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From 1866-1872, the Jones family traveled in France, Italy, Germany, and Spain. After the family moved back to the United States (1872), they spent their winters in New York and their summers in Newport, Rhode Island. While her family was in Europe, she was educated by tutors and governesses. She rejected goals of fashion and etiquette that were expected from women at the time. Goals that were made so women would be able to secure a husband. Where they would then be able to be displayed at balls and parties. She felt that was superficial and oppressive. Wharton wanted more education than she received, so she read from her father's library and her father's friends' libraries.

Wharton began writing poetry and fiction as a teenager. In 1877, at the age of 15, she secretly had written a 30,000 word novella "Fast and Loose" along with some poetry. When she was 16 she had two poems published. One of them was in the Atlantic Monthly and Verses (which is a collection of 29 poems) was privately published by Wharton's mother in 1878.