Austin Rutland's Three-Day Bucks County Fall Itinerary

The route: Styer Orchard in Langhorne, Van Sant Covered Bridge, New Hope

Start with a little fresh air and finish with a very good reason not to rush dinner. 

Get into the season at Styer Orchard: Make Styer Orchard in Langhorne your first stop before settling into New Hope. Wander into the orchard for pick-your-own fruit when available, or catch a hayride out to the trees. What’s ready to pick changes throughout the season, so check the orchard’s current offerings before you go. Consider this your invitation to trade the usual road-trip snack for something straight from the source. 

Find your first fall frame at Van Sant Covered Bridge: Continue toward New Hope with a stop at Van Sant Covered Bridge in Solebury Township. Spanning Pidcock Creek near Bowman’s Hill, this wooden bridge brings the storybook scenery before you’ve even checked in. Take in the creek setting and surrounding trees, then leave room for more covered-bridge exploring tomorrow. 

Settle in at River House at Odette’s: Austin stayed at River House at Odette’s in New Hope, an upscale hotel with guestrooms and suites, on-site dining, and river-view spaces. Make it your home base for two nights of countryside exploring and coming back to the Delaware River.  

Take a sweet detour to Nina’s Waffles: Head into the quaint shopping center of Peddler's Village for Nina’s Waffles, where Liège waffles meet handcrafted ice cream. It’s a small stop with main-character energy, and a delicious excuse to slow your stroll through town. 

End the day at Odette’s: Keep dinner close to home at Odette’s, the restaurant at Austin’s hotel. With steaks, seafood, and comfort-food favorites on the menu, there’s plenty to turn your first evening into a proper occasion. 

The route: New Hope, Solebury Orchards, Loux Covered Bridge, Cabin Run Covered Bridge, Frankenfield Covered Bridge, New Hope 

Today is for orchard air, creek crossings, and the kind of scenery that makes the drive part of the destination. 

Spend the morning at Solebury Orchards: Head to Solebury Orchards on Creamery Road, just outside New Hope. The farm grows apples and other fruit, offers pick-your-own experiences during summer and fall, and sells orchard favorites including apple cider. When apple picking is available, give yourself time to wander the rows rather than simply fill a bag. Check current picking details and opening days when choosing your trip dates! 

Follow the covered bridges north: Build the rest of your outing around three more of the region’s covered bridges: 

• Loux Covered Bridge: Set in a small scenic valley on Wismer Road in Plumstead Township, Loux crosses Cabin Run Creek. It’s a lovely place to begin the afternoon’s backroad exploring. 
• Cabin Run Covered Bridge: Continue to this bridge on Covered Bridge Road, also in Plumstead Township. It spans the same creek downstream from Loux, giving you another perspective on the county’s historic countryside.
• Frankenfield Covered Bridge: Finish the bridge portion of your drive at this longer span over Tinicum Creek. Its wooden structure and creekside setting make a fitting finale to an afternoon spent chasing Pennsylvania fall.  

Treat these as a countryside outing, not three quick stops between other plans. Leave space for the roads connecting them, then head back to New Hope for an unhurried evening. 

Make the evening your own: Return to the river, revisit a favorite corner of town, or settle into another meal.  

The route: New Hope, Fonthill Castle in Doylestown, Peddler’s Village in Lahaska 

One last day with two very different ways to feel transported. 

Explore Fonthill Castle: Head to Doylestown for Fonthill Castle, the former home of archaeologist and tile-maker Henry Chapman Mercer. Its concrete architecture, intricate tilework, and richly detailed interiors make this a cultural stop with plenty of personality. Give the castle room in your day rather than squeezing it between other attractions. Review current tour options and arrange your visit ahead of time.  

Linger at Peddler’s Village: Continue to Peddler’s Village in Lahaska, where winding brick pathways connect locally owned shops, restaurants, gardens, and charming 18th-century-style buildings. 

Browse without a mission, stop for lunch, and find something you didn’t know you needed. During the annual Scarecrows in the Village display, handcrafted creations add an especially playful layer to the fall scenery. Check the current event calendar to catch the display during your visit. It’s a fitting last stop for a getaway built around slowing down. (Though nobody said it has to be your last Pennsylvania fall trip.) 

A Little More Fall, If You Want It: There’s always another winding road, storybook town, or golden-hour view waiting around the bend in Pennsylvania. One itinerary could never hold all this fall magic, but if you’re not quite ready for the story to end, here are a few more places to let it unfold:

• For another view near Van Sant: Pair the bridge with Bowman’s Hill Tower for a different perspective on the countryside. 
• For more New Hope wandering: Browse Main Street’s shops and galleries, look for vintage finds at Night Bird Vintage and Love Saves the Day. 
• For golden-hour river views: Add a stroll on the New Hope–Lambertville Bridge.  
• For a scenic drive: Work River Road or Cuttalossa Road into your countryside exploring and let the scenery be the point. 
• For more culture in Doylestown: Choose the Mercer Museum, Michener Art Museum, or Moravian Pottery & Tile Works to extend your museum outing.  

You’ve seen the scenery, and you’ve got the stops. Now give that “someday” getaway a date. Pennsylvania fall is ready for its close-up, so come see it for yourself.