Doylestown

Understand

The region was the province of the Lenni Lenape tribe of the Delaware Indians prior to the colonization by European settlers. Doylestown and Bucks County remains widely regarded as some of the most beautiful countryside in Pennsylvania – and America! Today it also classified as one of the best places in the nation to raise your family. Doylestown is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 27 miles (43 km) north of Philadelphia. In 2018, the borough population was 8,300. The borough is the county seat of Bucks County.

Getting there

By car Doylestown is located at the crossroads of U.S. Route 202 and Pennsylvania Route 611. From Philadelphia, follow Interstate 76 west and take exit 331B to Interstate 476 north. Follow Interstate 476 north and pass through the Mid-County toll plaza onto the Pennsylvania Turnpike, taking the exit to Interstate 276 east. Follow Interstate 276/Pennsylvania Turnpike east and take the Willow Grove exit (exit 343) to Pennsylvania Route 611. Take the ramp to Pennsylvania Route 611 north. Continue north on Pennsylvania Route 611 and take the exit for Main Street. Follow Main Street north into Doylestown. From New York City, take Interstate 78 west into New Jersey. Take exit 29 to Interstate 287 south. Follow Interstate 287 south and take exit 17 to U.S. Route 202/U.S. Route 206 south. Continue to follow U.S. Route 202 south, crossing the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. In Buckingham, turn right to remain on U.S. Route 202 south. Turn right onto State Street and follow State Street into Doylestown. From South Jersey, take the New Jersey Turnpike north to exit 6. Take exit 6 and follow the Pearl Harbor Memorial Turnpike Extension across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. Continue west along Interstate 276/Pennsylvania Turnpike and take the Willow Grove exit (exit 343) to Pennsylvania Route 611. Take the ramp to Pennsylvania Route 611 north. Continue north on Pennsylvania Route 611 and take the exit for Main Street. Follow Main Street north into Doylestown. From points south such as Baltimore and Washington, D.C., follow Interstate 95 north into Pennsylvania. Take exit 7 to Interstate 476 north. Follow Interstate 476 north and pass through the Mid-County toll plaza onto the Pennsylvania Turnpike, taking the exit to Interstate 276 east. Follow Interstate 276/Pennsylvania Turnpike east and take the Willow Grove exit (exit 343) to Pennsylvania Route 611. Take the ramp to Pennsylvania Route 611 north. Continue north on Pennsylvania Route 611 and take the exit for Main S

Getting around

Doylestown is a very walkable town, with sidewalks and crosswalks for pedestrians. The town has the Doylestown Community Bike & Hike System, which consists of over 25 mi (40 km) of trails and side paths for pedestrians and bicycles serving both the borough of Doylestown and Doylestown Township. On-street parking and parking lots are available in the downtown area, allowing you to park the car and walk around town. Parking both on-street and in parking lots in the downtown area is regulated by parking meters, which are in effect Monday through Saturday from 9AM to 5PM. Parking is free during the evenings and all day on Sunday and holidays. Parking meters have either 3-hour or 10-hour limits depending on location; the 3-hour meters are $1 per hour while the 10-hour meters are $0.50 per hour. The Borough Hall offers 6-month parking permits for $50 that can be used at the 10-hour meters. All parking meters accept coins; smart meters accept coins in addition to payment with credit cards and the Parkmobile app. There are also free 15-minute parking spaces for people making a quick trip. On-street parking in downtown Doylestown consists of a mix of 3-hour meters, 10-hour meters, and free 15-minute parking spaces. There are 8 public parking lots that are available in the downtown area. The Plaza West parking lot at Hamilton and State streets uses the pay and display system for parking. The Dommel Way parking lot between Court and State streets has free 15-minute parking spaces and 3-hour meters. The Pine Street parking lot at Pine and State streets has 3-hour meters. The Plaza East parking lot at East Oakland Avenue and Donaldson Street has 3-hour meters. The Clinton Street parking lot at Clinton and West Court streets has 3-hour and 10-hour meters. The Bucks County Parking Garage at Broad and Union streets offers free parking 24 hours a day, with a free shuttle on weekday mornings and afternoons to the Justice Center. The Wells Fargo Bank Lot offers free parking from 6PM-2

See

Doylestown has a rich history, boasting cultural attractions from colonial times, to the early 1900s, to the present. Doylestown is a must-see for the history buff, the artist, and the student.

1 Mercer Museum, 84 South Pine Street, ☏ +1 215 345-0210, fax: +1 215 230-0823. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Tu 10AM-9PM, Su noon-5PM. Built in 1916 by the archaeologist, anthropologist, artist and scholar, Henry Chapman Mercer. The six-story concrete castle houses a personal collection of over 30,000 items that Mercer believed should be preserved before the Industrial Revolution took over. The huge central atrium of the castle houses a whale boat, Conestoga wagon and stage coach, amongst other large pieces. Working your way through the narrow hallways of the museum, you can find ancient gadgets, woodworking instruments, early examples of electricity and even a "Vampire Killing Kit." In one of the hidden stairwells, there are footprints from Mercer's dog Rollo, who must have escaped before the wet concrete could fully dry. This is truly an eccentric place to visit. There are nooks, crannies, niches and rooms with all kinds of tools and implements used in the early history of the colonization. It's a great place to go on a hot day, the concrete keeps the building quite cool. There is a gift shop with postcards, Mercer tiles, crafts, books and other souvenirs. The Mercer Museum was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1985 and achieved accreditation by the American Association of Museums in 2005.

2 Fonthill Museum, ☏ +1 215-348-9461. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM.. East Court Street & Route 313. Built between 1908 and 1912 as the home of Henry Chapman Mercer, as well as a gallery for his tiles and prints. Like the Mercer Museum, Fonthill is also a concrete castle and represents a mixture of Medieval, Gothic and Byzantine architectural styles. After Mercer's death in 1930, the housekeeper Laura Swain continued to give tours of the historic house and museum until she passed away in 19

Do

Doylestown is alive with events and attractions for visitors of all ages - young couples, families with kids and groups interested in the arts.

First Friday. The first Friday of every month 6:30PM-9PM. First Friday Doylestown features a night of live artists, bands and performers outside of Doylestown's local businesses. Shops and restaurants are open late to service the crowds of people walking around. Families, couples, and kids can walk the street of Doylestown while