How fun would it be if you have enough places to go around every weekend? Philadelphia is one such place where you have innumerable day trip options. With its proximity to NY, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware, it’s a jackpot. Check out our exhaustive list of fun day trips from Philadelphia with kids with insider tips.
So now you don’t have to fret over not doing hotel bookings or planning well ahead of time. Just grab your cup of coffee and head out on any day trip from Philly.
Most of these day trips from Philadelphia can be easily turned into great weekend getaways from Philadelphia. Check our recommendations for the 7 Best hotels in Philadelphia for families as well for the benefit.
But have you explored the city yet? Read about the many things to do in Philadelphia with kids that you will love the city. You can refer to it to plan a day trip to Philadelphia.
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Day Trips in PA (Pennsylvania)
There are so many places to go near Philadelphia for everyone be it, adults or kids. Check our list of top day trips in PA and tell which one is your favorite.
1. Herr’s Chips Factory
Time to reach: 1 hour
Oh how much I loved taking the factory tour of Herr’s! Guess more than my kids I looked for any opportunity to visit Herr’s. For sure I loved this day trip from Philadelphia.
Herr’s is a popular brand of potato chips and snacks based out of Nottingham, PA. Started as a small business and is done door-to-door, and it is a major player now.
The 1- 1 ½ hour Herr’s Snack Factory tour winds through the journey from getting the potatoes to cooking to packing them and even serving you warm fresh chips straight out of the fryer.
I have never tasted such delicious chips. Don’t hesitate to ask for a second serving.
The tour ends on a sweet-salty note with free samples of chips for all. There is also a shop inside to buy souvenirs and fill your bag with a variety of snacks.
Note: Cameras and mobile phones are not permitted on the tour.
Pro Tip: If you plan to visit during the holiday season from Thanksgiving to New Year, the tours happen until late evening and the premises are beautifully decorated with Christmas lights. Don’t miss it.
Address: 271 Old Baltimore Pike, Nottingham, PA 19362, USA
Timings: Mon- Thu: Every hour from 9- 3 pm. (Thursday might not have production running, better to check before booking)
Tickets: Adults – $4 and children (4-17 years) – $3. Do book them here in advance or by calling.
Time to spend: an hour to 1 ½ hr.
2. Longwood Gardens
Time to reach: 45 mins to 1 hour
Calling it a paradise in PA won’t be an exaggeration. A list of Philadelphia day trips would be incomplete without including it. If exploring Philadelphia city, then buying a Philadelphia pass is a great option which also includes Longwood Gardens.
Longwood Gardens is a beautiful botanical garden spread over 1000 acres consisting of fountains, flowers, exotic plants, lakes, treehouses, meadows and so much more to nourish your eyes and soul.
The garden map is a must to explore and unravel the gems.
The conservatory is one of the world’s greatest greenhouses with a wide variety of flowers, plants, exquisite flower decorations, an extensive bonsai display, a rose house, an orchid display, a cactus house, a fruit house with plants of nectarines, pineapple, grapes, fig, and many more.
Longwood Gardens has many events and activities planned throughout the year including kids’ activities and spectacular fireworks. It is a must-visit during Christmas with the entire garden illuminated with thousands of lights.
As you walk out of the conservatory you can view a massive fountain garden. It is engineering showmanship that can be experienced during the musical fountain show and next-level spectacle during the illuminated sound show at night. Swaying on the tunes and infinite colors, it is mesmerizing to watch this 30-minute show.
Talking about fountains, the Italian water garden is also a pleasure to view. Walking across the garden, inhaling the enticing aroma, green fresh trees, watching the fishes in the pond, and hearing the birds chirping is just a perfect day to have.
Address: 1001 Longwood Rd, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA
Timings: 9 am – 5 pm (varies according to season and day, gets extended till 10 p.m. in summers on weekends). Refer to the Longwood Gardens’ website for updated hours.
Tickets: Adults (19+ years) – $25, Senior citizens (62+ years) – $22, Youth (5-18 years) – $13 , Kids (0-4 years) – Free
If you plan to visit multiple times a year, then the Annual membership is totally worth it.
