In order to organize your visit to the Covered Bridges of Chester County they have been put in a sequence which makes getting from one to the other as easy as possible. Interestingly enough the Bridges, in several instances, are located near each other, which makes them even easier to find. The sequence starts in the eastern end of the County, right on the border of Delaware County, with Bartram's bridge. The other option is to start at the southwestern part of the County, just over the Maryland State line and work to the east, visiting the Glen Hope Bridge first.

This bridge is not open to traffic, however it is just off the road and is in excellent condition since it is maintained jointly by Chester and Delaware Counties.

An easy starting point is the intersection of Rt. 1 Media Bypass and Rt. 252. Go north on Rt. 252 to Newtown Square. Pass through Newtown Square to the first traffic light. This is Goshen Road. Turn left and follow to the bridge. Coming off the PA Turnpike or from Philadelphia on I-76 (the Schuylkill Expressway) get on Rt. 202 south at Valley Forge. Look for the Paoli exit, Rt. 252 on the left. Take this exit and follow Rt. 252 through Paoli. The second traffic light after Paoli will be Goshen Road. Take a right and follow to the bridge, which is a mile and a half on the left.VALLEY FORGE DAM - KNOX BRIDGE 1851 - 1865 / 1865 - 1996

Having visited Bartam's Bridge, above, go back on Goshen Road and travel to Rt. 252. Take a left and go north on 252 until it runs into Rt. 202. Get on and off 202 almost immediately at the Devon exit. Exit and go north on Valley Road (see directions below to reach Bridge).

Start at Rt. 1 and the intersection of Rt. 202 and proceed north to the Devon exit of Rt. 202....or start at the intersections of I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway) and the PA Turnpike at Valley Forge and Rt. 202 and go south on 202 to the Devon exit.... Either way go north on Valley Road which is also Rt. 252 and enter Valley Forge Park. When approaching a sharp fork take a left. This is Valley Creek Road. Follow until you come to the Bridge which is at the intersection of Yellow Springs and Valley Creek Roads. (This Covered Bridge was reconstructed in 1996. )

From the Valley Forge Dam-Knox Bridge stay on Valley Creek Road to the first intersection and traffic light. This is Rt. 23 or Valley Forge Road. Take a left and follow through Phoenixville (Nutt Street) Look on left for Rt. 113 or Kimberton Road. Take a left and watch on left for Rapp's Dam Road. Take a left on Rapp's Dam to bridge. (Repaired 1996) If going direct to Rapp's Bridge start at the intersection of Gulph Road and Rt. 202 which is at the King of Prussia shopping center. This is just north of the PA Turnpike, Valley Forge exit, and the Schyulkill Expressway. Take Gulph Road north until it turns into Rt. 23, then follow above directions to bridge.

While visiting Rapp's Bridge and in the village of Kimberton there are two other Covered Bridges nearby; Kennedy's Bridge and Sheedar-Hall Bridge, both in excellent condition and worth seeing.

Pick-up Seven Stars Road in Kimberton just off Rt. 113. If traveling north on 113 take a left on Seven Stars Road and drive about two miles to the bridge.

Back in Kimberton look for Pughtown Road. Go west on Pughtown Road for several miles. Look left for an old abandoned stucco building. This is the crossroads of Pughtown and Hollow Roads. Turn left on Hollow Road and follow to the bridge. Hollow Road runs between French Creek and Pughtown Roads. (Repaired 1996)

To reach this bridge from the opposite direction: Take Rt. 100 north from Rt.1 or RT. 30. Several miles past Ludwig's Corner on 100 is Pughtown and the Pughtown Road. Take a right and go east for about five miles. Just past Nottingham Drive on the right, is Hollow Road as described above. Take a right to the bridge.

Having just visited the Sheedar-Hall Bridge, it is convenient to continue westward to Larkin's Bridge in Marsh Creek Park. This is another of our historically precious Covered Bridges which is not open to traffic. It is difficult to find and reach. There is no path to hike across 300 yards of field into some woods to find this Covered Bridge. It was moved when the Marsh Creek Reservoir was created, otherwise it would be sixty feet under water!

LARKIN'S BRIDGE 1854 - 1881/ 1881 - 1972 - 1996

Coming from Sheedar-Hall Bridge return on Hollow road to Pughtown Road and take a left. Follow Pughtown Road to Rt 100 and turn left. Follow 100 to the town of Eagle. At a blinker light on the right is Little Conestoga Road. Take a right and follow over then under the PA Turnpike to the top of a hill where there is a butane storage facility, on the left. This is Milford Road. Take a left and go down a hill past Lakeview Road. Look left over a field into some woods for this bridge which is partially hidden.

Another approach to Larkin's Bridge is from Downingtown and Rt 30: Take Rt. 282 north from Downingtown and wind your way to a point just prior to the entrance to Marsh Creek Park. Look right for Dorlan Mill Road. Turn left over the Brandywine and go to a fork in the road. Take the left fork, this is Moore Road. Follow to Park Road. Take a right to a blinker light and take a left on Little Conestoga Road. Then follow the directions above.

