The Best Road Trips in Greater Philadelphia

Located just 25 miles north of Philadelphia, Bucks County offers an inviting landscape for a two-day exploration by car.

• Day one starts in charming Doylestown with kayaking (Peace Valley Park), castle-ing (Fonthill Castle) and brewery-hoppin’ (Geronimo Brewing and Mad Princes Brewing) before moving on to shopping, dining and a well-deserved rest at Peddler’s Village, home to dozens of independently owned and operated specialty shops (including an outpost of Free Will Brewing).
• Day two follows the picturesque Delaware River for shopping in New Hope, picnicking in Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve (frolicking optional) and exploring near where George Washington crossed the Delaware before happy hour at Vault Brewing Company followed by dinner with a river view at Yardley Inn Restaurant & Bar.

Located west of Philadelphia, bucolic Chester County contains plenty to make a road trip worthwhile:

• Start day one with breakfast in Kennett Square, the Mushroom Capital of the World, then let the weather dictate whether you spend the morning indoors (Brandywine River Museum of Art) or out (Longwood Gardens). A self-guided tour of the area’s covered bridges acts as a fine prelude to end-of-day drinks at Victory Brewing Company’s Parkesburg location and an overnight stay in Downingtown.
• Day two includes an outdoor adventure in the 535-acre Marsh Creek State Park, stops at the quirky Wharton Esherick Museum and/or Arnold’s Family Fun Center, and an evening exploring the breweries and brewpubs, low-key restaurants and artsy, locally owned shops in Phoenixville.

A two-day road trip through Delaware County — located just 22 miles southwest of Philadelphia — offers fantastic food, big fun and so much more:

• Fuel for the start of day one comes in the form of fresh-baked goods from Wolff’s Apple House before an exploration of the woodlands and meadows of Ridley Creek State Park. A stop in Media then offers window shopping, lunch at Azie’s rooftop deck and a pint at Sterling Pig Brewery, followed by a fun afternoon of either picking fruits and veggies at Linvilla Orchards or trying your luck at Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack. Spend the night in a hotel or bed-and-breakfast in Media or Springfield.
• Early-risers benefit on day two during a morning visit to spot wildlife at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. Chanticleer’s picture-perfect gardens await if the outdoors continue to beckon, while those looking for an indoor retreat can book time for indoor shuffleboard at the Ivy Inn. Wrap up a fun two days by exploring the shops and restaurants of Wayne.

Drive 30 miles northwest of Philly to kickstart a two-day trek through Montgomery County:

• Kick off day one with breakfast in Skippack before exploring Evansburg State Park. Wind down an awesome morning by visiting the cuddly creatures at the Lost Little Creek Alpaca Farm. (Remember to make an appointment beforehand!) After lunch, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Philadelphia awaits for the young and the young at heart before winding the day down exploring the cute town of Ambler, including craft brews from Ambler Beer Company and Tannery Run Brew Works. Rest up at one of three available hotels in nearby Fort Washington.
• Day two begins with a visit to the Elmwood Park Zoo before a relaxing afternoon wandering through the King of Prussia, a Simon Property Mall, the second-largest mall in the U.S. Dinner and drinks (hello, Workhorse Brewing Company) in King of Prussia round out an excellent adventure.

Philadelphia’s got American Revolution history for days. (Maybe it’s that whole “birthplace of America” thing.) Here’s how to see it on a history-focused road trip:

• Day one starts with an exploration of the sites of the bloody Battle of Germantown in Northwest Philly. Back in Philly proper, find lunch at The Bourse Food Hall and an afternoon of discovering or rediscovering the hallowed, red-bricked buildings (and cracked-yet-inspirational Bell) of Independence National Historical Park. Spend the evening eating and drinking through Philadelphia’s Historic District (don’t miss 2nd Story Brewing Company), then spend the night in a Historic District hotel.
• Day two finds road trippers wandering the grounds — and reconstructed log cabins — of Valley Forge National Historical Park before lunch at the circa-1745 General Warren Inne. After learning about the Revolution’s largest land battle at Brandywine Battlefield Park, it’s time for happy hour at Chaddsford Winery and an overnight stay in West Chester or Kennett Square.

Ready for a two-day family jaunt through Greater Philadelphia?

• Start early on day one with a trip to Shady Brook Farm to pick whatever glorious fruit is in season. After a wagon ride to and from the picking fields, hunker down for lunch at the on-premise Stone’s Throw, using farm-fresh ingredients to create delicious salads, sandwiches and drinks. After lunch, it’s off to Sesame Place for an afternoon of fun with Big Bird, Bert, Ernie and Elmo. Your two-day pass will allow you to focus on the waterpark today and the rides and shows tomorrow. Spend the night at one of several Langhorne hotels that surround Sesame Place. (Before checking in, pick up sandwiches from Primo Hoagies, one of the best spots for what others might call a “sub” or “hero.” Note: The spicy Diablos are the specialty here.)
• Come morning, it’s back to Sesame Place to tackle the rides and shows you couldn’t fit in yesterday. For lunch, head to Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company, where a rotating line of food trucks provide the perfect accompaniment to some really refreshing brews. Make the last stop on your road trip Neshaminy State Park, bordering the Delaware River. Here you can hike, fish, picnic, boat or even swim — in season, of course.

For a trip that won’t break the bank, consider this two-day itinerary:

• Spend the morning of day one on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway exploring Museum Without Walls, a free self-guided tour of the varied outdoor artworks in Center City and Fairmount Park. (Photo ops at the LOVE sculpture and the Rocky Statue are obligatory.) Pack a picnic, then work up an appetite in the afternoon at either the free Awbury Arboretum or one of the fantastic trails at the Wissahickon Valley Park. (Try Forbidden Drive or the Orange Trail heading southeast from the Valley Green Road Parking Lot.) Spring for dinner on Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill, followed by a stay at the cute Chestnut Hill Hotel.
• Get a whiff of something delightful at the start of day two at Peace Valley Lavender Farm. Families won’t want to miss the massive Kids Castle, while couples should make time to take a self-guided tour of historic barns of Bucks County. (Seriously!) Wrap up the trip by finding an idyllic spot overlooking Lake Luxembourg at Core Creek Park to catch a glorious sunset.