Amish Country & Hershey Family Road Trip from Philadelphia
Drive from Philadelphia to Lancaster for a steam train ride, then head to Hersheypark and Hershey's Chocolate World.
A relaxed family-friendly itinerary with one or two nights in each destination and driving times under two hours. Steam trains, farm buggy rides, and pretzel twisting are perfect for kids, with the final day dedicated to Hersheypark. Be sure to schedule the Amish Country visit on a Saturday to avoid Sunday closures. This is much shorter than the cross-state route and bypasses Pittsburgh and the battlefields.
Hersheypark is open daily from late May to Labor Day, and only on weekends or for seasonal events during other times of the year.
Day by day
Day 1 · Strasburg Rail Road Steam Train
Lancaster & Amish Country（Strasburg Rail Road、Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania、National Toy Train Museum）
Drive from Philadelphia to Strasburg (approx. 1.5 hours); attractions are within walking distance or a short drive.
Stay: Strasburg and Ronks
Day 2 · Farm Buggy Rides & Country Villages
Lancaster & Amish Country（The Amish Farm and House、Bird-in-Hand、Intercourse & Kitchen Kettle Village、Sight & Sound Theatres）
Using Strasburg as your base, take short drives between several villages along Route 340.
Schedule this day on a Saturday, as most buggy rides, family restaurants, and quilt shops are closed on Sundays.
Stay: Strasburg and Ronks
Day 3 · Pretzels to Chocolate World
Lancaster & Amish Country（Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery） → Hershey, Pennsylvania（Hershey's Chocolate World、ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park）
Drive about 40 minutes to Lititz, then drive another 40 minutes to Hershey; walk around the town in the afternoon.
Stay: Downtown Hershey
Day 4 · A Day at Hersheypark & Return
Hershey, Pennsylvania（Hersheypark） → Philadelphia
Drive about 5 minutes from the town center to the park; drive about 2 hours back to Philadelphia in the evening.