Day Trips from Philadelphia: Amish Country & Valley Forge
Two day trips from Philadelphia are worth the whole day. Amish Country in Lancaster County, 90 minutes west, is the big one: guided tours from the city (from $87) visit a working Amish farm, ride a buggy through the countryside and often include a home-cooked meal with an Amish family; if you drive yourself, farm-and-house tours in Lancaster start from $31. Valley Forge National Historical Park, 45 minutes north-west, is where Washington’s army camped through the winter of 1777–78 — a guided driving tour from Philadelphia (from $130) or a self-guided audio drive (from $15) covers the huts, the memorial arch and Washington’s headquarters. Combine both with an early start; Gettysburg, New Hope and Longwood Gardens are further self-drive options.
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Day Trips from Philadelphia in Philadelphia — FAQ
What are the best day trips from Philadelphia?
Amish Country in Lancaster County (90 minutes), Valley Forge National Historical Park (45 minutes), Gettysburg (2.5 hours), the river town of New Hope (1 hour) and Longwood Gardens in the Brandywine Valley (1 hour). The first two have guided tours from Philadelphia; the rest are self-drive.
How do you visit Amish Country from Philadelphia?
Guided day trips from Philadelphia (from $87) include transport, a farm visit and a buggy ride, and often a meal in an Amish home. With a car, drive 90 minutes to Lancaster and Bird-in-Hand and join a local farm-and-house tour from $31 or a farmlands trolley tour from $26. Avoid Sundays, when Amish businesses close.
Is Valley Forge worth visiting?
Yes, especially for anyone who has done Independence Hall: the 3,500-acre park is where the Continental Army survived the 1777–78 winter, with reconstructed log huts, the National Memorial Arch and Washington’s stone headquarters. Guided driving tours from Philadelphia take about four hours; the park itself is free to enter.