Living in Philadelphia offers an unlimited array of things to do. But if you want to get away for a day, there is a lot to explore, from Amish farms to beaches, wine and nature. We have listed 5 of the best things to do that are less than a 2-hour drive (or train ride) from Philadelphia. That way you can have an adventure for a day and still sleep in your own bed.
Philadelphia Airport Car Rental
Lancaster County, PA
Trade urban streets for verdant farmland when you drive about 1.5 hours northwest to Lancaster County. You can visit farms, ride a steam-powered train and do more family-friendly activities like have fun at the Dutch Farms amusement park. If you want to see how the Amish live, head to the Amish Farm and House where you can take a tour, or the Amish Village, which is a bit more historic. To buy some of the produce and other goods produced in the area, be sure to stop at the Lancaster Central Market.
Cape May, NJ
You can get to one of the Jersey Shore beaches in about an hour from Philadelphia, but we recommend driving about 30 minutes more to Cape May. Here, you get the water on 3 sides – the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay – with beaches on the Atlantic Ocean and a town full of Victorian houses. Drive down Beach Avenue and take in its ocean views and historic homes on your way to the beach. Drive a bit further to Cape May Point to see the lighthouse and enjoy Cape May Point State Park, which also has a beach along with hiking and nature trails.
New York City
The energy and iconic sights of New York are only a 1.5 drive away from Philadelphia. See a matinee of a Broadway play, wander around Manhattan, eat a classic slice of pizza and still get home in the evening. While driving gives you the ultimate flexibility in getting around NYC, keep in mind that parking can be expensive and there is heavy traffic during peak hours. An alternative is to take a regional train or the Acela Express from Philadelphia to Penn Station in Manhattan.
Brandywine Valley, PA
The Brandywine Valley Wine Trail is just under an hour west of Philadelphia, near West Grove, Pennsylvania. There are a handful of wineries along the trail producing wine and cider, and you can arrange a tasting at any of them by contacting the vineyard ahead of time or simply stop at any of them to buy wine to take home. There is also lodging in the area, if you want to make a weekend of it.
Pocono Mountains, PA
Less than 2 hours north of Philadelphia, the Pocono Mountains are a great destination for hiking, camping and even whitewater rafting. In the winter, you can go skiing or snowboarding at one of the ski resorts. During warmer months, walk or hike to Bushkill Falls, explore Hickory Run State Park or take the kids to the water park at Camelback Mountain Resort. This is a very family-friendly area, but there are also wineries for adults.
SIXT Rent a Car in Philadelphia
We make it easy to rent a car in Philadelphia Airport with our convenient location. Cruise around the city streets in a luxury sedan, or head to the Pocono Mountains or the beaches of the Jersey Shore in an SUV with lots of cargo space. Turns heads with a premium car rental from SIXT!
