📷 Photo by James Lewis on UnsplashLongwood Gardens
Kennett Square, PA
Former du Pont estate with vast conservatories, fountain shows and themed gardens. Tickets are timed; book ahead for holiday lights.
Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, is an area of gardens, woods and meadows covering more than 1,100 acres (445 hectares). Joshua and Samuel Peirce planted an arboretum here as early as 1798. Pierre S. du Pont bought the farm on July 20, 1906, and turned it into a major showpiece garden. It has been open to the public since 1921.
The heart of the gardens is the Conservatory, with 1.6 acres (0.65 hectares) under glass and 13 indoor gardens. The Main Fountain Garden, a five-acre (two-hectare) garden with 380 illuminated water jets, debuted in 1931 and reopened on May 27, 2017, after a renovation; according to Time Out the fountains run on timed schedules, which you should check beforehand. The 86-acre (35-hectare) Meadow Garden has about 3 miles (5 kilometers) of trails through wildflower meadows.
The gardens are open year-round. With more than a million visitors a year, and 1.6 million in 2023, expect crowds on weekends and holidays and check tickets and events in advance.
- Nearest town
- Kennett Square, PA
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 39.8712, -75.6751
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, June and August. Cold, short days in January–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Philadelphia/West Chester KOA HolidayMotorhome stopover5 mi from Longwood GardensTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Brandywine Creek CampgroundCampsite14 mi from Longwood GardensTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Birchview Farm CampgroundCampsite16 mi from Longwood GardensTentsCaravansElectricityShowersToilets
- Oma's Family CampgroundCampsite20 mi from Longwood GardensCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToilets
- Spring Gulch RV CampgroundCampsite22 mi from Longwood GardensTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToilets
- Woodlands Camping ResortCampsite23 mi from Longwood GardensTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterDogs allowed
All campsites in Pennsylvania · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Longwood Gardens?
Longwood Gardens is in Kennett Square, PA, at GPS 39.8712, -75.6751. It is about 11 mi from Wilmington.
Can you camp near Longwood Gardens?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Philadelphia/West Chester KOA Holiday, about 5 mi away; within 25 mi there are 28 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Longwood Gardens?
Longwood Gardens is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Brandywine Valley gardens and du Pont estates.
What is there to see near Longwood Gardens?
Places worth a stop nearby: Brandywine Museum of Art (4 mi), Winterthur (6 mi), Brandywine Creek State Park (7 mi) and Hagley Museum (9 mi).
When is the best time to visit Longwood Gardens?
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, June and August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)