Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway
Kennett Pike and Montchanin Road out of Wilmington into Pennsylvania's Brandywine Valley, past Hagley, Winterthur and Longwood Gardens.
Also known as Kennett Pike (Route 52) and Montchanin Road (Route 100)
Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source
- Length25.26 miles[1]The Delaware section is 12.25 miles, per DelDOT.
- Drive timeNot verified
- RoadsDelaware Routes 52 and 100[2]
- Start and endRodney Square in Wilmington to the Delaware-Pennsylvania line, continuing into Pennsylvania[2]
- Fees and passesNone for the byway[1]Museums and gardens along it charge admission.
- Best seasonNot verified
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesNot verified
- Seasonal closuresNot verified
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 22, 2026.
About the drive
The Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway starts at Rodney Square in downtown Wilmington and heads north on Route 52 (the Kennett Pike) and Route 100 (Montchanin Road) to the Pennsylvania line, then continues into Pennsylvania's Brandywine Valley.
It's a short drive packed with places to stop. DelDOT lists Hagley Museum and Library, Winterthur, Nemours Mansion and Gardens, Brandywine Creek State Park and Centreville village on the Delaware side, plus the Brandywine River Museum and Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania.
Most stops charge admission and keep their own hours, so plan your day around the two or three you want most.
Stops along the way
-
Longwood Gardens
Public garden in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.
-
Rodney Square
Where the byway starts in Wilmington.
-
Hagley Museum and Library
Museum at the du Pont powder works on the Brandywine.
-
Brandywine Creek State Park
State park along Brandywine Creek.
-
Winterthur
Museum, garden and library on Route 52.
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- KSQ Farmers MarketKennett Square, PA · about 2.7 mi from the route
- Anselma Farmers and Artisans MarketChester Sprgs, PA · about 8.5 mi from the route
- Media Farmers' MarketMedia, PA · about 11.3 mi from the route · listed as year-round
- Swarthmore Farmers MarketSwarthmore, PA · about 13.0 mi from the route
- Phoenixville Farmers' MarketPhoenixville, PA · about 13.2 mi from the route
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
Sources
- America's Byways: Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway (Delaware Department of Transportation) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).