Gettysburg, Lancaster, Lititz & More

Southeast Pennsylvania is one of the most rewarding road trip routes on the East Coast, and food is the best reason to drive it.

Within a few hours you can move from a Civil War battlefield tavern to a legendary Amish smorgasbord, from a historic pretzel bakery to a vineyard with wine poured alongside Amish butter cheese. If you’re looking for a weekend getaway from Philadelphia or a longer multi-day adventure, this Pennsylvania foodie road trip through Gettysburg, Lancaster, Lititz and Chadds Ford delivers beautiful scenery, fascinating history and outstanding eating at every stop.

We drove it over five days with no strict agenda beyond finding great food, cold craft beer, local wine and a few detours we hadn’t planned. Here’s exactly where we stopped and what made each one worth it.

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Day 1: Gettysburg, PA

If you aren’t up on your American history, Gettysburg might surprise you. Located in Adams County, Pennsylvania, it was the site of the Civil War’s bloodiest battle in 1863, a turning point that pushed the Confederacy south and ultimately toward defeat. President Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address here the same year, one of the most consequential speeches in American history.

But Gettysburg is far more than a history lesson. This cool little town has a fantastic food scene, boutiques, art galleries, a beautiful scenic countryside and plenty of craft beer, cider and local wine to work through. Everyone should visit the Gettysburg National Military Park and Museum, but leave plenty of time for eating and exploring too. Here’s where we ended up.

For more things to do in the area, check out our full guide to things to do in Gettysburg, PA.

Where To Eat and Drink in Gettysburg, PA

Springhouse Tavern at the Dobbin House

If it’s a historic dining experience you’re after, the Dobbin House delivers completely. Built in 1776, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and Gettysburg’s oldest standing building, Dobbin House was originally built by an Irish Reverend named Alexander Dobbin who emigrated to America for a better life.

We enjoyed a delicious casual Colonial-style lunch in the lower level called the Springhouse Tavern, named for the three natural springs located there. Dark wood, candlelight, fireplaces and hearty tavern fare make it one of the most immersive dining experiences you’ll find anywhere. The French Onion Soup is one of the best we’ve ever had. The secret: it’s made with prime rib.

For a more upscale experience, make a reservation for the Dobbin House Tavern on the upper floors, open evenings for dinner. Don’t leave without checking out the small museum dedicated to the section of the house that was part of the Underground Railroad. There’s also an inn for lodging and a gift shop with a focus on Irish goods.

Blue and Gray Bar and Grill

A hot spot that draws locals, college students and tourists in equal measure, the Blue and Gray Bar and Grill offers creative pub food, wings, salads, sandwiches and burgers where nearly everything on the menu carries a Civil War-themed name. Open until 2 am daily, it’s also one of the best late-night options in town.

If you’re feeling brave, take on their Pickett’s Charge Burger Challenge: a 5.5-pound multi-stack monster burger with multiple patties, grilled cheese sandwiches and a Philly cheesesteak. Finish it in under 20 minutes and it’s free. We had driving to do, so this one had to wait.

Garryowen Irish Pub

Referred to as “The Go” by locals, Garryowen is Gettysburg’s only Irish-owned Irish pub, with many dishes made from the owner’s own family recipes. Many ingredients are sourced straight from Ireland. We had another outstanding French Onion Soup (it’s hard to find a Gettysburg menu without one), a fresh Strawberry and Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese and Candied Walnuts, and a standout homemade Reuben.

For drinks, Garryowen carries over 100 Irish whiskeys, a great selection of Irish and local craft beers on tap and an international wine list. If you visit on a Sunday, you may be treated to live Irish music alongside your meal.

Adams County Winery Gettysburg Wine Shop

Gettysburg’s oldest winery has been making award-winning wines since 1975, growing its grapes on the South Mountains overlooking town. You can visit the main winery for a tasting in their post-Civil War era barn, or simply stop into the downtown wine shop while you’re strolling around. Tastings are complimentary and bottles are available to take home.

Their Rebel Red is the most popular bottle, sweet and aromatic with a strong Concord Grape flavor. We walked away with a bottle of their Riesling, which was bursting with honeysuckle, citrus and orange blossom. Before you leave, order the frosty wine sorbet. It’s a small cup of heaven.