Time to spend: 3-4 hours
3. Lancaster- Amish Village and Kitchen Kettle
Time to reach: 1 – 1 1/2 hours
If you drive through the PA countryside and see lush green farms, horse carriages, and silos then you know you are in Lancaster, the Amish land.
The Amish community is the traditional Christians with German origins. They lead a very simple life following strict rules for dressing up and things to use.
To date, they do not use electricity or ride cars. Instead, they ride horse buggies. Can you believe it?
They are a very closely-knit community.
The best way to get into their shoes and experience their lifestyle is to visit the Amish Village, the authentic replica.
It includes a school, barn, shops, and even a market, where you can shop for original Amish foods and products.
There are many tours from Philadelphia available that take you through the Amish countryside and Lancaster.
Highly recommend: If you are interested in the authentic Amish shopping experience of homemade jams, jellies, salsas or Amish quilts then head over to Kitchen Kettle Village. We were awestruck at seeing the enormous variety of jams, salsas, etc. It’s an experience in itself going on a tasting tour.
Are the kids feeling bored? Are they missing some fun? Then you gotta visit the Strasburg Rail Road for a historic train ride that still runs on a steam engine.
Note: There are special Holiday trains and the kids’ favorite Thomas train that run seasonally. Check out the schedule on the website.
Strasburg Rail Tickets: range from $8 – $21 depending upon the coach.
Addresses:
Kitchen Kettle Village: 3529 Old Philadelphia Pike, Intercourse, PA 17534, USA
Amish Village: 199 Hartman Bridge Rd, Ronks, PA 17572, USA
Strasburg Rail Road: 301 Gap Road, Ronks, PA 17572
Tickets: Amish village tour – $10 Adults
Time to spend: Half to full day
4. Gettysburg
Time to reach: 2 ½ – 3 hrs
For history buffs, Gettysburg National Military Park is one of the best Philadelphia day trips.
This historical site outside of Philadelphia is the site of a turning point in the Civil War where the battle was held and that era can still be experienced from the characters that are dressed up like old times.
There are tours of the battlefield and other historic sites.
Behind the fame of the battlefield, the National Military Cemetery, where Lincoln gave the famous Gettysburg Address. If you are interested in some spooky fun, there are ghost tours as well. Check out the many things to do in Gettysburg.
Time to spend: 3-4 hours
5. Poconos
Time to reach: varies according to the attraction. 2 – 2 ½ hr approx.
It is the mountainous area that one desires to cater to varied interests – resorts, lakes, waterfalls, winter sports, adventure and so much more.
It is famous for its Bushkill Falls. Calling it the Niagara of PA is a little exaggeration though.
For adventure lovers, there are many options like Car Racing or skiing in winter. A lot of farms have a wide variety of berries that can be picked or wild blueberry plants where you can go picking.
Pro Tip: If traveling with kids, another great option to stay is Great Wolf Lodge or Kalahari with its indoor water park.
This is a fun place to be with or without kids in any season. It was so tough to make our kids leave Great Wolf Lodge.
Read the reviews of Great Wolf Lodge on Tripadvisor and book a wonderful stay at Great Wolf Lodge.
Read the reviews of Kalahari Resorts on Tripadvisor.
Are you an antique lover?
There are many shops where you can find some interesting things if you have an eye for them.
Another interesting activity is the No. 9 Coal mine and museum tour where you can experience the hardships the miners used to face. The train takes 1600 feet inside the mountain tunnel to the mine.
Addresses:
Bushkill Falls: 138 Bushkill Falls Trail, Bushkill, PA 18324, USA
Pocono Raceway: 1234 Long Pond Rd, Long Pond, PA 18334, USA
Time to spend: 1 -2 days
6. Hershey
Time to reach: 1.5 hrs – 2 hrs.
Hershey, The Sweetest Place on Earth cannot be missed if in PA, especially with kids.
