Start your engines (but no speeding, please). 🚗 Grab your friends. And pack some snacks. It’s almost time for the Amazing Race to Brandywine (that’s not really a speed race, but you get the gist).

Benjamin Ring House (Washington's Headquarters) at Brandywine Battlefield Park, starting point for Amazing Race to Brandywine — Benjamin Ring House (Washington’s Headquarters) at Brandywine Battlefield Park

In honor of America 250, the Brandywine Battlefield Park Association is hosting a road rally unlike anything you’ve done around here before, and it’s happening right in our backyard on May 16.

To learn more about the event, I stopped by the Brandywine Battlefield Park and met up with Marketing and Events Manager Robin Baker and 250th Strategic Events Coordinator Sarah Mash as we walked the grounds.

Details of the Amazing Race to Brandywine

To participate, you and your crew pile into a car, pick up your printed directions (yes, analog 🗺️ no GPS hand-holding), and set off on an untimed driving rally that follows the route of the British flank maneuver during the Battle of Brandywine. It’s the path of the surprise move that caught Washington’s troops off guard on September 11, 1777, and turned the tide of the largest single-day battle of the American Revolution.

Along the way, you’ll stop at four historic sites tied to colonial life and the battle itself. Some of the locations offer access not always granted to the public on regular visiting days.

At each location, costumed interpreters, including Revolutionary War soldiers and colonial civilians in full historical dress, will be on hand to make the history feel real. They have planned engaging events at each location, some with a hint of friendly competition.

Gideon Gilpin House, with Painter’s Folly in the background

They also have a trivia contest judged at the end with prizes donated by a solid lineup of local businesses.

Plan on roughly two hours behind the wheel, though how long you actually spend completing the full rally depends on how deep you go at each stop. With reenactors on site, lingering is encouraged. The rally wraps up at the Brandywine Battlefield Visitors Center, right where it started!

This is a one-time event, created specifically for America 250. Don’t pass it up if you’re interested, because there’s no catching it next year.

Staggered start times run from 9 AM to 5 PM, with each slot open to eight cars, so you’ll have room to actually enjoy each stop. Pre-registration is required, and spaces are limited, so don’t wait to snag your spot.

This event is for families, history buffs, and anyone who’s ever driven past the battlefield and thought, “I should really learn more about this someday.” Someday is May 16. Grab your best driving gloves and get ready to travel back in time to celebrate 250 years of the United States of America.