posted Jun 29, 2023

Day Trip to Lancaster County, PA

Lancaster County is centrally located to several larger cities, making it the perfect location for a day trip! Plan your trip, pack the car, and start your adventure.

Grab a Bite

Lancaster County is known for its authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine, which is heavily influenced by our local Amish Community. You won’t want to miss the opportunity to try these amazing restaurants and savor the flavors of Lancaster County!

Shady Maple Smorgasbord | East Earl
Plain & Fancy Farm Restaurant | Bird-in-Hand
Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant & Smorgasbord | Bird-in-Hand
Amish Meals at Home with Samuel & Ruth Lapp | Paradise
The Restaurant and Buffet at Oregon Dairy | Lititz
Miller’s Restaurant Smorgasbord & Bakery | Ronks
Dienner’s Country Restaurant | Ronks
Yoder’s Restaurant & Buffet | New Holland
Hometown Kitchen | Quarryville

There are so many things to do and see in Lancaster County, enough to fill an entire week and then some. However, if you're looking for a day out of the city and want to experience a change of pace, Lancaster is the perfect place to find wide-open spaces, unique events and activities, delicious food, and more.

Start planning your trip today!

Explore the Outdoors

Road trips can get you (and your kiddos) a little stir-crazy. Burn some of that energy & excitement by exploring the outdoors! Lancaster County is home to some of the best hiking & biking trails in the Country. If you don’t have a bike, don’t fret. There are places all around the county to rent a standard or electric.

Nothing is more exciting than having close encounters with animals! Find animal experiences, perfect for both kids and adults. Lancaster is known for its vast farmland and farm animals. Milk a cow, play with baby goats, and gather eggs at Old Windmill Farm. Have you ever seen a wolf up close? Wolf Sanctuary of PA is the designated spot to see wolves in a safe environment.

Experience Amish Culture

Perhaps the most notorious thing about Lancaster County is its rich Amish heritage. If you’re visiting Lancaster for just one day, you’ll want to make time to experience Amish culture. Lancaster is home to the oldest and largest Amish Community, arriving first in the 1720s. The Amish are a conservative and family-driven community that holds true to their “plain” lifestyle and religious beliefs, while still thriving in the ever-changing world around them. Here are few places to experience Amish culture during your visit.

Take a buggy ride with an Amish or Mennonite driver at the reigns with AAA Buggy Rides, Abe’s Buggy Rides, or Aaron and Jessica’s Buggy Rides.

Take a tour at Amish Farm and House or The Amish Village. Both also offer the opportunity to have a guided farmhouse tour and up-close understanding of Amish experiences.

Have even more farm experiences at Old Windmill Farm. Tour their authentic, working Amish farm, feed and care for animals, and take an extended Farm & Garden Tour for an even more in-depth experience.

Learn about the history and beliefs of the Amish Community at The Amish Experience when you watch the multi-media production Jacob’s Choice. They also offer house & school hour tours.

Old Order Amish Tours takes you on an excursion through Amish Country to their Amish neighbors where you will see and learn how they live without electricity and care for the livestock and crops.

Take a seat at the table of a real Amish family when you book an Amish Meal at Home with Samuel and Ruth Lapp. This one-of-a-kind experience allows you the opportunity to talk, laugh, and connect with members of the Amish community over a delicious home-cooked meal.

To learn about the Amish culture first-hand, in an in-depth way, book the Unique Amish Immersion Experience with LoKal Experiences. This tour takes you to various historical sites relevant to the original Amish and Mennonite settlements and even to private Amish farms and businesses to give an exclusive insight into how the Amish live today.

Shop Handmade Items & Outlet Stores

Visitors rarely return home from a trip to Lancaster empty-handed. That’s because Lancaster is home to some of the best shopping around. Find some of the most beautiful well-crafted furniture that will last for years to come. Well-crafted and handmade are also words to describe the stunning quilts you can find here. Our local artists also create masterpieces that you don’t want to leave without. Explore the galleries and artisans located all around Lancaster County.

If you value items with a history, you’ve come to the right place. Lancaster has many antique shops and auctions with precious heirlooms awaiting their new homes. You can find some greats deals on auction items! Speaking of a bargain, people come from all over the region to shop at the outlets. Get brand name items and sale prices to return home both feeling and looking refreshed. If you’re seeking those one-of-a-kind items that can only be found at indie shops, you’ll want to explore local shops located all across the County – from Lancaster Cityto Lititz.

You would be remiss to leave Lancaster without picking up some of our fresh, locally grown produce and more at a farmer’s market. Shopping for locally sourced foods not only supports our farmers, but they also taste so much better! And, don’t forget to pick up a sweet treat for your loved ones so they too can get a taste of Lancaster when you return.

Explore our Many Attractions

There is something for every type of visitor in Lancaster County. If you’re enjoying time in the car, a tour of covered bridges will allow you to keep moving at your own pace and experience the historic beauty of Lancaster County back roads. Families love it here because of the many family fun attractions available. There are also engaging attractions for teenagers and especially fun activities to do with grandchildren. If you have the whole family together, you may be operating on a tight budget. There are so many great ways to have fun together and experience Lancaster County for free! If you happened to visit on a day it’s raining, stop in and wait out the storm with one of the things to do on rainy days. Speaking of indoor activities, Lancaster is home to dozens of museums and history exhibits - one for almost every type of interest!

As you can see, there are so many ways to spend one day in Lancaster. But surely that’s not enough time to have every single experience you want. Book your stay to extend your trip and have even more fun in Lancaster County!

Transportation to Lancaster

Before you set off on your adventure to Lancaster, PA, make sure you’re familiar with how to get to and from, and around Lancaster. There is so much to see in each corner of the county, so it’s helpful to understand the resources available during your trip in order to make your travel plans less stressful.

If you're coming in by train be sure to stop at Last Call Coffee at the Lancaster Train Station.

Transportation in Lancaster, PA

Discover Lancaster Visitor Center

While you're here, pick up attractions, dining, lodging, and shopping brochures, and gather plenty of information about other properties, services, and special events.

Our friendly travel consultants are a valuable service in and of themselves, offering expert advice and suggesting restaurants, finding last-minute lodging or finding those special out-of-the-way places.

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Free Things to Do in Lancaster, PA

Whether you’re planning some free fun ahead of time or are looking for a quick way to fill a few hours while you’re here, we’ve rounded up a list of Lancaster’s free attractions, outdoor spots, and events for your weekend trip!

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