and landmarks like the downtown Memorial Fountain commemorate the town’s past. About 18 miles east of Fayetteville is the famous Gettysburg National Military Park, a crucial turning point in the Civil War. Today, visitors can tour the battlefield and Gettysburg National Cemetery, where Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address in 1863. Tourists can also spend the day at the Gettysburg Museum, which features interactive exhibits detailing life during the war.
Norlo Park and Penn National Golf Club provide green space
Residents don't need to go far for fresh air with Norlo Park in the center of town. In addition to a playground, an off-leash dog park and athletic fields, the family-friendly park has a miniature train that rides along real train tracks. There's also an old Pennsylvania train car, parked and open for exploring, as well as The Barn, a renovated venue built in 1881. “Also in Fayetteville, you have Penn National Golf Club. It’s well-known out there,” Burkholder says, referring to the 36-hole public golf course and resort inn about 4 miles south of town. “And then you have Caledonia State Park, which is a huge attraction. The Appalachian Trail runs through there.” Caledonia State Park, located about 4 miles east of Fayetteville’s town center, offers 1,125 acres of all-season recreation.
Fayetteville hosts the Annual Firemen’s Carnival in the summer
Locals can look forward to the Annual Firemen’s Carnival, held on Main Street at the fire department’s carnival grounds. The weeklong event, which typically starts in the first week of June, offers live music, carnival rides and food, and a highly-anticipated fireworks display. “People can enjoy those fireworks," Burkholder says, and then the next month, "go to downtown Chambersburg to watch the Fourth of July fireworks at Memorial Park.”
Nearby Guilford has retail and Lincoln Highway has eateries
Fayetteville residents typically head into the neighboring town of Guilford to run errands. A mile drive west down Lincoln Highway leads to a retail-heavy area with Walmart, Grocery Outlet, storefronts and restaurants. On Fayetteville’s south side, Windy Knoll is a spacious indoor and outdoor market with grocery items and patio furniture. The market also has a grill that serves burgers and an ice creamery. A few local eateries line the highway, including Flamingo Restaurant, a popular diner. Nearby, Soul Smoked BBQ is a small window-service barbeque joint, and Maria & Sal’s is a counter-service Italian spot.
Chambersburg Area School District includes a magnet school
The Chambersburg Area School District serves Fayetteville students. In May 2025, the district began a projected $230 million project to build new facilities for a kindergarten through third-grade school, a fourth- through sixth-grade school, and a seventh- and eighth-grade school. Until then, learners can begin at Fayetteville Elementary School, which receives a C-plus rating from Niche. Students can then advance to Chambersburg Area Middle School South before Chambersburg Area Senior High School, which both earn B-minuses. High schoolers can also apply to attend Chambersburg Area Career Magnet School, which emphasizes a STEM education and receives a B rating.
U.S. Route 30 and Interstate 81 serve the car-dependent town
U.S. Route 30, or Lincoln Highway, is Fayetteville’s main thoroughfare, running east-west through town. Homes near Route 30 are classified as busy on the Soundscore, which measures an area's noisiness due to environmental factors. Commuters can drive about 4 miles west down the highway to reach Interstate 81, which runs north-south along the East Coast. Harrisburg International Airport is about a 65-mile drive northeast on I-81. The community is car-dependent, as no public buses or trains service the area.
Written By
Mary Beth Greene
