Lancaster County: Amish Farmlands, Museum Tour, Farm Visit

Lancaster’s Amish country is easiest to understand when you see its farms, roads, schoolhouses, and everyday details together. This three-hour experience does that in three parts: a guided ride in a small 14-passenger bus, a room-by-room farmhouse tour, and free time on a 15-acre farm.

I like the small bus because it keeps the ride more personal than a big coach tour, and I like the chance to sit in an Amish schoolhouse and handle real schoolbooks. The farm also gives you time to wander at your own pace, meet baby goats and alpacas, and try a scooter run.

The main thing to consider is the setting of the farmhouse. It dates to 1805, but it sits beside a Target shopping center rather than out in open farmland, and some of the house information overlaps with the bus commentary.

Key points to know before you book

• A 90-minute country drive takes you past Amish farms, homes, one-room schoolhouses, and roadside stands.
• The 1805 farmhouse tour explains Amish clothing, religion, family life, and history, with written translations in 17 languages.
• The 15-acre farm includes animals, local artisans, an Amish schoolhouse, and the only Scooter Run mentioned for this attraction.
• Food is available to buy, including baked goods, ice cream, root beer, pretzels, whoopie pies, and BBQ chicken dinners.
• The $38 price covers the three-part experience, but food, drinks, hotel transport, and purchases cost extra.
• Plan for stairs inside the farmhouse, and contact the operator ahead of time if you need a wheelchair-accessible bus.

Start beside Target, then leave the shopping center behind

The meeting point is easy to find on Lincoln Highway, Route 30, between the American Music Theatre and Target. The Amish Farm and House is the large gray farmhouse next to Target, with free parking in both front and rear lots.

That location may sound odd for a tour about rural life. The farmhouse itself was built in 1805, while Target arrived around 2005. Once you are on the bus, the retail setting fades quickly, but keep your expectations sensible: this is a visitor attraction in a commercial area, not a remote farmstead reached by a quiet country lane.

The full experience lasts about three hours. The bus portion takes roughly 90 minutes, followed by the guided house tour and about an hour of free time at the farm. Timing can vary, so I would avoid planning a tight lunch reservation immediately afterward.

The 14-passenger bus is the best way to see the countryside

The first major part of the tour is a guided ride through Lancaster County. You sit in a climate-controlled 14-passenger vehicle while the guide points out Amish farms, houses, one-room schoolhouses, and the surrounding countryside.

That small vehicle matters. You get a closer look than you would from a large motor coach, and the guide can explain what you are seeing as you move along the rural roads. Guides named Tim, Charles, Jerry, Sherry, and Amanfa have all been singled out for friendly, clear commentary and safe driving. The exact guide depends on the departure.

Keep your camera ready, but remember that the bus keeps moving for much of the ride. One useful expectation is that this is a viewing tour, not a long series of farm visits. You see the countryside from the road and make stops connected with local products and crafts.

The commentary covers Amish life and the surrounding area. Guides explain the role of farms, homes, schools, clothing, and religious customs, giving you a basic framework before you enter the farmhouse. Several guides have been praised for answering questions, so this is a good time to ask about details you notice outside.

Roadside stops bring in the local food

The bus portion includes a stop at a roadside stand or local shop, where you may find homemade baked goods, fresh ice cream, cold root beer, pretzels, fruit, vegetables, furniture, quilts, and other Amish-made goods. The exact stop can vary, and the amount of time available may feel short if you want to browse carefully.

This is one of the more enjoyable parts for me because it connects the scenery with something you can taste or take home. A freshly made pretzel, ice cream, or baked item turns an otherwise observational tour into a more hands-on outing. You can also see the workmanship in quilts and furniture, which adds another side of Amish culture beyond farming.

Bring cash. Food, drinks, crafts, and souvenirs are not included in the $38 admission, and roadside farm stands are closed on Sundays. If buying local produce is a priority, avoid scheduling this tour on Sunday or ask in advance what stops are operating.

The main drawback is pace. One visitor found the bus ride excellent but wished there had been more time at the roadside stops, and that is a fair warning. You will need to choose between browsing, eating, taking photographs, and staying with the group.

Inside the 1805 Amish farmhouse

After the country drive, you take a guided, room-by-room tour of the original farmhouse. The building dates to 1805 and was once occupied by an Amish family.

The house helps make abstract ideas more concrete. Instead of hearing only about Amish customs, you see the rooms and hear how religion, clothing, family life, and daily routines fit together. The guide also explains Amish history and beliefs in plain terms.

For visitors from outside the United States, written translations are available in 17 languages. The live guide speaks English, but the written material helps you follow the tour if English is not your first language.

This portion is more structured than the farm visit. You move with the guide, and the information comes in a set sequence. Some of it may repeat points from the bus commentary, especially basic explanations of Amish life. If you already know a great deal about the Amish, the house may feel introductory rather than highly specialized.

You will climb a flight of stairs inside the house. There is no elevator, so this is important for anyone with limited mobility. The attraction is wheelchair accessible overall, but you should contact the operator in advance if someone in your party needs a wheelchair-accessible bus.

The house is the part that requires the clearest expectations. It is historic, but it is not an isolated farmhouse in the countryside. It stands beside a modern shopping center, and that contrast may surprise you. For many people, the value lies in the interpretation and the access to the rooms, not in the setting alone.

A 15-acre farm where you set the pace

The final part is a self-guided visit to a 15-acre farm. This is the loosest and most family-friendly section of the experience because you are free to walk around, stop for food, watch the animals, and spend your time as you wish.

