Discover beautiful farms, horse-drawn plows, farm stands with fresh produce, the oldest girls’ boarding school in USA, an old pretzel bakery, and a chocolate factory.
The Amish Drive is a short drive from Gap to Marietta on Route 772. The 35-mile drive runs through the center of Amish country in Lancaster County. The Amish religion started in Switzerland in the 16th Century. They use horses instead of tractors to plow their fields, which gives the land a distinguishing appearance. Drive west out of Gap toward Intercourse. Here you can view the shops and galleries at People’s Place.
After shopping in Intercourse, you reach the town of Litiz. On your way, you’ll pass many farm stands with fresh vegetables, fruit, cheeses, cider, and butter. Litiz is home to the Moravian Church, constructed in 1746. This small town has several interesting local sites, as well as Linden Hall, the oldest girls’ boarding school in the country; the Sturgis Pretzel House, the oldest pretzel bakery in the country; the Litiz Historical Society; and the Candy Americana Museum and Wilbur’s Chocolate Factory. Route 772 intersects farm country until it dead ends on the Susquehanna River, one hour later, in the town of Marietta.
Editor’s Note: Don’t expect to find a thick concentration of Amish buggies or other indications on the entire route, as their lives are quite different from the media portrayal. One vacationer recommended the place around the town of Intercourse, where route 340 crosses route 772 as a good spot.
Starting Point:
Gap, PA
Distance of Drive:
35 miles
Must Eat:
Garfield’s Restaurant
222 Eden Road, Lancaster, PA 17601
Phone: 717-569-5454
Call ahead to confirm hours of operation.
Good Stop For: Home style cooking
Best Time of Year for Drive:
Year round
Points of Interest on Drive:
Sturgis Pretzel House
Linden hall
Moravian Church
Litiz Historical Society
Wilbur’s Chocolate Factory
Tagged with: best time:yearround • Pennsylvania • scenic spots
Filed under: Best Road Trips