Nature Center Worth the Drive

Tyler Arboretum

650 acres of woods, meadows, and gardens across the PA line — paved paths near the barn, real trails past it.

515 Painter Rd, Media, PA 19063 · Tyler says roughly 30-40 minutes from Wilmington

Hours

9 AM – 6 PM

Show the week

Fri	9 AM – 6 PM
Sat	9 AM – 6 PM
Sun	9 AM – 6 PM
Mon	9 AM – 6 PM
Tue	9 AM – 6 PM
Wed	9 AM – 6 PM
Thu	9 AM – 6 PM

Last checked 2026-09-28

Cost: $18 (ages 18-64) adult · $10 (ages 3-17) child
Best for: Toddlers through elementary
Indoor / outdoor: Outdoor
Typical visit: Our estimate: about 2 hours for the paved core and a picnic, longer if you're hiking

Stroller friendlyBathroomsChanging tableShadeNot fencedNo food on siteEasy parking

10 upcoming events here →

The Quick Version

• 650 protected acres of woodland and seasonal meadows in Media, PA, with 17 miles of trails and historic buildings dating to the 18th century.
• It's a paid gate: $18 adults, $10 ages 3-17, free under 3. That's the real decision point for a Delaware family.
• Level and gently ramped access runs from the lot through the Visitor Center to the historic core; the paved Scenic Loop is mostly level with a few moderate grades.
• No dining on site. The Visitor Center sells drinks and snacks, and you're welcome to bring your own food to the picnic areas.

Best Ages

Toddlers through elementary

Plan For

Our estimate: about 2 hours for the paved core and a picnic, longer if you're hiking

Adults

$18 (ages 18-64)

Kids

$10 (ages 3-17)

What to Expect

Tyler is 650 protected acres of woodland and seasonally changing meadows, and the honest version for a Delaware family is that it's a paid gate at the end of a real drive. Tyler puts Wilmington at roughly 30-40 minutes. At $18 an adult, a family of four with two school-age kids is $56 before anyone buys an ice cream.

What you get is scale. Seventeen miles of hiking trails, seasonally changing gardens, stands of towering trees, and historic buildings going back to the 18th century. The site splits into two experiences. The paved core — Visitor Center to the barn, the historic buildings, the Pond, the ADA-compliant Scenic Loop, the Wister Rhododendron Garden — is where you'd take a stroller or a slow toddler. The Scenic Loop is mostly level, though it crosses stream bridges and has a few moderate grades.

Past that, the hiking trails are unpaved, and Tyler is straightforward that some areas involve moderate to steep grades. Reaching many of the plantings means walking on turf, grass, or mulch, so wear shoes you'd take on uneven ground.

Plan around the restrooms: they're at the Barn and the Edible Garden classroom by the Pond, and there are none on the trails. Bring lunch, bring water bottles, and give yourself enough time that the ticket price stops stinging.

Who It's Best For

Under 3 get in free, which changes the math — a toddler visit costs two adult tickets and nothing else. Little ones do best on the paved core: Visitor Center to the barn, the Pond, the Wister Rhododendron Garden. Elementary kids are the ones who'll actually use the 17 miles of unpaved trails. Treat the ages here as our read, not the arboretum's.

Highlights

The Scenic Loop

Strollers and short legs

Paved, ADA-compliant, and mostly level — the default stroller route. It does cross stream bridges and include a few moderate grades.

Wister Rhododendron Garden

All ages

One of the paved-path areas Tyler names, alongside the Visitor Center-to-barn walk and the Pond. Easy walking without leaving the garden side of the property.

Thoreau's Cabin, Fort Tyler, and the Tulip Tree House

Worth asking about at the Visitor Center

The three spots Tyler specifically lists as ADA-accessible. The arboretum doesn't publish much beyond that, so we can't tell you yet what's at each one.

17 miles of hiking trails

Elementary and up

The reason to come back. Unpaved and well-maintained — but no restrooms out there, so plan the loop before you start.

Logistics

Admission

Adults

$18 (ages 18-64)

Kids

$10 (ages 3-17)

Under

Free (age 2 and under)

Seniors 65+ and veterans with ID $15; students and active military with ID $10. AAA is $1 off for the cardholder only, and groups of 10+ save $3 each with two business days' notice. Pennsylvania ACCESS/EBT holders with ID pay $2 per person for up to four people (not valid for special events).

