Scenic Drives in the Brandywine Valley

TO LONGWOOD GARDENS The Short Way

At the intersection of Rt. 100 and Rt. 926, take a left to stay on Rt. 100. Take your first left on to (Adams Dam Road). This will take you past Biderman Golf Course the top rated course in Delaware with exclusive membership of around 200. The road will wind about and ends at the Friends Meeting House on Center Meeting Road. Turn left onto Center Meeting Road and follow it to Rt. 52 at Centreville, De. If you are lucky, you might see the belted galloway cows on your right toward the end of the road opposite a beautiful estate. At Rt. 52 turn right and drive until you reach the intersection of Rt. 1. Turn left and proceed to the entrance of Longwood Gardens on your right.

TO LONGWOOD GARDENS The Long Way

At the intersection of Rt. 100 and Rt. 926, take a left to stay on Rt. 100. Follow Rt. 100. It will take you through some wonderful scenery and its a fun drive. If you’re here in the growing season, look for H. G. Haskell’s SIW vegetable stand when you pass Cossart Rd. It will be on your right. This is the

Barns-Brinton House

place to buy fresh vegetables (June thru Halloween). Follow on to Rt. 1 (Baltimore Pike) and Chadds Ford. Turn left on Rt. 1 heading south. Brandywine Prime at Chadds Ford Inn will be on your right as will Hank’s Place a Chadds Ford greasy spoon landmark. You’ll pass the Brandywine River Museum on your left, the Barns-Brinton House on your left at the entrance to Chaddsford Winery (left) and the Gables restaurant on your right further up the hill. Stay on Rt. 1 for about 6 miles and the entrance of Longwood Gardens will be on your right. There are signs along the way.

TO THE BRANDYWINE BATTLEFIELD, CHADDS FORD & THE BRANDYWINE RIVER MUSEUM At the intersection of Rt. 100 and Rt. 926 continue straight on Rt. 926. The Brandywine Springs Park will be on your right. Follow this road for about 4 miles or so. You will go down into a valley, over the Brandywine River and up a hill. At the crest of the hill there is a kink in the road after which you want to turn left on to Ramsey Rd. It will lead you back to the Brandywine River and as you approach the river you will have an excellent view of Granoque the duPont estate that sits atop a hill overlooking the valley. The road turns right and becomes Creek Rd. which leads you along the river bank and a picnic area to the newly rebuilt and covered, Smith Bridge, over the Brandywine.

At the bridge turn right on to Smith Bridge Rd. and take your first left on to Ridge Rd. Follow this wonderful winding road to Ring Road on your left (about 4 miles). At Ring Road turn left. This road will wind about and take you past Keurner’s Farm on your right, painted by Andrew Wyeth. Ring Road will end at Rt. 1 across from the entrance of the Brandywine Battlefield Park. Turn left to go to the Brandywine River Museum.