Where To Shop for Fresh Farm Goods in Gettysburg, PA

The Historic Round Barn and Farm Market

About 8 miles west of Gettysburg lies this family-owned historic farm and market, built in 1914. The draw here is the stunning round barn architecture, a style that was popular from the 1820s until around 1920. It’s beautifully preserved and worth the short detour just to see it.

The market carries a solid selection of jams, jellies, sauces, cheeses, snacks, local produce and farm-style antiques, with a particularly good cookbook selection focused on Pennsylvania and country-style cooking. We picked up horseradish mustard, hot sauce, fig preserves and beef jerky. Everything was delicious. We’d love to return in fall for apple picking season.

Where To Stay in Gettysburg, PA

Federal Pointe Inn

An award-winning boutique Ascend Hotel just a couple of blocks from Gettysburg’s center, the Federal Pointe Inn was originally built in 1897 as Gettysburg’s first high school. It was purchased and renovated in 2012, transformed into a luxury inn while preserving the building’s striking architecture.

Where classrooms once stood, you’ll now find 18 spacious guest rooms and suites, many with grand four-poster beds and large granite bathrooms with spa tubs, all under high ceilings. Complimentary coffee, tea and lemon water are available all day in the lobby, and freshly baked scones are set out at 4 pm for tea time. The Pointe Pub in the lower level is open Wednesday through Sunday for casual bites, wine and craft beer. The staff here is genuinely helpful, not just professionally polite.

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Days 2 and 3: Lancaster, PA

Next stop on the road trip was Lancaster. While Lancaster County is famous for its Amish Country charm, working farms, bakeries and food markets, downtown Lancaster is a destination in its own right with outstanding restaurants, craft breweries, a meadery and a farmers market that has been operating since the 1730s.

Lancaster is a town that loves its beer. And its baked goods. And its cheese. And farm-fresh everything. There is no shortage of places to indulge. For a deeper look at all Lancaster has to offer, check out our full guide to Downtown Lancaster, PA.

Where To Shop in Lancaster, PA

Lancaster Central Market

Considered America’s oldest farmers market building, Lancaster Central Market has had vendors selling fresh meats, vegetables, fruits and farm products on this very site since the 1730s. Many of the vendors there today have been selling through multiple generations of their families since the early 1900s.

Stepping inside, you’ll find row after row of fresh meats, dairy and mostly organic produce straight from local farms. There’s also chocolate and candy, fresh baked goods including breads, pies, whoopie pies, cookies, cakes and scones, and farm-fresh cheese to sample. Don’t miss the Linden Dale Farms stand and their rich, creamy goat cheese.

Where To Stay in Lancaster, PA

Lancaster Arts Hotel

A former 1800s tobacco warehouse turned hip modern hotel, the Lancaster Arts Hotel wins on atmosphere from the moment you walk in. Exposed brick walls, reclaimed wood floors and local art displayed throughout the property give it a personality most hotels can’t buy.

The accommodations are supremely comfortable with plenty of luxurious amenities. There’s a gym on-site, and complimentary access to the YMCA across the street. Every guest room comes with a sketchpad and pencil. Leave your own little masterpiece behind and it may end up displayed on rotation throughout the hotel.

The location is excellent. You’re within walking distance of Beiler’s Donuts, Meduseld Meadery and a variety of great restaurants. Planning a longer Lancaster stay? Check out our deep dive into everything to do in Downtown Lancaster, PA and our review of the best Amish Country experiences just outside the city.

Where To Eat and Drink in Lancaster, PA

John J. Jeffries

Whether you’re staying at the Lancaster Arts Hotel or not, John J. Jeffries is worth the visit. The food isn’t good here. It’s great. With a focus on seasonal and sustainable dishes made with local and organic ingredients sourced within a 25-mile radius of the hotel, the menu is internationally inspired and quietly impressive.

