It was a nice Sunday and we decided to take our first drive with our new guidebook, “National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways: The 300 Best Drives in the U.S”. The ride along PA 772 described in the book is a nice way to spend an hour or more depending on what you like to stop for.

You will see quite a few Amish once you get to Lancaster County. Be careful and on the lookout for the black buggies, smaller carts, farm wagons, scooters, etc. Remember you are sharing the road with the Amish and others who live here.

But first you must get to Lancaster County. From my house in West Chester, PA, there are several ways of getting to Intercourse, PA which was the new part of the trip for me. I suppose for anyone in the SE Pennsylvania Philadelphia suburbs, it would be similar.

But I get on US Route 30 West in the village of Frazer and quickly get on the by-pass that takes me around Exton and past Downingtown, Coatesville and quite a few other places where I would be constantly slowed down by traffic and stoplights.

After 30 minutes or so, the expressway ends, and Route 30 once again is highway with 2-4 lanes in various places. Sometimes the traffic gets pretty heavy but most times that I’ve traveled that way it is not bad until you get much closer to the city of Lancaster.

Also on Route 30 after the expressway has ended, you’ll leave Chester County behind and enter Lancaster County. You may notice the sign that tells you that and you may also notice gas prices drop. Route 30 goes over the mountain into Gap and everyone in the car (even the driver) gets a good look at some very impressive scenery.

But if traffic is bad you may want to cut over to PA 340 (Old Philadelphia Pike) before you get to Gap. PA 10, which comes up shortly after the expressway ends, will take you there (just go right or north off 30 West and left when you get to 340). 340 will take you into Intercourse where you will cross PA 772 and pick up this drive.

But if you choose to go via Gap, just follow Route 30 until you get to PA 772 (Newport Road). As soon as you leave 30, it gets much quieter and there are farms all around you.

This first leg of PA 772 will take you into Intercourse and the road joins 340 briefly. There is a stop sign at the intersection and you will need to make a left. (340 doesn’t stop but those on 772 do.) You will be on 340 very briefly and will pass Kettle Village (a shopping stop for some).

Immediately after Kettle Village, 772 will go off to the right. The turn is marked but I almost missed it. 772 continues for about another 30 miles with quite a few turns. They are well marked so the route is easy to follow.

The road goes through the town of Lititz. Lititz has a town square on 772 with a historic Moravian church and a historical foundation and museum. There is much to see in Lititz but it was Sunday and nearly everything was closed.

PA 772 continues though Mannheim and Mt. Joy and ends just before Marietta at PA 441. If you continue straight you’ll enter Marietta. If you go north you’ll end up near Middletown and Harrisburg where you can enter the PA turnpike. If you go south you’ll hit US 30 on the east side of the Susquehanna and return to Lancaster.

Since I’ve retired and moved to PA, we find ourselves taking several drives per year in the Amish countryside of Lancaster County. This ride along 772 was new to me and we plan on repeating it and spending a bit more time with some of the attractions which were closed during our Sunday drive.

For a more information on Amish country of Lancaster County, please see http://www.padutchcountry.com