Day trips from Berks County

Places outside Berks County worth the drive, for when you want to get out of the county and go do something. Each one shows how far the drive is from Reading, what it costs and when it’s open.

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Wilmington & Western Railroad

Wilmington & Western Railroad

Wilmington, DE · 1 hour 25 minutes from Reading

The Wilmington & Western Railroad is a heritage railroad in Wilmington, DE, running excursion trains from Greenbank Station through the Red Clay Valley behind antique steam and diesel locomotives and a 1929 Doodlebug railcar.

Pocono Whitewater Rafting

Pocono Whitewater Rafting

Jim Thorpe, PA · 1 hour 26 minutes from Reading · Over $50 a person

Pocono Whitewater Rafting runs guided raft trips on the Lehigh River from its base on Route 903 in Jim Thorpe, PA. Dam Release trips cover 12 miles of Class II and III rapids; Family Style trips cover 8 easier miles.

Sesame Place Philadelphia

Langhorne, PA · 1 hour 26 minutes from Reading · Over $50 a person

Sesame Place Philadelphia is a Sesame Street theme park and water park in Langhorne, PA. Rides, shows, parades and character meet and greets run through the day, with Halloween and Christmas events in the fall and winter.

Xfinity Mobile Arena

Xfinity Mobile Arena

Philadelphia, PA · 1 hour 26 minutes from Reading

Xfinity Mobile Arena is the home arena of the Philadelphia Flyers, the Philadelphia 76ers and Villanova men's basketball in South Philadelphia, PA. It also hosts touring concerts and family shows.

Mt. Cuba Center

Mt. Cuba Center

Hockessin, DE · 1 hour 27 minutes from Reading · $20 to $50 a person

Mt. Cuba Center is a botanic garden of native plants in Hockessin, DE, with gardens and nearly three miles of trails across 1,000 acres.

Otherworld Philadelphia

Otherworld Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA · 1 hour 28 minutes from Reading · $20 to $50 a person

Otherworld Philadelphia is an immersive art experience in Northeast Philadelphia, PA, with large-scale interactive art, mixed-reality playgrounds and secret passageways.

Mercer Museum

Mercer Museum

Doylestown, PA · 1 hour 29 minutes from Reading · $20 to $50 a person

The Mercer Museum is a six-story reinforced concrete castle in Doylestown, PA, completed by Henry Mercer in 1916 to hold his collection of pre-industrial American tools.

Michener Art Museum

Michener Art Museum

Doylestown, PA · 1 hour 30 minutes from Reading · Under $20 a person

The Michener Art Museum is an art museum in Doylestown, PA, built around a collection of Pennsylvania Impressionism, with touring exhibitions and art outdoors on its grounds.

Carlisle Sports Emporium

Carlisle Sports Emporium

Carlisle, PA · 1 hour 31 minutes from Reading · Under $20 a person

Carlisle Sports Emporium is a family entertainment center in Carlisle, PA, with indoor and outdoor go-kart tracks, laser tag, an arcade, two 18-hole mini golf courses and batting cages. It is open year-round, rain or shine.

Hotel of Horror

Hotel of Horror

Saylorsburg, PA · 1 hour 33 minutes from Reading · $20 to $50 a person

Hotel of Horror is a pair of haunted house attractions, Hotel of Horror and Altered Nightmares, inside the former Lake House Hotel in Saylorsburg, PA.

Great Wolf Lodge Maryland

Great Wolf Lodge Maryland

Perryville, MD · 1 hour 34 minutes from Reading · $20 to $50 a person

Great Wolf Lodge Maryland is an indoor waterpark resort in Perryville, MD, with a 126,000 square foot water park kept at 84 degrees year-round, plus a ropes course, mini golf, mini bowling, an arcade and a mirror maze under the same roof.

Shady Brook Farm

Shady Brook Farm

Yardley, PA · 1 hour 34 minutes from Reading · $20 to $50 a person

Shady Brook Farm is a working farm with a farm market, garden center and seasonal festivals in Yardley, PA. FallFest runs September 11 to October 30, 2026, and the Holiday Light Show follows from November 21.

Skirmish Paintball

Skirmish Paintball

Albrightsville, PA · 1 hour 34 minutes from Reading · $20 to $50 a person

Skirmish Paintball is a paintball park in Albrightsville, PA, in the Poconos, with more than 50 playing maps spread over 750 acres of woods, fields and creeks. It is open year-round for all-day play.

Peddler's Village

Peddler's Village

Lahaska, PA · 1 hour 35 minutes from Reading · Free

Peddler's Village is a shopping and dining village in Lahaska, PA, with more than 60 locally owned shops, restaurants, the Golden Plough Inn and Giggleberry Fair, a family entertainment center. Admission and parking are free.

Pocono Raceway

Pocono Raceway

Long Pond, PA · 1 hour 36 minutes from Reading · Over $50 a person

Pocono Raceway is a triangular motorsports track in Long Pond, PA, known as The Tricky Triangle. Its NASCAR weekend runs in June, and the track hosts driving experiences and free staff-led tours through the rest of the season.

Grounds For Sculpture

Grounds For Sculpture

Hamilton, NJ · 1 hour 44 minutes from Reading · $20 to $50 a person

Grounds For Sculpture is a 42-acre sculpture park and museum in Hamilton, NJ. The park counts more than 300 contemporary sculptures set among its gardens, with six indoor galleries of rotating exhibitions.

Maize Quest Fun Park

Maize Quest Fun Park

New Park, PA · 1 hour 44 minutes from Reading · Under $20 a person

Maize Quest Fun Park is a fall corn maze and farm fun park at Maple Lawn Farms in New Park, PA. A giant corn maze anchors what the park counts as more than 30 attractions, with pumpkin picking and apples on the same farm.

Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve

Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve

New Hope, PA · 1 hour 45 minutes from Reading · Under $20 a person

Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve is a native plant preserve in New Hope, PA. About 4.5 miles of trails pass more than 700 native plant species (the preserve's count), and its Native Plant Nursery sells natives for home gardens.

Sahara Sam's Water Park

Sahara Sam's Water Park

West Berlin, NJ · 1 hour 46 minutes from Reading

Sahara Sam's Water Park is an indoor water park in West Berlin, NJ, kept at 84 degrees inside, with an outdoor water park alongside on select days. Attractions include the FlowRider, Mount Kilimanjaro, Raging Rivers and Snake Eyes.