The US is the second-largest manufacturer worldwide and is predicted to grow by 4.2% in 2025. Add this to over 590,000 plants and factories nationwide, and you have plenty of options when it comes to plant tours.
However, with so many options, it can be tricky to find the best factory tours. Moreover, it can be even more challenging to create a factory tour that stands out from the crowd.
- Plant Tours’ tour guide systems and headsets for factory tours are one tool that many tours use to stand out. And hear clearly. They’re sure to make any tour experience smooth, enjoyable, and — quite possibly — worthy of being called the best in the country.
In the meantime, if you happen to be planning a cross-country road trip (especially through Pennsylvania), we suggest stopping to glimpse the unique manufacturing process behind some of the country’s most recognizable, authentically Americana products. Our guide below explores the 10 best factory tours in the United States, offering tips on safety, making the most of your tour, and what to expect from each experience.
Directory of Must-Visit Factory Tours Across the USA
There are endless good USA factory tours, so choosing just a handful was certainly a challenge. The ones we landed on below were selected for the unique activities they offer and their overall enjoyability. Most listed are factory tours for kids and adults (minus Maker’s Mark). But always check before booking to see if a factory tour has an age minimum.
Note: Factories are listed in no particular order.
1. Gibson Guitar Factory (Memphis, Tennessee)
Memphis may be home to the Blues, but you certainly won’t feel blue on this factory tour! The Gibson Factory Tour dives into how iconic Gibson Guitars are handcrafted. You will witness the luthiers at work — binding, neck fitting, painting, buffing, tuning, and more. Guides are also highly knowledgeable about the history of this 1902-founded company and its customers.
Fun Fact: Gibson Guitars have been frequented by rockstars like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Les Paul, Bob Marley, Angus Young, Dave Grohl, and Slash.
This tour offers earplugs, masks, and multiple daily tour times. Past tourgoers suggest picking a tour time when the plant is in full operation for the best experience. While this tour is a must for guitar players and music enthusiasts, it is also enjoyable for casual music fans.
2. Maker’s Mark Distillery (Loretto, Kentucky)
The Maker’s Mark Distillery Tour provides a captivating behind-the-scenes glimpse into the bourbon-making process in picturesque Loretto, Kentucky. Visitors are guided through the historic facility and the surrounding landscape over the course of an hour and 15 minutes.
You will be immersed in the entire process — from mashing to distillation to the final red wax-seal bottles. Throughout the tour, you will also learn about the Maker’s Mark family heritage. The exploration is topped off with a guided tasting session.
This experience is steeped in history, tradition, and the distinct flavors of Maker’s Mark. It is one that you — and your tastebuds — don’t want to miss!
3. Jelly Belly Visitor Center & Factory (Fairfield, California)
Originally invented in the mid-1800s as a snack to send to US soldiers on the frontline, the jelly bean has come a long way over the years. And Jelly Belly has been — and remains — a pioneer in the industry. The original Jelly Belly factory, about an hour north of San Francisco in Fairfield, offers a fun self-guided tour of why that is.
Learn about the company’s origins, history, and the careful process that goes into crafting each unique jelly bean — from classics like Very Cherry and Green Apple to the slightly less common Buttered Popcorn and Cappuccino (and every bean in between).
Observe the workings of a uniquely colorful production line, learn some science — including why each jelly bean takes one to two weeks to make — and, of course, treat your belly to some classic or not-so-classic free samples.
4. The Crayola Experience (Easton, Pennsylvania)
While on the East Coast, for something equally colorful — albeit inedible — check out the original Crayola Experience in Easton, PA. Crayola has been synonymous with crayons ever since its inception by school teacher Alice (Stead) Binney back in 1903.
Located just a short drive from Philadelphia and New York City, this fun, modern-day factory tour is described as “a larger-than-life, indoor family attraction” and features dozens of interactive exhibits, activities, and science-based experiences for all ages. Among the many highlights is “Big Blue” — a single crayon weighing 1,500 lbs created from 123,000 blue crayons donated from around the world.
5. Hershey’s Chocolate World (Hershey, Pennsylvania)
Originally a caramel company founded by Milton S. Hershey in the 1880s — in what was then Derry Church, PA — Hershey’s transitioned to chocolate in 1893. Since then, it has grown to become one of the world’s most recognizable brands. So much so that Derry Church was renamed Hershey in 1905 — in honor of Hershey’s very first factory.
