Amish Country and Gettysburg

Route description

From Philadelphia, head west on US-30 to Lancaster, whose Central Market is one of the oldest farmers markets in the country. The surrounding Lancaster County is home to a large Amish community, with farms, one-room schoolhouses and horse-drawn buggies on the roads. Drive slowly and give buggies plenty of room when passing.

PA-340 leads east through Bird-in-Hand to Intercourse, a village with shops selling quilts, crafts and local food. Many Amish people prefer not to be photographed, so ask first and avoid taking pictures of faces. On Sundays many businesses are closed.

Continue west on US-30 through York to Gettysburg, where the three-day battle of 1863 was fought. The museum and visitor center has the cyclorama painting, which surrounds you with the battle, and a self-guided auto tour with 16 stops covers the battlefield. For a deeper visit, a licensed guide can ride along in your vehicle.

Spring and fall are the most pleasant times to visit, and summer weekends are busy. Book a guide ahead in season. Parking at the battlefield stops can be tight for large vehicles.