The chocolaty city welcomes you with candies and chocolates (Look at the street lights, even if they are in the shape of kisses chocolate). Named after Milton Hershey, the creator of Hershey Chocolates, one of the world’s largest chocolate companies.
The city has so much to do from chocolates to theme parks to beautiful gardens and is one of the favorite day trips from Philly.
If you are a chocolate lover or not even a lover, you must visit Hershey’s Chocolate World.
Ride on for the free Chocolate tour that takes you on a sweet musical journey of chocolate making right from collecting cocoa beans, processing them and mixing them with milk and sugar, and finally packaging your treat. The sweet and nutty aroma wafting throughout is so inviting that it’s hard to resist a sweet treat.
Indulge in many other activities like Creating your own Candy bar with your personalized packing, watching a chocolaty movie, or going for chocolate tasting. And yes don’t forget to shop at the biggest Hershey candy store.
Highly recommend: Creating your own candy bar. But personally didn’t find the 4D movie worth.
Ticket: Entry to the Chocolate World is free, but many activities are ticketed.
After the sweet treat head over to Hershey Park for adventurous rides and thrill including a waterpark. There are advance tickets and season passes available to save money.
Time to spend: half-full day
7. Crayola Experience
Time to reach: 1.5 hours
“As the sun colors the flowers, so does art color life” ~ John Lubbock
It’s a one-of-a-kind experience to delve into to get creative with colors. So let’s get coloring.
Learn how the crayons are made, make your creations with the play dough, and melt, and mold the wax into interesting things like cars, and rings. The activity room in Crayola Experience is full of multiple activities from free drawing to making your own puzzles.
Highly recommend: The Drip Art was an interesting activity to do.
Time to spend: Full Day
Tickets: Save on Regular price – $22.99 by booking online at $19.99. Annual Passes are also available.
Pro Tip: Look out for 50% off deals that are available. The tickets can be used on future dates as well.
Hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (weekdays), 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (weekends)
Address: 30 Centre Square, Easton, PA.
8. Dutch Wonderland
Time to reach: 1.5 hours
There is no dearth of fun activities for kids around Philadelphia. And for families who want to have complete fun, Dutch Wonderland is the best place to be in summer.
This theme park especially caters to young kids with over 35 rides and shows to keep you entertained and makes for a great one-day trip from Philadelphia.
So this summer, plan an exciting day at Dutch Wonderland. There are rides for small kids, roller coasters, and family rides as well.
Summer fun is incomplete without the splash in the water. So head over to the water park for some fun slides and a water playground where everyone has a blast.
If you feel tired or want to have an aerial view of the park, then there are the sky ride trolleys or the monorail to take you from one end to the other.
Highly Recommend: Besides the rides, do watch the shows that had some extraordinary water dives.
Tickets: One-day ticket -$39.99, 2-day flex ticket -$64. Season passes are also available.
Pro-Tip: The 2-day Flex ticket is a great option if you plan to visit the park more than once in a season. We loved it. If you buy the 1 Day ticket, you can visit the park 3 hours prior to closure on the day before visiting.
Hours: 10 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. (Jun – Aug), 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (May, Sep-Oct)
Address: 2249 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, PA 17602
Time to spend: Full Day
Day Trip to Maryland
Maryland is a state that will let you have so many places apt for many day trips near Philadelphia.
1. Annapolis
Time to reach: 2 hours
The capital of Maryland is a beautiful quaint little city that you fall in love with instantly. Located by the bay it is a great place to have a day out.
It is famous for the US Naval Academy. It is a National Historic place home to many historic buildings and monuments.
Nicknamed the Midshipmen, there are tours available of the yard (called by the insiders) where you get a glimpse into the lives of the hard-working men who protect the country.
The interesting stories, the photographs of grit, the grandeur of the memorial hall, and the beautiful chapel, keep you intrigued all the time.
US Naval Academy Tours – The guided walking tours begin (every hour for most of the days) from the Visitor Center from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and walk you around the campus sharing interesting details.
The fee for the 1 ½ hour tour is under $15. A Valid Government-issued photo ID and passport for non-US citizens is required.