You may meet baby goats, chickens, alpacas, and Max, a Scottish Highland steer. The animals add a welcome change after the seated bus tour and indoor house visit. If young children are in your group, this is likely to be the part that keeps them happiest.

The farm also includes local artisans and an Amish one-room schoolhouse. Inside the schoolhouse, you can sit at Amish desks and look through real Amish schoolbooks. That detail gives the visit more substance than a simple petting farm. It shows how children’s education fits into the Amish community and lets you see the plain, practical setting for yourself.

Then there is the Scooter Run. You can ride real Amish scooters, similar to the scooters used by Amish children. It is an unusual feature and gives children, and willing adults, something active to do rather than simply observe.

One point to keep in mind is the scale of the animal area. The property has several kinds of animals, but it is not presented as a large zoo or extensive petting park. If you are hoping for many animals or a long animal-feeding session, you may find the selection modest. Feeding is not described as a standard included activity, so do not assume you can feed them.

Most people spend about an hour here. I would use the time to walk slowly, visit the schoolhouse, try the scooters, and leave room for lunch.

Amish food, from pretzels to BBQ chicken

Food is available for purchase during the experience, but it is not included. At the farm, the Amish BBQ Barn serves chicken dinners and Pennsylvania Dutch foods such as whoopie pies. David King and his family prepare the grilled chicken, and BBQ ribs have also been available.

The food can turn this into a convenient midday stop, especially if you have not arranged lunch elsewhere. Prices have been described as reasonable for the portions, and the homemade pretzels, BBQ, and other Pennsylvania Dutch items are among the more memorable edible parts of the visit.

You can also find baked goods, ice cream, and root beer at roadside stops. Carry cash so you are not limited when something catches your eye. Since the tour does not include meals or drinks, budget a little extra beyond the $38 ticket.

I would not book this experience solely as a food tour. The food works best as a pleasant addition to the countryside, farmhouse, and farm visit. If you want a full sit-down meal with a fixed menu, check what is operating on your date before relying on the BBQ Barn.

What the $38 admission is really buying

At $38 per person, the price is reasonable if you want a broad introduction rather than one narrow activity. You get the guided bus ride, the farmhouse tour, and access to the 15-acre farm. A similar day assembled from separate stops could require more driving and more planning.

The strongest value comes from the range of experiences. In three hours, you see the countryside from the road, receive historical and cultural explanations, enter an old farmhouse, visit a schoolhouse, meet animals, and have time for food or shopping.

The price is less compelling if your main goal is a quiet, untouched farm setting. The farmhouse is beside Target, the bus stops may feel brief, and the farm is a managed visitor site rather than a private Amish home. You are paying for organized access and interpretation, not solitude.

The overall rating is 4.3 from 322 reviews, and the most consistent praise goes to the guides. Tim is noted for his humor and detailed explanations, Charles for making the bus ride fun and informative, and guides such as Jerry, Sherry, Amanfa, and Debbie for their friendly presentation. The guide can shape the experience, so expect the tone to vary slightly by departure.

Who will enjoy this Lancaster tour most

I would recommend it to first-time visitors who want a clear introduction to Amish life without driving unfamiliar roads. It works especially well for families, overseas visitors, and anyone who wants several activities in one booking.

Children have the animals, scooter ride, schoolhouse, and ice cream. Adults get the social and religious context, the farm scenery, and the chance to buy local food and crafts. The climate-controlled bus also helps on hot, rainy, or chilly days.

The tour suits you less if you want extensive walking through open farmland, private access to Amish homes, or a highly specialized history lecture. It also may not fit well if stairs are difficult or if you dislike scheduled group movement.

The tour runs rain or shine. In severe weather, the local partner will contact you, but you should still dress for changing conditions and wear shoes suitable for walking around the farm. Video recording is not allowed, so plan on still photographs only.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a practical three-hour introduction to Lancaster’s Amish country, with transportation, interpretation, a historic house, animals, and food options all in one place. The bus guides and the schoolhouse are the strongest reasons to choose it.

Go in knowing that the farmhouse is next to Target, the roadside stops may be short, and the farm is a public attraction rather than an untouched rural homestead. With those limits in mind, $38 is a fair price for the variety and convenience.

Choose a weekday if you want the best chance of finding open farm stands, and bring cash for pretzels, ice cream, crafts, or BBQ. If you need accessible transport, contact the operator before booking rather than assuming every departure uses the accessible bus.

FAQ

How long does the Amish Farm and House experience last?

The experience lasts about three hours. The guided bus ride takes approximately 90 minutes, and most people spend about an hour at the self-guided farm, with the farmhouse tour taking place between those portions.

What is included in the $38 price?

The price includes the guided Amish countryside tour in a climate-controlled 14-passenger van, the guided Amish farmhouse tour, and access to the farm visit. Food, drinks, hotel transportation, and purchases are not included.

Is the farmhouse tour available in languages other than English?

The live tour guide speaks English. Written translations for the farmhouse tour are available in 17 languages.

Is the experience wheelchair accessible?

The attraction is wheelchair accessible, but you should contact the local partner in advance if anyone in your party needs a wheelchair-accessible bus. You will climb a flight of stairs inside the farmhouse, and there is no elevator.

Are food and drinks included?

No. You can purchase items such as baked goods, ice cream, root beer, pretzels, whoopie pies, and BBQ chicken dinners during the experience. Bring cash for food and other purchases.

Can I take videos during the tour?

No. Video recording is not allowed. The experience takes place rain or shine, although the local partner will contact you if there is severe inclement weather.