Today, Hershey’s Chocolate World invites you to take a ‘Chocolate Tour ride’ and glimpse the factory’s and the brand’s history, learn how roasted cocoa beans transition to delicious wrapped candy bars, and receive one of these complimentary bars at the end — all free of charge. You can also create your own candy bar, shop for some customized delicious gifts, and more. The sweetness is available every day, both on weekdays and weekends, all year round.
6. Harley-Davidson Vehicle Operations (York, Pennsylvania)
After you’ve had your fill of the most recognizable cocoa goodness in the world, head an hour south — to York, PA — and check out what goes into making perhaps the most iconic motorcycles in the world.
Back in 1903 — coincidentally, the same year Hershey opened his first factory and Alice (Stead) Binney patented Crayola crayons — William S. Harley and Arthur and Walter Davidson finished their very first model of a “motor-bicycle” in their 10×15-foot shed in Milwaukee. And the rest is, well, not only history — but the stuff of legend.
Today, Harley-Davidson Factory Tours offers you a free behind-the-scenes look at how “the legend comes to life.” Witness hydraulic presses transform sheets of metal into fenders, fuel tanks, and tailpipes. Watch masters of the craft assemble these into classic HD frames and give them in-house road tests at 60 mph. And, finally, see the bikes wrapped in plastic and crated by robots — to surely make any motorcycle enthusiast’s dream come true soon enough.
Oh, and you get a chance to sit on one of these bad boys, too! The Tour Center also features a gift shop with authentic branded merchandise.
7. The Great Utz Chip Trip Tour (Hanover, Pennsylvania)
Before you leave the Keystone State, see what goes into making some of the world’s most recognizable potato chips in nearby Hanover. Here, back in 1921, William and Salie Utz were single-handedly cooking about 50 lbs of chips an hour in their summer kitchen.
A century later, the 600,000+ square foot Utz manufacturing facility invites you to The Utz Potato Chip Trip Tour. With the aid of a tour guide system and closed-circuit TV monitors, this free, self-guided tour offers a combination of history, science, and a special glass-enclosed observation gallery. And you get a free bag of chips at the end, too!
8. The Roasterie Factory Tour (Kansas City, Missouri)
In 1978, foreign exchange student Danny O’Neill picked his first coffee cherries in Costa Rica. 15 years later, Danny founded The Roasterie Coffee Company in his basement in Kansas City. Since then, The Roasterie has been committed to sourcing and roasting the finest coffees from around the world and delivering them to their customers “as fast as humanly possible.” And their aromatic guided tour invites you to learn, sip, and “take a piece of Kansas City with you.”
9. Ben & Jerry’s Factory Experience (Waterbury, Vermont)
The same year that Danny O’Neill was picking coffee in Costa Rica, friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield were converting a former gas station in Burlington, Vermont into their very first ice cream scoop shop.
45 years later, Ben and Jerry’s ice cream is a household name, available in 33 countries and counting. However, their very first factory — built in Waterbury, Vermont in 1985 — continues to manufacture over 350,000 pints of goodness daily. Meanwhile, the Factory Experience tour provides a detailed glimpse into the company’s humble beginnings, history, growth, and the process of crafting each pint of goodness.
Sample said goodness in their Flavor Room, and finish the walking tour in their “flavor graveyard.” Overlooking the factory, the graveyard is complete with headstones and epitaphs for each flavor that didn’t make the cut (yet).
10. PEZ Visitor Center (Orange, Connecticut)
Originally invented in 1927 in Vienna by Eduard Haas III, the now world-famous PEZ candy dispenser was intended as a convenient peppermint alternative to smoking. The candy company has since evolved, arriving in the US in 1952 and establishing its first candy factory in Orange, CT, in 1973. Then, the PEZ Visitor Center opened its doors to the public in 2011.
Its self-guided tours offer 4,000+ square feet “dedicated to all things PEZ.” Among these is the largest collection of PEZ memorabilia in the world, a PEZ motorcycle, the world’s largest PEZ dispenser, an interactive historical timeline, and more. Oh — and there is, of course, no smoking during any portion of the tour.