Annapolis is one of the oldest towns, some 300 years old and the 18th-century charm can be felt while walking across the downtown. The brick-clad buildings, now home to cafes and shops sing the old sagas.
Address: United States Naval Academy, Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center, 52 King George Street, Annapolis, MD 21402
Time to spend: Half – Full Day
2. Ocean City, MD
Time to reach: 2 1/2 hrs
The beach city of Maryland is very popular among families and travelers, especially during summertime. Open your beach mats, play beach volleyball, or swim in the ocean, you will love it here.
Time to spend: Half – full day
Instead of a one-day trip from Philadelphia, if you plan to stay at Ocean City, then we highly recommend these hotels:
1. Hilton Suites Ocean City Oceanfront. The best part is that it’s by the ocean and you have a full kitchen in your room. Just enjoy and relax.
Read the reviews of Hilton Suites on Tripadvisor and book the hotel.
2. Residence Inn by Marriott Ocean City – Being on the ocean is a total advantage that it holds.
Read the reviews and book on Tripadvisor and book the hotel on Booking.com
3. Hyatt Place Ocean City – With oceanfront property and rooms with balconies facing the ocean, it is ideal. Complimentary breakfast is inc
Read the reviews and book on Tripadvisor and book the hotel at Booking.com
3. Baltimore
Time to reach: 1 1/2 – 2 hours
The old port city of Maryland has so much history associated with it. Baltimore also holds the distinction of being the birthplace of the American National Anthem “The Star-spangled Banner”.
Fort McHenry National Monument is the place where the Battle of Baltimore was fought in 1812 and Francis Scott Key penned the anthem.
A favorite among kids is the National Aquarium, one of the top aquariums in the US with more than 20,000 species of aquatic animals.
The heart of the downtown is the Inner Harbor, the waterfront that’s most popular among tourists and locals. Enjoy a scrumptious lunch with views of the Inner Harbor and book an Inner Harbor Lunch cruise.
Another notable place to visit is the American Visionary Art Museum. It is a very interesting place with unusual and innovative works of artists.
Time to spend: Full Day
4. Chesapeake Bay
Time to reach: 2 hours
The largest estuary in the US forms covers the 200-mile long distance in the states of Maryland and Virginia.
While traveling to Annapolis, don’t miss the 4.9-mile-long Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Visiting Sandy Point State Park would give you spectacular views of the bridge.
Spend some time playing on the sandy beach of the bay.
Time to spend: Half – Full Day
Day Trips in New Jersey
With so many options shared for day trips, how can we not include any beaches? With the advent of summer, tourists start to flock to the many beaches on the East Coast. There are so many things to do outside Philadelphia and within a few hours’ drive.
While each has its own charm, there are a few beach day trips from Philadelphia worth choosing.
1. Cape May
Time to reach: 1 1/2 hours
It is the beach at the southernmost tip of New Jersey’s coastline. Probably saving the best for the last?
It is one of the most beautiful beaches in NJ, listed in America’s top 10. And what fun when you can visit it as a day trip from Philadelphia. To top it all, the Cape May lighthouse gives some breathtaking views of the ocean. So get ready to explore Cape May.
It is also one of the best places to go for Whale and dolphin watching. There are multiple sunset cruises and Whale and dolphin-watching cruise tours to book.
Parking – Metered parking is available on the streets. The best would be to visit the Cape May Point State Park with a free parking lot.
Time to spend: Half – Full day
2. Wildwood
Time to reach: 1 1/2 hours
It is one of the top choices for family-friendly beaches in NJ. The long beautiful boardwalk is bustling with cafes, souvenir shops, entertainment zones, water parks, rides, and attractions.
What more can you ask for?? Win-win for all ages.
Parking – There are metered street parking and a lot of parking lots, but they tend to get pretty full during the peak summer season.
Time to spend: Full Day
3. Atlantic City and Ocean City
Time to reach: 1 hour
It won’t be wrong to call Atlantic City the LV of the East Coast. Glitzy skyscraper hotels, shimmering boardwalk, and lovely beaches make it a sought-after destination.
