Great Places for Summer Picnics Near Philly

Tinicum Park in Bucks County is a great spot for a summer picnic

Summertime and the livin’ is easy. Or so the song goes. But this summer so far in the Philadelphia area has been a little chilly and rainy. The plants and trees surely need the rain, as we were headed for drought territory. If you are stuck inside on a rainy day just wishing you could be outside, here are some great places to think about going for a summer picnic.

Who doesn’t love a summer picnic? Fresh food. Grilling. Lawn games. Kids running around laughing. Summer picnics are always a nice getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. There are tons of great places for Summer picnics near Philly.

Here are a few great places to pack a picnic lunch, maybe take a hike, and then feast under the sunny, blue sky.

Pennypack Park. The parking area off of Pine Road has picnic tables in a large grassy area. Pennypack is a favorite spot for many Philadelphians looking for green space, so know there might be some competition for picnic spots. The parking lot fills up quickly on the weekends with those out for a hike or bike along the Pennypack Trail. The trail offers lovely views of the Pennypack Creek.

Wissahickon Valley Park. The area surrounding the Upper Trails of Wissahickon Valley Park near the Thomas Mill Covered Bridge has a smattering of public picnic tables. Friends of the Wissahickon is a non-profit organization that stewards the land in the Wissahickon Valley. They have both a website and an App that detail the locations of picnic spots. Go here for more info.

Most state parks have picnic areas and are easy to locate. Some nice ones nearby include: Evansburg State Park, Fort Washington State Park, and Ridley Creek State Park.

Another place near Philly that comes to mind as having nice spots for picnics are Tinicum Park in Bucks County, which sits along the Delaware Canal State Park & Towpath. This park has expansive outdoor space, including a disc golf course. But there are tons of picnic tables just waiting to host you.

One final spot for a small picnic lunch is at the trailhead for the Rocky Run Trail at the Wawa Preserve in Delaware County. It’s a Natural Lands Trust site and there’s a single picnic table at the trailhead. It’s the perfect spot for some Wawa hoagies after a hike along the picturesque creek.