Hershey and Lancaster County from Baltimore: A Chauffeured Pennsylvania Day Trip

Just over the Pennsylvania line from Baltimore lie two of the Mid-Atlantic's most popular day-trip destinations. Hershey, the town chocolate built, has candy-themed attractions, gardens and a famous amusement park. Lancaster County, to the east, is known for its rolling farmland, Amish and Mennonite communities, covered bridges and markets. Both are close enough to Baltimore for a day trip, and with careful planning you can sample both in one long day.

Realistic Drive Times

From Baltimore, the route north follows I-83 through Hunt Valley and into Pennsylvania toward York.

• To Hershey: continue on I-83 toward Harrisburg, then head east toward Hershey. The trip typically takes about an hour and a half to two hours from Baltimore, depending on traffic.
• To Lancaster: leave I-83 at York and head east on US-30. The trip typically takes about an hour and a half.
• Between Hershey and Lancaster: about 45 minutes to an hour on local highways.

From BWI, add some time for the trip around or through Baltimore. Weekday rush hours on I-83 and the Beltway, summer weekends and holiday periods can all add delays.

Hershey

Chocolate World

Hershey's Chocolate World is the town's main visitor center, with a chocolate-making tour ride, shops and paid experiences such as making your own candy bar. Some experiences require timed tickets, so check the official site and book ahead, especially in summer and around holidays.

Hersheypark

Hersheypark is a major amusement park with roller coasters, a water park and attractions for younger kids. It operates on a seasonal schedule, with summer as the main season and special seasonal events at other times of year. Check the park's official calendar before you plan, since days and hours vary.

Gardens, History and the Town

Beyond the candy, Hershey has the Hershey Gardens, the Hershey Story museum about Milton Hershey and the town he built, and streets lined with Kiss-shaped streetlights. It is a pleasant town to drive through even if you skip the big attractions.

Lancaster County

Amish Country

The Lancaster County countryside east of the city of Lancaster, around villages such as Bird-in-Hand, Intercourse and Strasburg, is home to Amish and Mennonite communities. You will see horse-drawn buggies, farms worked without modern machinery and roadside stands selling produce, baked goods and quilts.

Respect is important here:

• Ask before photographing people, and many Amish prefer not to be photographed at all.
• Be patient with buggies on the road and give them plenty of room.
• Do not trespass on farms or private property.
• Many businesses are closed on Sundays.

Things to Do

• Farm tours and buggy rides through local operators.
• Strasburg Rail Road, a heritage steam railroad, and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania across the road.
• Central Market in downtown Lancaster, one of the oldest continuously operating farmers markets in the country, open on select days.
• Covered bridges scattered through the countryside.
• Outlet shopping along US-30.

Check official websites for operating days, since many attractions are seasonal or closed on certain days.

Splitting the Day

Trying to do everything in Hershey and Lancaster in one day is too much. Choose one of these approaches:

Option 1: Hershey-Focused

Spend most of the day in Hershey, with Chocolate World in the morning and the park, gardens or museum in the afternoon. Ideal for families with kids.

Option 2: Lancaster-Focused

Spend the day in Amish country with a farm tour, lunch at a local restaurant, a market and the Strasburg Rail Road. Ideal for adults, history buffs and rail fans.

Option 3: A Taste of Both

Start early with Chocolate World in Hershey, then drive to Lancaster County for a late lunch, a farm drive and a market stop before heading home. It is a long day but very doable.

Why a Chauffeur Helps

These are long days with a lot of driving. A chauffeur lets everyone relax on the highway, avoids the hassle of parking at busy attractions and means no one has to drive home tired after a day at an amusement park. Our Maryland hourly chauffeur service keeps the same vehicle and chauffeur with you throughout the day.

Our guide on what to pack and expect on a long-distance car service trip has practical tips for longer runs like this.

Eating Along the Way

Food is a big part of both destinations. In Lancaster County, family-style restaurants serving Pennsylvania Dutch cooking are a tradition, and roadside stands and markets sell baked goods such as whoopie pies and shoofly pie, along with jams, pretzels and seasonal produce. In Hershey, the town's restaurants and the attractions' own dining options make lunch easy. For the drive home, many travelers stop in York or the Hunt Valley area, roughly halfway back to Baltimore. If you are traveling with kids, building in a sit-down meal before the return drive usually makes for a calmer ride home.

Shopping and Carrying Purchases

Between candy, quilts, crafts, outlet bags and market produce, Pennsylvania day trips tend to come home heavier than they started. Bring a cooler if you plan to buy meat, cheese or produce at a market. With a chauffeured vehicle, purchases stay locked in the car between stops, so you are not carrying them through the next attraction or worrying about a hot car in a parking lot.

Families, Scouts and Groups

Hershey and Lancaster are popular for school groups, scout troops, church groups and family reunions. Our Mercedes Sprinter vans seat up to 13 passengers, and our Maryland Sprinter van service explains how group trips work. Car seats are available on request for younger children.

Covered Bridges and Back Roads

Lancaster County's covered bridges are one of the quietest pleasures of the trip. Many are still in use on narrow country roads, and seeing several of them makes a relaxed afternoon loop between farms and villages. County tourism resources publish maps showing where they are. Remember that these roads are shared with buggies, bicycles and farm equipment, so the pace is slow, and that is part of the charm. A chauffeur who is comfortable with rural routes lets you watch the scenery instead of the map.

Seasonal Notes

• Summer is peak season for Hersheypark and the busiest time in both destinations.
• Fall brings harvest season, foliage and fewer crowds in Amish country.
• Holiday season brings special events and lights at Hershey, which can be very popular.
• Winter is quiet in Lancaster, with some attractions closed or on limited schedules.

Planning Your Trip

Decide which option fits your group, check the official websites for hours and tickets and give yourself an early start. When you are ready, book online or call 877-609-1919, and we will plan the timing around your destinations.