Amish Country: Where To Stay (3 Options)
Many people, when they visit Amish Country, want to stay as close to the Amish as possible. I’m going to give you three ideas on how to make that happen.
The first option, Amish farm stays, is the best of both worlds – doable, and as close-to-authentic as you can practically get, visiting without prior connections.
The second idea, a local inn or guest house, can also be a good option, depending on the location.
The third option, staying with Amish friends, takes more work and time, and won’t be possible for first-time visitors, but is actually the best of all.
1. Amish Country Farm Stays
You may have even wondered if you can stay with the Amish on their farms? Well it is possible, and especially in the largest communities. This option has some obvious pluses:
- About as close to the Amish as you can get (without staying in their homes)
- More “authentic” experience
- Price generally similar to local hotels and motel options
- You may have the chance for some interaction with the Amish owners
So there are three or four communities I’m aware of where this is possible. Now that doesn’t mean there aren’t others, but as you might guess, this option is more readily available in the larger communities.
Lancaster County Amish Farm Stays
First and foremost there is Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. This community has the widest selection of options for an Amish farm stay, and thanks to a website, is probably the easiest to arrange.
At amishfarmstay.com, you can learn more about each available property, including what amenities are available, and how much interaction you can expect with your Amish hosts.
Many of them provide farm tours, and you can expect different levels of interaction depending on the property, and how long you stay.
The properties technically aren’t all farms – some may be a guesthouse on the property of a non-farming Amish family. The Lancaster County area is highly agricultural however, so you’ll most likely be near actual working farms, if not staying directly on one.
- Note: in most cases, you’re not staying in the home of the Amish family, but in an adjacent guesthouse or similar accommodation on the property.
- Also note: the amenities can really vary. Some have full electricity and look quite modern; others are closer to how the Amish actually live. Check the property descriptions and photos to confirm you’re getting what you need.
One advantage of this option is that you can book your stay directly online, similar to booking.com or similar site.
Farm Stays in Other Amish Communities
Besides Lancaster County, Amish farm stays are available in the other large Amish communities such as Holmes County, Ohio, and northern Indiana (Shipshewana area). However, these may take a bit more work to find. There is no dedicated site comparable to amishfarmstay.com for these communities.
Searching for bed and breakfasts and guesthouses on tourism sites for each community should bear some fruit, however.
For example, at visitshipshewana.org, you can find the listings for places such as Hollow Ridge Lodging, described as “Amish owned, so you’ll have a first-hand experience with the culture. Plus, Katie makes homemade cinnamon rolls in the morning that will have you drooling!”
It’s possible to find Amish farm lodgings in smaller communities as well. Despite what some might assume, Amish do advertise online, often with the help of non-Amish people.
For example, Green Meadow Farm in the Arthur, Illinois Amish community describes itself as an “Amish family owned farm currently run by the 4th generation family.” It has its own Facebook page, and offers an on-farm camper for rent that sleeps up to nine people. The page notes that “we have people outside the community helping us with booking”.
Green Meadow also offers buggy rides and an Amish home meal can be arranged, which is another potential plus with some Amish farm stay offers.
2. Local Amish Country Inn or Hotel or Guesthouse
Not all Amish communities have the “farm stay” option. Outside of the largest, most tourist-oriented places, it’s not exactly common. In that case, you might want to opt for a local inn or guesthouse.
Pluses:
- Can be quite close to Amish farms and homes, even if not technically on Amish property
- Many Amish areas (especially smaller communities) don’t have Amish farm stay options, so this can be the closest you’ll get
- More “authentic” that staying at a chain hotel
Quite a few places advertise themselves using “Amish” or “Pennsylvania Dutch” in the name. Be aware, that may or may not mean you are in fact close to the Amish.
For example, in Lancaster County there is a place called AmishView Inn & Suites right in the heart of the community. You literally have an “Amish view” onto a working Amish farm out your room windows.
On the other hand, there is also a place in Lancaster County called Penn Amish Motel. It is located “in town” way up in the northern end of the county, near several major highways. It is a friendly mom-and-pop-style motel.
But while the Amish are still a relatively close drive away, it is a different experience from staying right next to an Amish farm. However, going by the name you might assume it is in the heart of PA Dutch Amish Country, which isn’t the case.
So the point is, if you want to stay as close as possible to the Amish, don’t just assume that if it has Amish language in the name or marketing, that it is smack dab in Amish Country. That may or may not be the case. So look into it before booking.
To find these places, besides the usual booking sites, tourism websites for the larger Amish communities typically list local lodging options, including many in this category.
3. Stay with Amish Friends
So this is the one that takes more “work” and time. You actually have to get to know an Amish family and get invited to stay in their home.
For most people making their first visit to Amish Country, this is, for obvious reasons, not going to happen. But if and when you do make connections with the Amish, this is an experience you’ll treasure.
I first stayed in an Amish home in Lancaster Country back in 2008. I had met Amish friends while doing my bookselling job in various communities around the country.
I wrote a letter to an Amish family who had bought a set of Bible story books from me, explaining that I’d be coming for a visit and simply asking if they might have a spare spot (I think I said I could sleep in the basement) for me for a few days.
I got a call back and message on the home machine, if I remember right, saying that would be fine. I stayed for several days and then came back and stayed again some time later. And then again and again.
At one point I lived with them for about two months. They became great family friends, and made several trips from Pennsylvania to North Carolina to visit my own family.
How to “make friends” with the Amish
It seems strange to write a section on “how to make friends” with someone, so I’ll keep this general.
- I don’t have any “secret tips” on this really other than treat Amish people like people. One translation of that is: don’t put them on a pedestal. That can feel awkward and inauthentic. They have flaws and human challenges too.
- And keep in mind that Amish folks enjoy being friends with non-Amish people as well. Naturally they may be interested in what life is like in your part of the country, just as you are in theirs.
- Also remember: Amish people, like anyone, have a sense of humor. So don’t be bashful about being funny (of course, tasteful humor).
- I will also add that most Amish families appreciate access to rides. So it’s a nice gesture to offer your “auto services” and suggest that you’d be happy to give them a ride somewhere – to the store, the doctor, the bank, whatever.
Keep in mind that Amish people do need to go farther than a buggy can comfortably or realistically go. Offering to help them knock out a bunch of errands is a gesture that will be appreciated.
Also keep in mind the alternative – paying an “Amish taxi” driver a rate of $1-2/mile (or more), and you’ll realize you can provide a really valuable service to someone.
Car trips with Amish passengers are a great time to get to know someone – not to mention you’ll learn about the community from true insiders.
Other Lodging Options in Amish Country
Besides these ideas, you can always stay at a local large-chain hotel, budget motel or other related options. There’s nothing wrong with that, and in smaller communities, these might be the only options.
Amish communities tend to be in more rural regions of the country, but that doesn’t mean “isolated”. Depending on the area, and closeness to things like the interstate highway or towns and cities, you will have some of these within driving range.
For more, see:
- Amish Country: Where to Go (25-Community Guide)
- Amish Country: Where To Eat (5 Options)
- Amish Country: Five Amish Stores (You should visit)
- Lancaster County vs. Holmes County: 7 Differences
- Amish Country: Eat a Meal in an Amish Home (2 Ways)
- My 5 Favorite Amish Communities
- The Five Friendliest Amish Communities
- 32-State Amish Community Guide
- What do the Amish think about tourism?