Head over to a casino to try your luck. July 4th fireworks are also a sight to watch but get very crowded.
The city offers many other adventure activities to indulge in:
Ocean City, about 1/2 hr away is a perfect beach destination for families who want to escape the glitz and glamour of Atlantic City. Don’t get confused with Ocean City in Maryland.
Time to spend: 1-2 days
4. Liberty State Park
Time to reach: 1 1/2 hours
What is the first picture that comes to our minds when we think or talk about the US?
The Statue of Liberty, the most iconic monument in the US is one of the best Philly day trips that you will have.
Liberty State Park in Jersey City is the place to catch the ferry to visit Liberty Island and Ellis Island other than Battery Park in New York.
There are cruises run by State Cruises that take you to the island with the iconic lady standing tall.
Read reviews of the Liberty State Park on Tripadvisor.
Pro Tip: It is advised to book your tickets for the Statue of Liberty cruise well in advance. These are timed tickets that do get sold very fast.
Also, It is easier to take the cruise for the Statue of Liberty from New Jersey than New York with the convenience of parking and time if coming from Philly.
Time to spend: 1/2 day – full day.
5. Edison
Time to reach: 1 hour
Edison is a township in New Jersey named after the prominent inventor Thomas Edison.
Thomas Edison Museum at Menlo Park is the place where Thomas Edison had his lab and the most important invention of the light bulb happened here.
Timings: It is open to the public from Thursday – Sunday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Address: 37 Christie Street Edison, NJ 08820
Time to spend: Half Day
6. Diggerland USA
Time to reach: 30 mins
Do you see your kids playing with excavators, dump trucks, and other construction vehicles?
If yes, then you must visit Diggerland USA in New Jersey, the only construction-themed adventure park in the US. This is for sure one fun day trip from Philadelphia.
With rides and activities for all ages, it is a great way to sweat out as a family. Ride your favorite backhoes, diggers, dump trucks, tractors, and many more with your construction hat on.
Tickets: There are different options of specific date tickets, any-day tickets, or membership ranging from $32.95 – $64.95. Check the Diggerland USA website for details.
Hours: 11 am – 6 pm (Mar – Nov). In some months, the park is only open on weekends.
Address: 100 Pineridge Drive, West Berlin, NJ 08091
Time to spend: Full Day
Day Trips to Delaware
Delaware is nicknamed ‘The First State’, as it became the first official state of the US in 1787. Delaware is also the state of Joe Biden, the current President of America.
Notice the license plates of the cars of Delaware while taking the road trip from Philadelphia.
1. Rehoboth Beach
Time to reach: 2 hrs
This Atlantic Ocean coastal town with pristine beaches, warm sunshine, and a beautiful boardwalk will charm you as it did to us.
Head over for a fun-filled relaxing day by the waves crashing or even splurge at the Rehoboth Beach Outlets.
Time to spend: Full day
2. Dover
Time to reach: 1 1/2 hrs
The capital city of Delaware is simple but has so much history associated with it.
The First State Heritage Park is the place to visit if you are interested in the history of the state. It is the first urban ‘park without boundaries’.
The park has many historic sites to explore like The Old State House, Delaware Legislative Hall, Johnson Victrola Museum, and many more. The Old Statehouse is the old Capitol building. There are tours conducted to most of the sites that shed light on the rich history.
The air mobility command museum at Dover Air Force Base is a must-visit with a variety of military aircraft on display that can be explored from inside as well. Don’t miss the decommissioned Air Force One and the Air tank lifter helicopters.
The best part is that the museum has free entry. My son loved flying the simulator and the helicopters.
Time to spend: 1/2 day
3. Du Pont Mansions
Du Pont family, one of the richest business families in the US has a base and major presence in Delaware.
A lot of their Grand mansions, estates, and spectacular gardens are open for public viewing. Some of the prominent ones near Wilmington are:
Nemours (known for its formal elegance); Winterthur (for its expansive gardens and antique collection); and Hagley (for the story it tells of the DuPont legacy).