Membership tip: Members are free every day. If you decide mid-visit that you'll be back, show your receipt at the Visitor Center before you leave and Tyler applies what you paid toward a membership. Participating libraries also lend a pass covering four people on the days it's checked out.

Getting There

Parking

On-site lot, with level and gently ramped access through the Visitor Center to the historic core. Picnic tables sit just around the corner from the Visitor Center with easy access back to the lot. We haven't confirmed lot size or whether it fills on peak weekends.

Entrance

Visitor Center — where you pay, and where the drinks, snacks, and shop are. The shop carries children's nature books plus inexpensive toys and souvenirs.

Parent Logistics

Strollers Friendly

Bring the sturdy one. Tyler's own advice is that larger tires handle the rough terrain better than umbrella-style strollers. Paved surfaces include the Visitor Center to the barn, the historic buildings and Pond, the ADA-compliant Scenic Loop, and the Wister Rhododendron Garden — but access to many plantings is over turf, grass, or mulch, and some areas have moderate to steep grades.

Bathrooms

In the Barn (main floor through the white door under the ramp, plus the top floor when the loft is in use) and in the Edible Garden classroom, the red tiled building at the bottom of the hill by the Pond. There are no restrooms on the trails, so go before you hike.

Changing Tables

We haven't confirmed changing tables. Tyler lists restroom locations but doesn't say whether any have changing stations — assume the back of the car until someone verifies it.

Shade

Mixed, and we haven't verified it path by path. The property is woodland plus seasonal meadows with stands of towering trees, so the trails should be shaded and the garden and meadow areas open. Pack hats.

Food & Snacks

No food on-site. No dining facilities. The Visitor Center sells bottled drinks, energy bars, and snacks, plus ice cream in the warmer months.

Snack strategy: Pack a picnic — guests are welcome to bring food and drinks, and the tables are a short walk from the Visitor Center. No outside alcohol, and you're asked to carry your trash (uneaten food included) out or use the designated containers. Bring empty bottles: there's a fountain and bottle-filling station on the path toward the Cistern Garden, and another station in the Garden Education Building at Lucille's Garden.

Pro Tips

✓ Check whether your library lends a Tyler pass first — it covers four people on the days it's checked out.
✓ If you'll be back, ask the Visitor Center to roll your admission receipt into a membership before you leave. Members are free every day.
✓ Umbrella stroller stays home; Tyler's own guidance is that larger tires handle the terrain better.
✓ Bathrooms are at the Barn and the Edible Garden classroom only — none on the trails. Route your walk accordingly.
✓ First aid supplies are at the Visitor Center, and (610) 566-9134 reaches staff if someone gets hurt out on the property.

Questions parents ask

How much does Tyler Arboretum cost?

$18 for adults 18-64, $10 for ages 3-17, free for age 2 and under. Seniors 65+ and veterans with ID are $15; students and active military with ID are $10. Members are free every day.

What are Tyler Arboretum's hours?

April through October, daily 9 AM to 6 PM. November through March, daily 9 AM to 4 PM. Open every day except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

Can you bring your own food to Tyler Arboretum?

Yes — guests are welcome to bring food and drinks and use the picnic areas near the Visitor Center. No outside alcohol, and you're asked to carry your trash out or use the designated containers.

Is Tyler Arboretum stroller-friendly?

Partly. There's level and gently ramped access from the lot through the Visitor Center to the historic core, and paved paths include the Scenic Loop and the Wister Rhododendron Garden. But access to many garden displays is over turf, grass, or mulch, and Tyler recommends larger-tire strollers over umbrella-style ones.

Are there bathrooms on the trails?

No. Restrooms are in the Barn and in the Edible Garden classroom next to the Pond; Tyler notes there are no other restroom facilities on the trails.

When to Go

Best Time to Visit

April through October it's open daily 9 AM-6 PM; November through March, daily 9 AM-4 PM. Open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. We'd go in the morning in summer, mostly because a lot of the walking is over open ground.

Upcoming Events

Beyond the Fence Trail Hike

Oct 24 · Nov 21

$18 ticket — includes Tyler Arboretum admission outdoor

RSVP

Families can explore Tyler Arboretum's trail system on a leisurely 1-2 mile hike, learning navigation skills and making seasonal observations. The guided walk offers opportunities to pause, observe nature, and ask questions about the surroundings.