There are more than 30 gardens and arboretums located within 30 miles of Philly for nonstop outdoor fun in the Main Line. It’s no wonder that the Philadelphia region is nicknamed the Garden Capital of America.

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Where To Find Arboretums and Gardens in Greater Philadelphia

Tyler Arboretum

515 Painter Road, Media

Tyler Arboretum is a place of natural beauty with 650 acres of preserved wetlands, gardens, and meadows with 17 miles of trails. Its history dates back to the time of William Penn. Lope along the trails and marvel at the landscape. Conveniently located just 25 miles from the center of Philadelphia, visitors have access to 110 acres.

Roughly 70,000 people visit each year. Tyler serves the Greater Philadelphia region through horticulture, education, and the preservation of natural lands. The Scenic Loop, open from April to November, includes treehouses, while the Pollinator Preserve celebrates butterflies (especially in August) and the native plants they need. The Edible Garden offers a teaching moment. Look for the children’s play area behind Luceille’s Garden.

Jenkins Arboretum and Gardens

631 Berwyn Baptist Road, Devon

Jenkins Arboretum and Gardens is a living, growing, vibrant classroom for people of all ages. The Arboretum and Gardens hours vary depending on the season. Entry to Jenkins Arboretum and Gardens is always free. Guided tours are available for a fee (the self-tour is always a freebie). Bring a picnic for enjoyment on the Tree Canopy Deck or the picnic deck. Just leave Fluffy, Fido, or other pets at home. Only certified service animals are permitted entry.

The gardens are on a steep hill, and the trails are either paved, woodchip, or turf. The garden map shares the turf style for easy planning. Stop by the Nature Education lobby to borrow a sensory backpack (for a fee). These backpacks include items such as a fidget toy, stuffed animal, noise-canceling headphones, and sunglasses.

Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College

500 College Avenue, Swarthmore

The 425 acres of the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College are a living memorial to Arthur Hoyt Scott (Class of 1895). Known as a “garden of ideas,” visitors walk through their gardens to admire nature, cultivate ideas for their own garden, or participate in their programs. Many of their programs are available in virtual format.

The Swarthmore gardens are open from dawn until dusk every day of the year. Entry to this Main Line garden is always free, and picnics are allowed (just carry out any trash). Leashed dogs are welcome. Look for parking near 500 College Avenue.

Chanticleer Gardens

786 Church Road, Wayne

Just 30 minutes away from Philadelphia, the 35-acre Chanticleer Gardens were part of the Chanticleer estate. It was the summer home of the Rosengarten Family in the early 20th century. Following the death of the son of the original family, the gardens opened to the public in 1993.

Chanticleer is seasonally open from Wednesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 5 pm. Parking reservations are required from Wednesday to Sunday until 3 pm, and then parking is first-come, first-served. A one-mile paved path winds through the garden. Service animals are permitted.

Stoneleigh

1829 East County Line Road, Villanova

 

Stoneleigh was once the home of three generations of the Haas family. It’s now a public Main Line garden with free admission. The garden is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm (except on Thanksgiving and Christmas). Guided tours of the main house and the garden are available for a fee, but require an advanced reservation.

Enjoy a 200-foot-long Pergola (it’s more than 100 years old) in the Beaux-Arts style, the same as the Free Library of Philadelphia. Don’t miss the cascading-edge Water Garden (find it in Catalpa Court), and the Circle Garden. Trails are made of pavement, pavers, or mowed grass. The easiest to navigate areas of Stoneleigh include the parking lot, the main house, and the Great Lawn Loop (although it is all generally flat). Take a seat and relax on any of the benches throughout the park. Service dogs are welcome.

Merion Botanical Park

100 Merion Road, Merion

 

At 13 acres, Merion Botanical Park isn’t the largest park on this list, but it is wonderfully maintained by a host of volunteers (and free). Lower Merion Township handles this park. Look for the relocated (and improved) stepping stones. They are now roughly 90 feet away from their original location.