Longwood Gardens was also created by the du Pont family.
4. Tax-Free Shopping
You can’t miss Delaware if you love shopping. Head over to the many outlets in the state or for that matter any mall. You are bound to save moolah in taxes. Our favorite was the Christiana Mall.
Have you enjoyed our list of many options for the best day trips from Philadelphia from a local’s eye? These trips can be easily done as weekend trips. Did we miss something? Do let us know. Also, share your favorite Philadelphia day trip. Would love to hear.
Recommended Reading:
Kitchen Kettle Village in Lancaster PA
Fire and Ice Festival Lititz PA
Philadelphia Flower Show
Chocolate World Hershey, PA – The Sweetest Place on Earth
Save the Best Day Trips from Philadelphia to Pinterest
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Have always wanted to visit here, thanks for sharing. Poconos sounds beautiful!
Thanks for stopping by. Yes Poconos is beautiful and can be enjoyed in all seasons. Skiing is so popular in winters.
Philadelphia is one of my favorite US cities! I have been there many times and always find something fun to do. Great guide!
That’s great that you love the city. Yes, it has so much to do and it’s location lets you explore so much. Glad you liked it.
I had no idea there were this many day trips to do from Philly! When I travel I like choosing a base city and travelling out of there, so this gave me a lot to think about, thanks for sharing!
Absolutely, the location of Philly is great in terms of proximity to so many fun places. Happy if this post can help you plan a trip to Philly. Let me know if u need any help.
People laugh about the Jersey Shore, but it really can be super scenic in New Jersey! Great posts. Brings me back to my East Coast days!
For sure, we loved Jersey beaches. In spring and summer, these were our best weekend spots. Glad you gotta relive some special memories.
So many great suggestions!! I loved visiting Gettysburg and the Poconos. Still need to make it to Amish Country. I love all the day trips you can take too. Definitely saving this for later!
Thanks a lot for your love. Ohh you must visit Amish County, it’s a different experience. Feels you have traveled back in time. But it’s amazing how they value and living their culture. Glad you liked it and will help you plan in future.
So many good suggestions, thanks for sharing!
Thanks for reading our post and appreciating it. Hope you got some nice suggestions to plan for yourself. Do let us know which ones you took and liked. Thanks.
Nice blog with great post, Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for spending time on our blog and liking it.
So many possibilities for exploring! I have Philadelphia on my radar and will definitely consider adding some of these attractions.
Absolutely! There is no dearth of options of all kinds and for all ages . You should definitely add a few to your Philly itinerary as per your liking. Do let me know if you need any help.
So many things to see and do but would particularly enjoy the chocolates, chips and Gettysburg history. Thanks for sharing.
Yes for sure, so many options to choose from. The chocolates, chips and Gettysburg seem to the most popular options. 😊 Hope you get to visit some.
This is a great post! I love how you have a combination of cities & attractions. I visited Philadelphia during my senior year of high school, and we also visited Gettysburg, Lancaster, and D.C. I’d love to go back and take my husband and hit some of the spots on this list! Thanks for sharing these tips.
Thanks so much Brittany for reading and appreciating th post. Oh wow! You would hv some fond memories from your high school trip. Lancaster is such a different experience. Definitely you should go back with your husband and revisit some old and add a few new spots.
A trip to a chips factory sounds like so much fun! I also love that you can go on a day trip to the birthplace of Hershey – which I had no idea was an actual place!
Yes , the trip to chips factory was our favorite day trip and try the fresh chips. Yeah Hershey is a fun place to enjoy yummy chocolates n so many more fun activities.
One of top notch and fantastic blog with great articles. Thank you very much for sharing.
There is lots of suggestion!! I stay at home about 2 years because of pandemic. After reading your article, maybe it time to take a trip. Thanks for your sharing.
Yes for sure, so many options to choose from. The chocolates, chips and Gettysburg seem to the most popular options. 😊 Hope you get to visit some.
So many things to see and do but would particularly enjoy the chocolates, chips and Gettysburg history. Thanks for sharing.