This Flower Road Trip Through Pennsylvania Is the Ultimate Spring Adventure

Pennsylvania is known for its finicky weather, but there's one thing we can always count on. All those rainy days of late winter and spring mean an abundance of beautiful flowers that decorate the landscape throughout the warmer months. One of my favorite parts of the season is seeing the first flowers that spring up in my yard; that means the warm weather and new adventures are on their way. Is there any better adventure than a road trip? Not likely. When the wanderlust hits, hit the road on this incredible Pennsylvania flower road trip.

Plan Your Pennsylvania Flower Road Trip

Ready to hit the road on an epic spring adventure? Pack your bags (and lots of snacks!); gas up the car, and don't forget your camera. Here are the Google Maps directions for this flower road trip through Pennsylvania. Customize it to meet your needs and interests by adding or removing stops. Whatever you do, have fun!

1. Lancaster County Central Park – Lancaster

Let's kick off our road trip at Lancaster County Central Park, where you can easily spend an entire day if you have the time. Start your visit at the Garden of Five Senses, where you'll stroll past colorful flowers and a waterfall. The park offers a full menu of fun beyond the flowers, too, including trails, picnic tables, and a skate park. It's even home to a covered bridge, making it one of the most enchanting stops on everyone's spring road trips in Pennsylvania.

2. Trexler Nature Preserve – Schnecksville

Our next stop brings us to Trexler Nature Preserve, a breathtaking natural area that's best explored on one of its trails. At just over four miles, the Trexler Border Trail takes about 2.5 hours to complete, but it will take you past fields of wildflowers, over footbridges, and to scenic vistas that boast breathtaking views. For a shorter hike, take the 1.2-mile, easy Covered Bridge Trail via Park Road, where you may see wildflowers growing along the riverbank.

3. Hope Hill Lavender Farm – Pottsville

Stroll past rows and rows of lavender at Hope Hill Lavender Farm, which is typically open from April through August with limited hours the rest of the year. (Always check before heading to any attraction to confirm the days and hours.) Stop to smell and take photos of the lavender; meet the resident farm animals, and browse the farm shop at this Pennsylvania flower farm.

4. Hershey Gardens – Hershey

We'll head to the 23-acre Hershey Gardens next. The gardens feature a variety of flowers, from daffodils to tulips, depending on the season. One of its defining features is the tulip garden, which features more than 24,000 flowers. The one-mile path that meanders through the gardens is wheelchair accessible. Peak bloom is in April, so check the Hershey Gardens website and purchase tickets before you arrive.

5. Country Joy Flowers – Elizabethtown

If you want to pick flowers, our next stop is the place to do it. Country Joy Flowers is a u-pick flower farm, featuring some of the most magnificent flower fields in Pennsylvania. However, this is one stop that will only be doable if you're traveling during the summer. Generally open from early July through late September, u-pick ends at 11 a.m. in the summer due to the heat. For a flat fee, you can fill a two-gallon bucket. Visit the Country Joy Flowers website for U-pick season dates.

6. Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve – Conestoga

Our final stop brings us to Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve. Wear comfy shoes for your journey along one of the trails that wind through this 70-acre natural area, home to around 70 types of wildflowers, including violets and Virginia bluebells. It's one of the most magical places to see Pennsylvania wildflowers in spring.

Best Time To Take This Pennsylvania Flower Road Trip

April and May, when it's peak season for spring flowers in bloom, is perhaps the best time to take this road trip. This is when bluebells, phlox, and other spring ephemerals offer blankets of color in gardens, fields, and along trails. June is when the late-spring/early-summer flowers, including foxglove and mountain laurel, bloom. Depending on what wildflowers you would like to see will determine when to take this road trip.

What To Know Before You Go

Using the Google Maps directions to the best places to see flowers in Pennsylvania, the driving time is roughly 4.5 hours with over 193 miles. You may want to take this route over the course of two or three days so you can take your time to enjoy each spot. You'll also want to wear comfortable shoes for hiking and strolling through gardens. And before you slip behind the wheel on your next spring adventure, make sure you've packed everything you need with Only In Your State's road trip essentials packing list.

What do you think of this flower road trip through Pennsylvania? What other stops would you add? Looking for more springtime fun? Check out some of the best things to do in Pennsylvania in spring.