Locals Are Obsessed With This Iconic Roadside Spot in Pennsylvania

Some images remain etched in our memories forever, including those from movies that have touched us. Even if we aren’t film buffs, we have seen photos of Rocky Balboa running up the stairs of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, his arms stretched upward in victory when he makes it to the top. Every year, an estimated four million visitors reenact that famous scene, sprinting up those familiar steps and posing for selfies with the Rocky Statue at what’s become perhaps the most iconic roadside attraction in Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia has landed plenty of roles in Hollywood films but none as iconic as the setting for the Rocky franchise, an enduring classic starring Sylvester Stallone. Today, the films are memorialized in the famous Rocky Statue near the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The famous statue, which debuted in Rocky III in 1982, draws film buffs and curiosity-seekers from around the world, but it’s not been without controversy.

Stallone gifted the statue by A. Thomas Schomberg to Philadelphia the same year Rocky III first appeared in theaters, but his gesture was met with mixed reviews, calling into doubt whether the city would even accept the gift. Film fans welcomed the statue, pointing out that, like Rocky Balboa, Philadelphia is known for its fight, resilience, and, ultimately, its triumph as champions. Others, however, saw the statue as little more than a movie prop that wasn’t worthy of a place on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The statue briefly stood at the top of the Philadelphia Museum of Art's stairs in 1982 before moving to the Spectrum, where it remained until 2006. Since September 2006, the iconic statue has been near the bottom of the steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. However, it briefly returned to the top of the stairs during the 2025 Eagles' Super Bowl championship celebration.

If you want to avoid the crowds at the statue and steps, try to visit on a weekday or early in the morning (an ideal time to recreate the scene of Rocky running up the 72 stairs.) After you’ve raised your arms in victory at the top of the Rocky Steps, admire the Philadelphia skyline sprawled out before you for a few moments. Then, head down to pose for photos with the iconic Rocky Statue.

Afterward, stop by the Parkway Visitor Center, a short walk from the statue. If you’re new to Philadelphia, you can pick up maps and purchase tickets for local attractions, but the real draw for fans is the Rocky Shop. Stock up on official Rocky souvenirs, including clothing and collectibles.   

Do you have a favorite iconic roadside attraction in Pennsylvania you’d like covered? Nominate it.

Fuel up for your run up the Rocky Steps by digging into a Philadelphia classic – a Philly cheesesteak from The Original Pat’s King of Steaks, One Pound Cheese Steaks, or Dalessandro's Steaks. After you visit the iconic roadside stop in Pennsylvania, explore more of Philly, the Mural Capital of the World, or check out AllTrails+ for the best trails in and around Philadelphia.