Bonus! 11. TABASCO Factory Tour
Since its inception by Edmund McIlhenny in the Bayou State in 1868, TABASCO has become synonymous with hot sauce the world over. Meanwhile, the Avery Island Fan Experience is a self-guided taste of where this spicy wonder got its start.
It features a museum, a greenhouse, a barrel warehouse, a salt mine diorama, a centuries-old restaurant, a TABASCO shop, and “170 acres of natural beauty” known as Jungle Beauty. And it’s all designed to take you through the history and process of making and bottling the “Original Red Pepper Sauce passed down from generation to generation.”
Bonus! 12. Celestial Seasonings Factory Tour (Boulder, Colorado)
In 1969, hiker Mo Siegel handpicked some wild herbs from the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and made tea from them. In the coming years, inspired by this experience, Mo and his hippy friends would find Celestial Seasonings — supposedly naming the brand after one of its founder’s “flowernames.” Since then, the company has grown to become one of the most recognizable tea brands in the country — due in part to its unique visual branding, but also thanks to its commitment to using the finest herbs, teas, spices, and botanicals available in nature.
The free tour of their Factory is available Tuesday to Sunday for anyone over the age of 5. Each one comes with a complimentary tea sampling!
Why Factory Tours Are a Must
Factory tours offer a unique insight into what goes into the making of American goods. We live in a throwaway society fuelled by fast fashion, gimmicky products, and poorly made imported goods. Most people are blind to the natural resources and workforce that go into creating everyday products.
Moreover, factory tours can spark an interest in manufacturing among future generations and investors. When people experience the creation of goods firsthand, it often positively changes their view of finished products. Products are made in factories, but appreciation is made on plant tours.
Considerations and Safety Protocols for On-Site Factory Visits
Whether you are visiting a factory or are thinking about starting your own factory tour, safety needs to come first. Safety considerations should include:
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – this may include items such as hard hats, hearing protection, safety footwear, and safety glasses, among others. All equipment should be checked for a good fit before participants go out onto the factory floor. This is especially important for children, as it can be more difficult to fit them with PPE.
- Hearing – You should be able to hear instructions clearly at all times on the tour. This isn’t always easy with crowd chatter, machinery, and workers. Equipment integrated into the exploration, like high-noise factory tour headsets, can make loud tours safer and more enjoyable. These headsets offer hearing protection while allowing clear communication between the tour guide and visitors.
- Health & Safety Regulations – For walking tours, all participants should be physically able to complete the tour. Furthermore, accessibility needs to be considered. Tour guides should go over health and safety regulations for machinery operation, chemical exposure, and walking routes within the factory.
- Emergencies – If an emergency happens during the tour, all participants need to know what to do. Tour guides should review emergency procedures, including evacuation routes and assembly points, before starting the tour.
Strategies to Maximize the Factory Tour Experience
Factory tours are what you make of them. Keep your expectations realistic by looking at reviews beforehand so you know what to expect going in. Other strategies you can use to get the most out of your factory tour include:
- Checking the tour length. You want to ensure that you have enough time to complete the full tour so you don’t feel rushed.
- Scheduling extra time. Many tours have tastings or activities that you can take part in afterward. And often they’re free! However, the times the tours quote often don’t include these extra activities, so plan accordingly.
- Wearing comfy shoes. Plant tours include a lot of walking. You want your shoes to be both safe and comfortable.
- Dressing accordingly. While manufacturing facilities can be hot inside, outside may be another story. Check to see if your plant tour is strictly inside. If outside, be sure to dress for the weather.
- Asking questions. Don’t hesitate to contact the facility ahead of time if their info page doesn’t answer all your questions.
- Offering headsets for factory tours (if you are the facilitator). These help ensure clear communication, reduce noise, and, overall, provide a safe tour experience.
Final Thoughts
Factory tours offer a unique experience that helps connect people to the origins of American goods and the work that goes into producing them. This process raises awareness about the time, effort, and materials that go into creating things, often giving people pause about our throwaway society.
Beyond that, factory tours are a lot of fun! They’re a great stop on road trips to stretch your legs while learning about the history and making of iconic goods. No matter which factory tour you decide on you’ll learn something new, get some exercise, and create new memories.