Pick-up Rt. 322 off the Rt. 30 bypass or old 30 in Downingtown and follow south along the Brandywine Creek. Look to the left after passing under steel railroad and over concrete bridges slow down and you will see Gibson's Bridge which is at the intersection of Harmony Hill Road and Rt. 322.

If you are coming north from Rt. 1 on Rt 202 pick-up Rt. 322 just past West Chester and follow, looking to the right for Harmony Hill Road and Gibson's Covered Bridge.

Coming from Gibson's Bridge on 322 you can go north to Downingtown and pick-up old Rt.30, west or 30 Bypass and proceed west to Coatsville. Here you will pick-up Rt. 82, south. (it is called Doe Run Road below Coatsville.) Follow this road until you cross Buck Run stream. The next road on your left is Covered Bridge Road. Take a left and go to the Bridge. If you miss Covered Bridge Road, the next road id DuPont. Take a left to Covered Bridge Road, then a left to the bridge.

This bridge can also be reached from West Chester. Follow Rt. 322 to the west end of the town and where it forks, go left on Rt. 162. Continue on 162 until it turns left. Go straight and you are now on Strasburg Road. Follow this road west and cross over the Brandywine Creekuntil you come to Frog Hollow road on your left. (This is just opposite Hephzbiah Road and a cemetary...just prior to The East Fallowfield School on your left) Turn left on Frog Hollow Road and follow to the Speakman's Bridge. Continue on this road bearing right and you will come out on Rt. 82.

The next two bridges are open to horseback and foot traffic only. They are in Laurel Lands which are part of the Brandywine Conservancy and can only be reached by hiking about a mile over a beautiful trail. This trail is open only from 9:AM to 5:PM Wednesday through Sunday and visitors are subject to Conservancy rules. Chester County is fortunate to have these Bridges as part of an overall program for open land conservation.

On Rt. 82 two miles south of Covered Bridge Road (Speakman's Bridge) over Doe Run Creek and past Doe Run Village is Apple Valley Road on the left. There is an old School House just off Rt. 82. Take a sharp left at the school down a dirt road to a parking lot. From here you walk to the bridges.

Approaching from the south you can pick-up Rt. 82 as it intersects Rt. 1 just above Kennett Square and go north to these bridges.

There are two more bridges to be visited on the Octorara River which is the western border for more than half of Chester County which adjoins Lancaster County. Mercer's Bridge is the first one.

Start on Rt. 30 bypass going west (there are a number of ways to get to 30 bypass covered in previous directions) Go to the end of the bypass where Rt. 10 intersects. Take a left and go south on Rt. 10 through Parksburg. Several miles past Parksburg, at the top of a hill, on the left, look for a church. This is the intersection of Highland Road. Take a right and follow Highland past Rt. 41 and continue past a stop street. Where the road takes a sharp left, take a sharp right. This is Baileys Crossroads. Take the right and continue one mile to the Bridge.

To get to the next group of bridges from Mercer's Bridge go back to Rt. 41, take a right and go south. The next three Bridges are close to each other and a visit to them is suggested before going to Pine Grove Bridge on the Octorara River. 

Get back on Rt. 41 and go south and proceed to Rt. 10. Take a right onto 10 and follow to Rt. 472 which you will meet in the middle of the town of Oxford. Go five miles to where 472 (now Hickory Hill Road) takes a sharp left. Stay left on 472 and the first road after the sharp left is Kings Row Road. Turn left and go about a mile to the bridge.

If you want to reach this Bridge from Rt.1 (north or south) look for the Rt. 472 Oxford exit. Follow the directions above from Oxford.

From the Linton Stevens Bridge return to Rt. 472 and go north to where 472 takes a sharp right. At this point turn left onto Hickory Hill Road. (do not turn left onto Media Road which also branches off at this intersection.) Follow this road two miles to Glen Hope Bridge. If coming south on 472 (Hickory Hill Road) from Rt. 1 through Oxford follow five miles to where 472 takes a sharp left. Go straight as this is a continuation of Hickory Hill Road and leads to the Bridge. (Do not take a right on Media Road.)

From Rt. 1 through Oxford on Rt. 472 proceed five miles to where 472 takes a sharp left. Continue on 472 for eight miles to a stop sign where 472 takes a 90 degree right turn. Do not turn with 472, instead, go straight. This is Camp Bonsul Road. The bridge is one mile.

Again the start is from Rt.1 near the Maryland State line. Look for the Nottingham exit (Rt. 272). Take 272 only a few blocks until opposite the Herrs Potato Chip factory. This is just past the Nottingham Inn. Look for Old Forge Road and take a left, follow to the first cross road and bear left, this is Forge Road. You will pass over Rt.1 and go through a stop sign. The bridge is four miles from Rt. 1.

While some of Chester County's Covered Bridges are on very remote roads or not on roads at all, we hope these directions will make finding them an adventure in history and beauty while traveling through the magnificent rural countryside. While bridge hunting there are many other attractions on the routes to the Bridges. This includes The Chester County Tourist Information Center at Longwood Gardens on Rt.1 where personalized help is available. Take time to relax and enjoy all the wonderful things to do in Chester County, including overnight lodgings in a quaint Bed & Breakfast or a modern Hotel.