Charter Bus from Philadelphia to Longwood Gardens | Philly Charters

Route Overview: Philadelphia to Longwood Gardens

Longwood Gardens is at 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348, roughly 30 to 35 miles southwest of Center City Philadelphia in Chester County. Plan on 45 to 60 minutes by motor coach in normal conditions; December holiday-lights weekends can extend that to 75 minutes as US-1 backs up near the garden entrance.

Highway routing

The standard coach route from Center City is:

• I-76 West (Schuylkill Expressway) to I-476 South (Blue Route)
• Continue to US-1 South (Kennett Pike / Baltimore Pike) toward Kennett Square
• Longwood Gardens entrance is on the right side of US-1, 3 miles northeast of Kennett Square borough

An alternate approach from South Jersey uses I-95 South through Delaware to DE-52 North / PA-52 (Kennett Pike), which meets US-1 at the Longwood intersection. This is the shorter drive for groups originating in Wilmington or Cherry Hill.

Scenic value

The US-1 corridor through the Brandywine Valley and Chester County horse country is one of the more scenic charter approaches in the region, passing through stone-wall farm country, covered bridges, and the Wyeth family's Chadds Ford area. Photography groups and garden clubs consistently rate the drive as part of the experience.

What to Expect at Longwood Gardens

Longwood Gardens is a 1,100-acre public botanical garden founded by industrialist Pierre du Pont, featuring 20 outdoor gardens, 20 indoor gardens in the 4-acre Conservatory, fountains, meadows, and a signature Italian Water Garden and Main Fountain Garden.

2026 operating season

Longwood operates on a date-based timed-admission calendar with these general 2026 windows:

• Mar 27 - May 7: Open Wed through Mon (closed most Tuesdays). Spring Blooms season — daffodils, tulips, flowering trees.
• May 8 - Oct 25: Open Mon, Wed, Thu core days; Fri through Sun for weekend admission. Summer Festival of Fountains (illuminated fountain shows with music) runs June through September.
• Oct 26 - Nov 15: Open Wed through Mon. Chrysanthemum Festival in the Conservatory — the largest display of its kind in North America.
• A Longwood Christmas: Late November through early January. Half a million lights outdoors, holiday floral displays and evergreens indoors, timed evening admission is required and sells out weekends far in advance.

Ticketing and reservations

Longwood uses date-and-time-specific timed admission for all visits. A Longwood Christmas evening admissions frequently sell out 4 to 8 weeks in advance for weekend slots. For group charters, we recommend purchasing group timed tickets before finalizing the bus quote so the itinerary matches the admission window.

Food on-site

The Cafe at Longwood serves seasonal quick-service; 1906 Restaurant offers full-service dining and requires reservations (especially during A Longwood Christmas). Many charter groups pair a garden visit with dinner in downtown Kennett Square, 3 miles away.

Parking & Motor Coach Drop-Off

Longwood Gardens offers free parking in a large surface lot. Motor coach drop-off is handled at the main visitor center entrance loop, after which the driver moves the coach to the designated bus and RV parking area. Longwood staff direct coach traffic during peak-season weekends.

A Longwood Christmas coach logistics

Evening arrivals during A Longwood Christmas require extra planning. Coaches arriving during the 3:00 to 5:00 PM peak window can wait 10 to 20 minutes for the drop-off loop; we advise groups to depart Philadelphia early enough to arrive 30 to 45 minutes before the timed-admission window opens. Return pickup at 8:30 to 9:30 PM is typically smooth.

Driver amenities

The town of Kennett Square (3 miles south on US-1) has an active downtown restaurant scene — the Kennett Square Inn, Portabello's, and multiple casual spots serve dinner during the driver's park-side wait. Longwood also provides a driver waiting area near the coach lot with restrooms and vending.

Pricing Guide: Philadelphia to Longwood Gardens

Charter pricing depends on vehicle class, total driver hours, and season. Rough 2026 ranges for a round-trip Philadelphia-to-Longwood charter:

• 6-hour daytime visit: $950 - $1,350 for a 56-passenger motor coach; $750 - $1,050 for a 32-passenger mini coach.
• Evening A Longwood Christmas trip (5 to 7 hours): $1,050 - $1,550 for a motor coach; $850 - $1,250 for a mini coach. December weekend surcharges may apply.
• Extended-day corporate offsite (8 to 10 hours with dinner stop): $1,450 - $2,150 for a motor coach.
• Executive Sprinter transfer: $650 - $950 for a 14-passenger van, 4 to 5 hours.
• Stretch limo anniversary transfer: $550 - $850 depending on package length.

Admission tickets to Longwood Gardens are separate and are paid directly to the garden. Fuel surcharge may apply during high fuel-price periods; driver gratuity of 15 to 20 percent is customary.

Booking Timeline & Peak Windows

Longwood charter demand tracks the seasonal display calendar:

• Spring Blooms (late March - May): Weekend and Mother's Day peak. Book 4 to 6 weeks ahead.
• Summer Festival of Fountains (June - September): Illuminated evening fountain shows on Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Book 3 to 5 weeks ahead.
• Chrysanthemum Festival (mid-Oct - mid-Nov): Senior group weekday peak. Book 4 to 6 weeks ahead.
• A Longwood Christmas (late Nov - early Jan): Peak of the year. Evening weekend admission sells out 4 to 8 weeks ahead — book the garden ticket first, then the bus.

Weekday off-peak dates (April Monday through Wednesday, July midweek, January) are often available same-week. Call (267) 223-4647 for real-time availability.