Market stalls, garden lights and steam trains
This is leg 2 of 2, the final leg.
Travel leg · Philadelphia, Longwood & Lancaster
Kennett Square to Lancaster
Kennett Square and Lancaster sit about 55 km (34 mi) apart in a straight line, with Lancaster to the north-west. It is leg 2 of 2 on our Philadelphia, Longwood & Lancaster itinerary, a 5-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 55 km · 34 mi
- Est. road distance
- 66–77 km
- Est. drive time
- 50 min – 1 h 30 min
- Direction
- Heading north-west
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Philadelphia, Longwood & Lancaster itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 66–77 km (41–48 mi) of road and 50 min – 1 h 30 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
Fly into Philadelphia International (PHL); SEPTA's Airport Line reaches Center City in about 25 minutes, and you won't need a car in the city. Rent a car for the rest: Kennett Square and Longwood Gardens are about an hour west, Winterthur and the Brandywine Museum are 15 to 20 minutes from Kennett Square, and Lancaster is another hour west. Lititz and Strasburg are each about 20 minutes from downtown Lancaster. Amtrak's Keystone line also links Philadelphia and Lancaster in about 75 minutes.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Lancaster
Two nights for Central Market, steam trains and Lititz.
Lancaster Central Market
Brick market hall that calls itself the oldest continuously operating public farmers market in the US, with Amish and Mennonite stands.
Strasburg Rail Road
America's oldest operating short-line railroad, running steam trains through Amish farmland, with Santa trains in December.
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
State railroad museum across the road from the Strasburg Rail Road, with a hall full of restored locomotives.
Shady Maple Smorgasbord
Huge Pennsylvania Dutch buffet in East Earl with roast turkey, chicken pot pie, shoofly pie and dozens of other dishes.
Lititz Springs Inn
Historic inn on the main square of Lititz, long known as the General Sutter Inn, with the Bulls Head pub downstairs.
Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery
Lititz bakery opened in 1861, the first commercial pretzel bakery in the US, with short tours and a hand-twisting lesson.
Before you leave Kennett Square
One night for Longwood's lights and a Brandywine Valley day.
Longwood Gardens
Former du Pont estate garden; for A Longwood Christmas it lights its outdoor trees and fills the conservatory with decorated firs.
Winterthur
Henry Francis du Pont's country estate and museum of American decorative arts, dressed for the Yuletide tour in winter.
Chaddsford Winery
Tasting room in a restored barn on US 1, one of the oldest and best-known wineries in Pennsylvania.
On this curated route
Where Kennett Square → Lancaster sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Lancaster to Kennett Square is the same 55 km in a straight line, heading south-east. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
Average daytime highs at both ends stay within 1°C of each other all year, so you can pack the same way for both.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennett Square high | 3° | 4° | 9° | 17° | 22° | 27° | 30° | 30° | 26° | 19° | 12° | 6° |
| Lancaster high | 3° | 4° | 9° | 17° | 22° | 27° | 30° | 30° | 26° | 18° | 11° | 5° |
| Kennett Square rain | 76 | 75 | 94 | 97 | 98 | 125 | 125 | 120 | 112 | 111 | 87 | 106 |
| Lancaster rain | 72 | 72 | 87 | 95 | 100 | 122 | 122 | 113 | 117 | 112 | 83 | 99 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Lancaster month guides.
Kennett Square to Lancaster: questions travelers ask
How far is Kennett Square from Lancaster?
Kennett Square is about 55 km (34 mi) from Lancaster in a straight line, with Lancaster to the north-west. By road, we estimate 66–77 km (41–48 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Kennett Square to Lancaster?
An estimated 50 min – 1 h 30 min, assuming 66–77 km of road at average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Kennett Square to Lancaster?
Our Philadelphia, Longwood & Lancaster itinerary includes this leg. Philadelphia, Longwood & Lancaster runs about 5 days across 3 stops, best in Late Nov – Dec.
Getting to Kennett Square
Guides for both ends
- Kennett Square travel guide
- Kennett Square weather best time to visit
- Lancaster travel guide
- Lancaster weather best time to visit
Lancaster by month
Plan Kennett Square → Lancaster with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.