Standout dishes we ordered included the Wild Caught Shrimp and Grits with lemon butter, seasonal vegetables and chorizo sausage, and the Lamb Kabob served with basmati rice, cucumber, tomato and feta salad. We finished with their version of a Tres Leches served with local strawberries and a caramel sauce that was exceptional. Sit on the patio if the weather allows.

Beiler’s Donuts

Most famous for their location at Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market, Beiler’s Donuts makes their hand-rolled donuts fresh daily using a family recipe handed down through generations. These are the ideal donut: super soft and yeasty with a slightly crispy edge to the bite. Decorated, glazed and stuffed in a rotating variety of outstanding creations, they are worth building your morning around.

Lancaster Brewing Company

For local craft beer and a solid bite to eat, Lancaster Brewing Company is the move. Their 6-sample tasting flight runs $12 and gives you a thorough tour of what they make. Standouts for us were the Double Chocolate Milk Stout with intense roasted malts and velvety chocolate, and the Peanut Butter English Ale with rich caramel malts and all-natural peanut butter. We combined the two on a whim and they tasted exactly like a peanut butter cup. Highly recommend the experiment.

The full dining menu has great appetizer options to go with the beers. Their House Smoked Pork Nachos were satisfying and delicious. Call ahead to book a brewery tour if you want an in-depth look at the craft beer making process. All beers are available to purchase for the road.

Meduseld Meadery

We went to Meduseld Meadery just looking to try some mead and left as devout, die-hard fans. If you’ve never had mead before, it’s an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey with yeast, water and various ingredients like lemongrass, ginger, tart cherries, hops and orange peels, creating an unlimited number of flavor combinations. Also called honey wine, mead is the oldest fermented drink known to man.

Meduseld produces both carbonated and still styles, plus mead slushies and mead shakes that are honestly incredible. And yes, there is an axe-throwing cage inside. It sounds alarming. It’s actually tons of fun, with a coach on hand to help with your technique. You want to try it.

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Day 4: Lititz, PA

Lititz is one of those great little towns that earns a return visit every time. Voted America’s Coolest Small Town by Budget Travel in 2013 and located about 8 miles north of Lancaster, it makes a perfect place to spend an afternoon or an entire day. The big draws, beyond the quaint historic downtown, are the vibrant food scene, craft beer, and two of Pennsylvania’s most famous historic food institutions: Wilbur Chocolate and Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery. Both started in the 1800s and are going strong today.

Don’t forget to stroll through historic Lititz Spring Park to admire the scenery and feed the ducks.

Wilbur Chocolate

Originally founded in 1865, Wilbur Chocolate is famous for their signature Wilbur Buds, debuted in 1893. Similar in shape to a Hershey’s Kiss but rounded on the bottom like a flower bud, they are a Lititz institution. The original factory has since moved to a retail space across the street and is being developed into luxury condos, but you can still see it from the outside.

In the new shop, watch chocolate treats being handmade before your eyes. There’s a small museum dedicated to Wilbur’s history, and free chocolate samples throughout. Open daily except Sunday.

Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery

On Main Street in Lititz stands America’s first commercial pretzel bakery, operating in the same historic home purchased by Julius Sturgis in 1861. The original part of this stone home dates back to 1784. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the bakery offers pretzel-making tours where you can explore the original factory, learn the process and have a go at twisting your own pretzel.

Most of their varieties are bagged hard pretzels, but fresh soft pretzels are also available for purchase. No visit is complete without bringing home some pretzel treats and pretzel swag from their front room bakery. Check the website for current tour times and hours before you go.

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Day 5: Intercourse and Gordonville, PA

Driving east out of Lancaster is where you’ll find many of the county’s most beloved Dutch Country attractions, including Dutch Wonderland, The Amish Farm and House, and several smorgasbord restaurants where Pennsylvania Dutch dishes are served in abundance. Horse-drawn buggies are a common sight on these roads. The area deserves a couple of days of exploration on its own.

For a complete guide to this part of Lancaster County, visit our Amish Country Lancaster, PA guide. On this leg of the trip, we made one main stop in Intercourse before heading toward Chadds Ford.

