Things to Do in Lancaster, PA: A Local Guide to Amish Country

What is there to do in Lancaster, PA?

Lancaster County packs a lot into a short drive. You can tour an Amish farm in the morning, ride a steam train after lunch and walk through an 18th-century mansion before dinner. Every place below is in Lancaster County.

We checked each one on its official website in November 2026. Hours and seasons change, so confirm on each site before you drive out.

Is Lancaster, PA Amish Country?

Yes. The Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College tracks Amish settlements across North America. Its 2026 table puts the Lancaster County area first by population, at about 45,575 people in 301 church districts.

The city of Lancaster itself looks like any small American city. Discover Lancaster, the county's tourism office, points visitors to the Amish countryside around Strasburg, Intercourse and Bird-in-Hand. That is where you'll see farm lanes, one-room schools and horse-drawn buggies on the road.

Keep in mind that these are working farms and private homes, not a theme park. The tours below are the respectful way to see Amish life up close and ask questions.

How can you see Amish Country up close?

The right fit depends on how much time you have and who is with you.

Amish house and village tours

The Amish Village, at 199 Hartman Bridge Road in Ronks, sits on 12 acres. Guides lead you through an Amish farmhouse built in 1840 and around the grounds, where you'll find a horse and buggy and a blacksmith shop. It also offers a backroads bus tour and a package that combines the two.

Amish Farm and House in Lancaster opened in 1955. Its site describes a classic bus tour through the countryside, followed by time on its 15-acre farm and schoolhouse, with an optional guided tour of an 1805 farmhouse. Tours are seasonal, so look up the current start date before you plan around it.

Farm tours with animals

Old Windmill Farm, at 262 Paradise Lane in Ronks, describes itself as a real Amish family farm. Visitors can milk a cow, gather eggs, meet the animals and take a hayride. Its site lists it as open March through December and closed on Sundays and Wednesdays. Reservations are recommended but not required.

Verdant View Farm, at 429 Strasburg Road in Paradise, is run by fourth-generation farmers. Its guided tours cover the barns, gardens and animals on a working grass-fed beef farm. It is always closed on Sundays, and it asks guests to reserve ahead.

Buggy rides

AAA Buggy Rides (the name stands for Amish All Around) is based in Intercourse. It offers a country ride of about 35 minutes, a covered bridge ride of about 55 minutes and a 65-minute ride that stops at a working Amish dairy farm.

What is there to do in Intercourse, PA?

Intercourse is a small village at the meeting of Routes 340 and 772. Discover Lancaster notes it was long a place where locals, Amish farmers and craftsmen came to do business and visit. That is still true today.

Kitchen Kettle Village, at 3529 Old Philadelphia Pike, began in 1954 when Pat and Bob Burnley invited neighbors to their backyard. Today it is a walkable village of more than 40 shops, places to eat and an inn, with a working canning kitchen. Its 2026 hours list Monday through Saturday. The village says it is about 10 miles east of Lancaster city on Route 340.

Buggy rides leave from Intercourse too, and our Intercourse showroom is at 13 Center Street, in the same village. Plan an easy half day here: a buggy ride, lunch, a slow walk through the shops and a stop at our showroom.

What can families do in Lancaster County?

Ride a steam train

The Strasburg Rail Road, at 301 Gap Road in Ronks, was chartered in 1832. It says it is the oldest short line railroad in North America. Steam trains carry riders through farm country, and you can choose First Class, Dining, Open Air or Coach seating. In November 2026 its site showed the railroad closed for track replacement until November 21, followed by its holiday trains. Our guide to Christmas events in Lancaster covers those.

On the same road, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania at 300 Gap Road in Strasburg preserves the state's railroad history. Its site lists it as open Wednesday through Sunday.

Theme park and farm fun

Dutch Wonderland, at 2249 Lincoln Highway East in Lancaster, is an amusement park built for younger kids, with more than 30 family rides. It says it is open year-round with seasonal events, but open days and hours vary, so check its calendar first.

Cherry Crest Adventure Farm, at 150 Cherry Hill Road in Ronks, mixes family fun with farming, including a corn maze. Its fall festivals ran into early November in 2026. The farm is cashless, so bring a card.

Refreshing Mountain, at 455 Camp Road in Stevens, is a family-owned retreat and activity center that has welcomed groups since 1983. It asks visitors to book activities ahead rather than show up and hope for a spot.

See a show

Sight & Sound Theatres, at 300 Hartman Bridge Road in Ronks, stages Bible stories with large sets and live animals. Each show runs about two and a half hours with a 20-minute intermission. The company began in 1976 and now has theaters in Lancaster County and Branson, Missouri.

What historic sites can you visit near Lancaster?

Wheatland was the home of James Buchanan, the 15th U.S. president. LancasterHistory runs guided tours of the 1828 house from its campus at 230 North President Avenue, where you'll also find a museum and an arboretum on its 11-acre grounds. Advance reservations are recommended.

Historic Rock Ford, at 881 Rockford Road, is the circa 1794 home of General Edward Hand, Adjutant General to George Washington. Its Snyder Gallery shows Lancaster County decorative arts from about 1760 to 1820, including furniture and tall case clocks. If you love old furniture, it's worth the trip. Rock Ford is closed for the season and lists April 1, 2027 as its reopening date.