Merion Botanical Park began in 1944 with the purchase of a vacant lot. Laura L. Barnes, one of the founding members, had already worked for 20 years developing the foreign species collection at Barnes Arboretum. Most of the park is lawn and features specimen shrubs and trees. Bird watchers can spot 85 bird species (bird nesting boxes are located throughout).

Longwood Gardens

1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square

 

Native Lenni Lenape tribe, Quaker farmers, and, later, the du Pont Family all called Longwood Gardens “home.” Members and ticket buyers are welcome at Longwood Gardens, with timed admission tickets required daily from open to close with advance purchase (the only exception is for Garden Premium members). Most of the garden paths are paved (and wide). Look at the Longwood Gardens map wheelchair route for the easiest pathway.

It takes three to four hours to enjoy the 200 acres in the Greater Main Line garden that’s open to the public. From open meadow to formal gardens, Longwood Gardens boasts over 10,000 varieties and species of plants. The sensory-friendly children’s garden provides 4,000 square feet of playtime fun. A bamboo maze, a dripping cave, and the hidden bugs delight the younger crowd.

Mt. Cuba Center

3120 Barley Mill Rd; Hockessin, DE

 

Mt. Cuba Center is over 500 acres of curated gardens about 45 minutes away from Philadelphia. This Delaware park is seasonally open, typically April through November, so plan ahead. Classes, however, are offered year-round. Pack a picnic or take advantage of light refreshments available on the property. Don’t miss the more than two miles of trails winding through some of the more than 1,000 acres. To get there, cross the bridge over Barley Mill Road.

The Mt. Cuba Center sensory guide helps park visitors know what to expect. Free adult and child sensory bags are available (but when they’re out, they are out). Find the easiest navigation along the paved pathways of the Formal Gardens, Trial Garden, and Woods Path. Gold cart transport is available, as are canes, walkers, and wheelchairs (again, first-come, first-served).

Barnes Arboretum

50 Lapsley Lane, Merion

 

The 12-acre Barnes Arboretum at Saint Joseph’s University is home to a horticulture school. Visitors can explore the grounds to learn about rare plants from May to October. Barnes Arboretum hours are Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 5:30 pm and 11:00 pm – 53:0 pm on Saturday and Sunday (unless the university is closed). View Google Maps for the most accurate opening hours for this Main Line garden. Entry is free.

Seek out the Laura L. Barnes Fern Dell, with almost 100 different types she planted in the 1920s and 1930s (some of which still thrive today). Other unique additions include the monkey-puzzle tree and the redwood. In the spring, enjoy the Lilac Garden and the Peony Collection.

Haverford College Arboretum

370 Lancaster Avenue, Haverford

 

The mission of the Haverford College Arboretum is to steward the College’s historic tree collection while fostering a connection between its 216-acre campus and those who work, visit, study, and reside there. Discover nine State Champion trees — eight of them are in or near Ryan Pinetum (an 18-acre site). It’s an amazing feature of this Main Line garden. The largest known and measured tree of its genus and species becomes the state champion.

Another notable and not-to-be-missed feature is the descendants of the Treaty Elm. C. Cresson Wistar (Class of 1865) gave the school seven American elm grafts descended from the original Treaty Elm. The original tree was where William Penn made a peaceful pact with the Lenni Lenape Nation in 1682. Find it behind Barclay Hall.

Marvelous Main Line Garden or Arboretum

Make a day of it. Bring a journal to take notes or a drawing pad to make sketches. Print out a scavenger hunt before you go, or pack a picnic (if the location allows for it). Check out Main Line ice cream parlors or restaurants after the garden tour or arboretum meandering to add to the fun.

Put wonderful weather to good use. Escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Visit a Greater Philly garden or arboretum for a well-deserved break. Then look for more Main Line events and family fun this week.

Lead Photo by R. Kennedy for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®.