Self-Launched Philadelphia & Amish Country Day Trip from NYC
1 days · Philadelphia & Lancaster County, USA
Empire Vacations charges £117
No-markup version: ~£94 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of Empire Vacations' one-day NYC-to-Philadelphia-and-Amish-Country coach tour. Instead of a 6:30am group bus with multi-language guides, you take Amtrak or a budget bus from Manhattan to Philadelphia, walk the Independence National Historical Park sights for free, then use SEPTA regional rail plus a local Lancaster shuttle or buggy operator to reach Amish farm country in the afternoon. All entrance-free sights, self-paced, and roughly a third of the tour price.
Day-by-day
NYC → Philadelphia historic core → Lancaster County Amish country → NYC
New York / Philadelphia / Lancaster County
Start early from Manhattan. Take the 6:45am Amtrak Keystone or Northeast Regional from New York Penn Station to Philadelphia 30th Street (~1h20, book in advance from about £20-40; a cheaper alternative is a Megabus/FlixBus/Greyhound from Port Authority or 34th St, ~2h, from £12-20). From 30th Street take SEPTA Market-Frankford Line east to 5th Street/Independence Hall (~£2). Walk the free Independence National Historical Park: Liberty Bell Center (free, no ticket needed), Independence Hall (free timed tickets from recreation.gov — book a few days ahead), Congress Hall, and Old City's cobbled Elfreth's Alley. Grab a cheesesteak or hoagie lunch at Reading Terminal Market (~£10-14). Then head back to 30th Street and take SEPTA regional rail (Paoli/Thorndale Line, ~£5-6) or an Amtrak Keystone (~£9) to Lancaster, ~1h10. In Lancaster, book a locally-run Amish buggy ride direct with one of the farm families or a small Lancaster operator (~£20-28, self-bookable online or by phone) — this replaces the tour's included buggy ride. Explore an Amish farm market (e.g. Central Market or a rural farm stand) for handmade goods and a slice of shoofly pie. Return to Philadelphia and then New York by evening bus or train (last departures around 8-9pm).
🚌Amtrak Keystone/Northeast Regional NYC–Philadelphia ~1h20 (from ~£20 advance, ~£40 walk-up) or Megabus/FlixBus/Greyhound from ~£12-20; SEPTA subway/regional rail for local legs (~£2-6 each); optional Amtrak Philadelphia–Lancaster ~£9 or SEPTA Paoli/Thorndale line ~£5-6.
🛏No overnight needed — day trip. If you'd rather stay over, the Apple Hostels of Philadelphia dorm runs about £30-38/night.
- →Liberty Bell Center (free)
- →Independence Hall (free timed ticket via recreation.gov)
- →Congress Hall & Independence National Historical Park
- →Walk Elfreth's Alley
- →Panoramic wander past Benjamin Franklin Parkway & the Rocky Steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
- →Reading Terminal Market lunch
- →Self-booked Amish farm buggy ride in Lancaster County (~£20-28)
- →Amish farm stand / Central Market shopping
Self-launched vs. Empire Vacations
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Empire Vacations | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£94 | £117 |
| Duration | 1 days | 1 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £23 per person (20%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Empire Vacations-style trips? Check them out here.~£94
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Philadelphia & Amish Country Day Trip from NYC cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £94 per person for 1 days in Philadelphia & Lancaster County, USA. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Empire Vacations?+
Yes — Empire Vacations charges around £117 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £94 — a saving of roughly £23 (20%) per person.
How long is the Philadelphia & Lancaster County, USA trip?+
This itinerary runs 1 days, covering 1 day-by-day stops through Philadelphia & Lancaster County, USA.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, city-breaks, foodie trip through Philadelphia & Lancaster County, USA, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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