Lancaster, PA has enough to do within walking distance of Penn Square to fill a good weekend. But the region's best experiences are spread across 900+ square miles of farmland, small towns, and state parks — and most of them require a car.

Here are 12 things to do in Lancaster County that open up when you have your own wheels. Drive times below are approximate from our pickup location in Lititz.

1. Lancaster Central Market

Drive from Lititz: ~12 minutes

Central Market is the oldest publicly operated farmers market in the United States and one of the best reasons to visit downtown Lancaster. Open Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, it fills the red-brick market building on Penn Square with local vendors selling everything from Lebanon bologna to hand-rolled soft pretzels to fresh-cut flowers.

Go early — the best vendors sell out by noon. Parking on those mornings is easier if you arrive before 9 a.m.

2. Strasburg Rail Road

Drive from Lititz: ~20 minutes

The Strasburg Rail Road is the oldest continuously operating short-line railroad in the country. Steam-powered excursion trains run through the southern Lancaster farmlands on a 45-minute round trip behind historic coal-fired locomotives.

Buy tickets in advance on summer and fall weekends — they genuinely sell out. The adjacent Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is worth the separate admission if you have the time.

3. Kitchen Kettle Village, Intercourse

Drive from Lititz: ~15 minutes

Kitchen Kettle Village is a cluster of specialty food shops and craft vendors at the center of Intercourse on Route 340. The jams, relishes, and pickled goods sold here are made locally and are the real thing. The fudge shop line moves faster than it looks.

The surrounding area — Route 340 between Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse — is one of the most scenic drives in the county. Slow down.

4. Covered Bridge Tour

Drive from Lititz: varies, 25–45 minutes to reach most

Lancaster County has 28 remaining covered bridges, more than any other Pennsylvania county. They're spread across the western and southern parts of the county, mostly over Pequea Creek and the Conestoga River tributaries.

A few accessible ones: Hunsecker's Mill Bridge (one of the largest in the state), Baumgardner's Mill Bridge off Pequea Creek Road, and Siegrist's Mill Bridge near Silver Spring. The county's covered bridge map is available online and at most visitor centers.

This is where unlimited miles pays for itself — a good covered bridge circuit covers 40–60 miles of back roads.

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5. Dutch Wonderland

Drive from Lititz: ~12 minutes

Dutch Wonderland is a family amusement park on Route 30 east of Lancaster that has operated since 1963. It's scaled for younger kids — the rides are age-appropriate, the lines are manageable, and it's not trying to be Disney. If you're traveling with children under 12, it's a full-day stop.

Season typically runs March through December.

6. Longwood Gardens

Drive from Lititz: ~45 minutes

Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA — just over the Chester County line — is one of the great horticultural gardens in the world. More than 1,000 acres of outdoor gardens and 20 indoor conservatories, maintained to an exceptional standard year-round.

This is worth a dedicated day trip. Spring (late April through May) and the holiday season (late November through January) are the peak times, but the gardens reward a visit in any season.

Buy timed admission tickets online before you go.

7. Hershey, PA

Drive from Lititz: ~45 minutes

Hersheypark, the Hershey Story museum, and Hershey Gardens are all within a short drive of each other in Dauphin County. A full Hershey day — park plus the museum or gardens — is a legitimate all-day excursion.

The drive west on Route 283 and then north on Route 322 is straightforward. Plan for heavy traffic on summer weekends.

Making a multi-day trip? A weekly rental gives you the best rate →

8. Downtown Lancaster and the Fulton Theatre

Drive from Lititz: ~12 minutes

Downtown Lancaster is more walkable than most visitors expect. Penn Square, the Central Market building, Gallery Row on Prince Street, and a dense cluster of restaurants and bars within a few blocks make for a good evening.

The Fulton Theatre on Prince Street is a Pennsylvania landmark — a Victorian-era theater that hosts a full season of musicals, plays, and concerts. Check their calendar if you're in town for multiple days.

9. Rock Ford Plantation

Drive from Lititz: ~20 minutes

Rock Ford Plantation, on the banks of the Conestoga River southeast of Lancaster, is the preserved 18th-century home of General Edward Hand, Washington's Adjutant General. The site is undervisited and genuinely interesting for anyone who cares about Pennsylvania history.

The grounds along the river are worth the visit on their own.

10. Choo Choo Barn

Drive from Lititz: ~20 minutes

Adjacent to the Strasburg Rail Road, the Choo Choo Barn houses a 1,700-square-foot model train layout that has been operating since 1945. More than 150 trains, 130 animated scenes, and the kind of handcrafted detail that holds attention longer than you'd expect.

It's a natural pairing with the Strasburg Rail Road — both are on the same stretch of Route 741.

11. Mount Gretna

Drive from Lititz: ~30 minutes

Mount Gretna is a small wooded community in Lebanon County that most Lancaster visitors never reach. The Victorian-era cottages, the Lake Placida swimming area, and the summer arts scene give it a character unlike anywhere else in the region.

The drive through Cornwall and into the Lebanon Valley is pleasant. It's the kind of detour that benefits from having your own car — no schedule, no shuttle.

12. Newport Road Scenic Drive

Drive from Lititz: starts just south of town

This one isn't a destination — it's a drive. Newport Road south of Lititz cuts through some of the most beautiful farmland in the county: wide open views, white farmhouses, horse-drawn equipment in the fields, and almost no tourist traffic.

Take it south toward Intercourse and you end up in the heart of Amish Country without ever touching Route 30. On a clear morning or in the golden hour before sunset, it's genuinely remarkable.

A Note on Mileage

If you run through this list in any serious way — Strasburg plus Longwood plus a covered bridge circuit plus a Hershey day — you'll easily cover 300+ miles in a week. That blows past the daily caps on most national rental contracts.

Every Red Rose vehicle includes unlimited miles. No daily cap, no per-mile fee, no reason to skip the detour.

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