Lancaster County: Amish Village & Buggy Country Day Trip from Philadelphia

A morning drive into Lancaster County's working Amish farms, then inside their preserved homes and kitchens.

You ride out from Philadelphia to Lancaster County's farmlands, tour a preserved Amish homestead and working blacksmith, eat a traditional lunch and bakery treats, and browse quilt shops and craft stands: all with a local guide handling the route and the context. Plan for a full day out, which is what fits all three stops and the drive time into one departure.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Amish Country in Lancaster

• Travel from Philadelphia to Lancaster County
• Observe horse and buggies on roads
• Visit Amish Village Museum
• See schoolhouse, barn, and blacksmith shop
• Enjoy homemade Amish lunch
• Sample whoopie pies and shoo fly pies
• Shop for Amish-made goods and quilts

The experience

The van leaves Philadelphia in the early morning and heads out toward Lancaster County, about an hour's drive into the rural farmlands where the second-largest Amish settlement in the world operates. You'll start seeing horse-drawn buggies on the roads and farmers working the fields before you arrive at the Amish Village Museum: a preserved homestead open to the public that walks you through how the community actually lives. The museum includes a working blacksmith shop, a schoolhouse, and a barn, so you're not just reading about their way of life. You're standing in the spaces where it happens.

Lunch is homemade Amish cooking at a local restaurant, the kind of food that tastes like someone's grandmother spent the morning on it. After that, you stop at a bakery for whoopie pies and shoo fly pies (the real versions, not the tourist versions), and then you have time to browse quilt shops and roadside stands selling Amish-made goods. Your guide recommends which purchases actually support the community rather than just moving inventory, which changes how the shopping feels.

The whole day runs around eight to nine hours from pickup to return. The van is air-conditioned, and the pace is steady but not rushed. You're not hiking or climbing. It's mostly walking through the museum and the small towns, so it works for families with strollers and for people at different fitness levels. The drive itself is part of the experience: your guide talks through the history and the details of Amish life as you pass through the landscape, so you're learning the whole time, not just at the stops.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel or central pickup in Philadelphia, round-trip transport in an air-conditioned van, admission to the Amish Village Museum with access to the homestead, blacksmith shop, and schoolhouse, a local English-speaking guide for the full day, and stops at a local bakery and quilt shops in small towns. Lunch at a local restaurant and any purchases are not included but are available during the tour.

Options for this experience

2 options

8-Hour Private ExperienceGuide in English · 09:00Guide and driver for a private tour

8-Hour Public TourGuide in English · 09:00

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Tuesday and SundayDeparts at 09:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (6 to 12 years): free · Infant (2 to 5 years): free

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by WeVenture

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want to understand Amish life and farmland culture without arranging transport from Philadelphia: the van pickup and the guide's context are what make a full day of stops possible in a single departure. Plan for eight to nine hours out, which is what fits the museum, the drive, lunch, and the shopping stops.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years): free; Infant (2 to 5 years): free.

How long is the drive from Philadelphia to Lancaster County?

About one hour each way. The tour runs roughly eight to nine hours total from pickup to return.

What's included in the tour price?

Admission to the Amish Village Museum, the van ride with air conditioning, a local English-speaking guide, and stops at the bakery and quilt shops. Lunch at a local restaurant and any purchases are separate.

Is this tour appropriate for people with different fitness levels?

Yes. The tour is designed for all fitness levels, with mostly walking and no strenuous hiking or climbing involved.

What kind of food will I eat?

Homemade Amish cooking at a local restaurant for lunch, plus whoopie pies and shoo fly pies from a local bakery. Dietary restrictions should be mentioned when booking.

Will I meet Amish people on this tour?

You'll visit the Amish Village Museum, a preserved homestead open to the public. The tour focuses on their way of life, history, and community. Direct interaction depends on what's happening at the museum on the day you visit.

Can I buy Amish-made goods during the tour?

Yes. You'll have time to browse quilt shops and roadside stands selling Amish-made items. Your guide recommends purchases that support the community directly.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the tour.