Kitchen Kettle Village

What started as a jam-making business over 60 years ago is now a small village of over 40 country restaurants and shops selling cheeses, jerky, jams, jellies, fresh kettle corn, baked goods, handmade pretzels and home and leather goods, all overlooking the beautiful Pennsylvania Dutch countryside.

You can easily spend the better part of a day here shopping, eating and people-watching. For the full Amish experience, horse-drawn buggy rides depart right from the parking lot. There’s even an inn on site if you want to stay over the shops and wake up in the middle of it all.

Waltz Vineyards Tasting Room at Kitchen Kettle

The Waltz Vineyards wine is estate grown on a sixth-generation farm between Lancaster and Lebanon, Pennsylvania, producing over 100 tons of wine grapes annually. At the Kitchen Kettle tasting room, you can do a tasting, order by the glass or bottle, and relax inside the bar or on the patio.

Tastings are $10 for 5 wines or $2 per 1 oz pour. The wines lean dry, which we loved. The whites are especially refreshing. If you have time to sit and sip, order the Amish Butter Cheese alongside your tasting. It was unbelievably creamy and the pairing was perfect. Waltz also has a main vineyard in Manheim and an additional tasting room in Lititz.

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Day 6: Chadds Ford, PA

For the final stretch, we headed to Chadds Ford in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Home to the Brandywine River Museum of Art, Brandywine Battlefield Park, antique shops and two wineries, it’s a quaint historic town that rewards a half-day stop. When we heard about a Food Truck Throwdown at Chadds Ford Winery, we knew we had to see what that was about.

Chadds Ford Winery

One of Pennsylvania’s largest wineries, Chadds Ford Winery produces more than 30,000 cases of wine each year and offers a range of sweet, dry and seasonal selections. Tastings and tours run on weekends, and the winery hosts a series of seasonal food truck festivals throughout the year.

The Saturday we visited, the Food Truck Throwdown had drawn a lineup of about 10 local food trucks serving killer BBQ, oyster po’boys, souvlaki, spanakopita and authentic Polish pierogis, plus a cupcake truck and a gelato truck for dessert. Wine tastings, wine bars, sangria, wine mojitos and slushies all flowing against the backdrop of the winery’s historic 17th-century dairy barn with live music. It was a great time.

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FAQ: Pennsylvania Foodie Road Trip

How long does the Southeast Pennsylvania road trip take?

You can do a highlights version in 3 days, but 5 days lets you truly enjoy each stop without rushing. Gettysburg alone deserves a full day if you want to visit the battlefield and eat well. Lancaster and Lititz together warrant at least two days.

What is the best time of year for a Pennsylvania road trip?

Spring through fall is ideal. Fall is particularly spectacular: harvest season peaks across Lancaster County’s farms and orchards, the wineries are buzzing with fresh releases, and the scenery across Adams County and the Brandywine Valley turns brilliant. Summer is lively but peak-season busy. Spring offers quieter roads and lower hotel rates.

Is this Pennsylvania road trip good for families?

It’s an excellent family road trip. The Round Barn and its farm animals, the pretzel-making tour at Julius Sturgis, Wilbur Chocolate, Kitchen Kettle Village and Lancaster Central Market all work well for kids. The Amish Country scenic drives are a hit with younger travelers too.

Can you do Gettysburg and Lancaster as a day trip from Philadelphia?

Technically yes for either stop individually, but you’d be shortchanging yourself. Both deserve overnight stays. Gettysburg is about 2 hours from Philadelphia, Lancaster about 1.5 hours. For the full road trip experience, plan to stay at least one night in each location. Check out our best day trips from Philadelphia guide if you’re working with limited time.

What else can I see in Lancaster County beyond the road trip stops above?

Plenty. The Amish Country experience around Bird-in-Hand, including Miller’s Smorgasbord, the Quilt Shop at Miller’s and Locally Made Food Shop, is a world unto itself. Read our full Amish Country Lancaster, PA guide for everything you need to plan that part of the trip. For the city itself, our Downtown Lancaster guide covers the best restaurants, bars and neighborhoods in depth.

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Planning more Pennsylvania adventures? Explore our guides to Amish Country Lancaster, PA, things to do in Gettysburg, Peddler’s Village and weekend getaways from Philadelphia.