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, north of the city, is the state's museum of Pennsylvania German history and farming, preserving it since 1925. Plan on two to three hours. Its site lists it as closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Ephrata Cloister, at 632 West Main Street in Ephrata, was founded in 1732 by Conrad Beissel as a religious community. Its site describes the community's Germanic-style log, stone and half-timbered buildings. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission runs it as a National Historic Landmark.

Where can you stay somewhere different?

• Red Caboose Motel, 312 Paradise Lane, Ronks: rooms inside historic railroad cabooses, open since 1970. The motel notes that most caboose rooms are not handicap accessible, so call ahead with any needs.
• Verdant View Farm, Paradise: a farm bed and breakfast where the morning farm chores are part of the stay.
• Dutch Wonderland Inn, 2285 Lincoln Highway East: the hotel next to the park, which many visitors knew as the Cartoon Network Hotel, now runs under the Dutch Wonderland name.
• Stone Gables Estate, Elizabethtown: seven rentals, from the 1924 Klein Mansion to the Rockin Retro.

What about markets, food and holiday events?

Lancaster is known for its markets, and they each keep their own days. Our guide to Lancaster County farmers markets covers Central Market, Green Dragon, Root's and more. For the holiday season, see our Christmas events guide, and for a meal near our stores, our dining picks.

What should you know before you drive through Amish Country?

Horse-drawn buggies share the road with cars, trucks and bikes. Discover Lancaster and PennDOT share these simple rules:

• Pass slowly. Leave at least 20 feet between your car and the horse before you pull back into the lane.
• Don't use your horn. Loud noises can spook a horse.
• Stay back at stops. Buggies can roll back a few feet after stopping. PennDOT suggests stopping far enough back to see where the buggy's rear wheels touch the road.
• Watch at night. Buggies have lights, but a dark horse can be hard to see.

Many places in this guide close on Sundays, so plan farm tours and shopping for earlier in the week. And always ask before you take photos of people.

How can you bring a bit of Lancaster home?

We're a family business that began in Raymond King's woodshop in 1986, and a lot of our visitors stop in between tours. If you can't fit furniture in the car, that's fine. We can talk through delivery, and you can read what to expect when you visit before you come.

A rocking chair is an easy way to bring that porch-sitting pace home. The Grandpas Rocker (27"W x 33"D x 46"H) is designed like an old hickory rocker but made with low-maintenance poly, and its page says it can be left out on your deck all year. The Porch Rocker (25.75"W x 34.75"D x 43.75"H) and the Comfort Rocker (26.5"W x 33"D x 41.5"H), which has a contoured back, both have a 21-inch-wide seat. For indoors, the Lincoln Rocker comes with fabric or leather upholstery. You can browse more in our outdoor seating collection.

Rocking chairs for your own porch

Frequently asked questions

Is Lancaster, PA Amish Country?

Yes. Elizabethtown College's Young Center lists the Lancaster County area as the largest Amish settlement by population in its 2026 count. Discover Lancaster points visitors to the Amish countryside around Strasburg, Intercourse and Bird-in-Hand.

What is there to do in Intercourse, PA?

Walk Kitchen Kettle Village and its 40-plus shops, take a buggy ride with AAA Buggy Rides, and visit our showroom at 13 Center Street. Kitchen Kettle lists Monday to Saturday hours, so plan a weekday or Saturday.

What is open on Sundays in Lancaster County?

Fewer places than on other days. Landis Valley, Ephrata Cloister and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania list Sunday afternoon hours. Old Windmill Farm, Verdant View Farm, Kitchen Kettle Village and our showrooms are closed on Sundays. Check each site before you go.

Is the Strasburg Rail Road open in November?

In November 2026, its site showed the railroad closed for track replacement until November 21, with holiday trains after that. Check the official schedule before you book.

How far is Intercourse from Lancaster?

Kitchen Kettle Village in Intercourse says it is about 10 miles east of Lancaster city on Route 340. Our two Lancaster County showrooms are about 20 minutes apart by car.

Sources

• Young Center, Elizabethtown College: Twelve Largest Amish Settlements, 2026
• Discover Lancaster: Amish Country and Day Trip to Intercourse
• Discover Lancaster: How to Drive Safely Around Horse and Buggies
• PennDOT Publication 627: Safe Driving in Rural Areas and Amish Country
• The Amish Village, Amish Farm and House, Old Windmill Farm, Verdant View Farm, AAA Buggy Rides
• Kitchen Kettle Village: Hours and Directions
• Strasburg Rail Road and its history, Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
• Dutch Wonderland, Dutch Wonderland Inn, Cherry Crest Adventure Farm, Refreshing Mountain, Sight & Sound Theatres
• LancasterHistory and Wheatland, Historic Rock Ford, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, Ephrata Cloister (Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission) and its official site, ephratacloister.org (history and visit pages)
• Red Caboose Motel, Stone Gables Estate
• Product pages on kingsamishfurniture.com (as listed in November 2026)

How we made this guide: we checked every place, its town and what it offers on its own official website in November 2026, used Discover Lancaster and PennDOT for road safety tips, and took our showroom details from our locations page and a question one of our callers asked. Every fact was checked against our product pages.