Traveling to Philadelphia
If you’ve never traveled to Philadelphia before, then you may have some questions about the best way to get there, and how to get around the city while you’re there (including how to get to and from the ballpark). And we’ve got a ton of great answers for you. This chapter will cover how to get to and from Philly, and how to get from the airport or train station to wherever you choose to stay. The ensuing chapter on Local Transit will cover how to get to/from Citizens Bank Park.
In this chapter we’ll cover the following:
Flying to Philadelphia
PHL Airport
When it comes to airports, Philadelphia is pretty easy and straightforward: the major airport in the area, Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), is six miles from Citizens Bank Park and 10 miles from City Hall in Center City. The airport is located off of I-95 just south of Philadelphia and is easy to get to and from by rideshare, taxi, train, or bus (see more below).
There are other smaller airports in the area—Trenton (about 40 minutes from Philadelphia), and Atlantic City (about an hour)—but none of them are going to offer better flight options or be very convenient for a visit to Philadelphia.
In terms of other major airports, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is 87 miles away and Baltimore Washington Airport (BWI) is 105 miles away, so both are within an extended driving distance, but you’d need a very specific reason to endure that type of inconvenience.
Philadelphia International is a major airport, serving as a hub for American Airlines, which will have regular service from pretty much every major city, and direct service on carriers such as Delta and United from their hubs. It will also have direct service from many cities on carriers such as JetBlue, Frontier, and Spirit. Southwest offers nonstop service from nine cities, seven of which are home to MLB teams.
Bottom-line: Philadelphia International Airport is the easiest way to get here by air.
Transportation from airports to hotels
As mentioned above, there are several easy ways to get to and from the airport to where you’ll likely be staying in Philadelphia. As you’ll see in our Lodging chapter, we recommend staying in four main areas: right by the stadium in South Philly, in Center City, in Old City, or at the airport, depending on what you’re looking for out of your trip to Philadelphia.
The options may seem like it’s a lot to consider. While the below chart shows how you can utilize the different means of transportation (more details in the sections below), the rideshare/taxi option is our pick for the most convenient, as it’s easy to maneuver and almost always worth the price, which really isn’t outrageous.
The simplest and most direct way to get from the airport to your hotel will likely be via taxi or rideshare. For taxis, there is a flat zone rate from the airport to either Center City or Old City: $32, with a $1 additional surcharge for every additional passenger over the age of 12 (this surcharge only applies to trips originating at PHL, not for trips ending at PHL).
Depending on the time of day and potential surge pricing, the cost of a rideshare could be more or less, so check your app when you’re ready to go. If Uber/Lyft are less expensive than the fixed price of a cab, then book one. If not, walk to the taxi stand and you’ll be all set.
Typically it should be about a 15-30 minute ride to either Center City or Old City (less to the stadium complex), and obviously taking a car will allow you to get exactly where you need to go and you can skip navigating public transport.
Click the link in this text for more information about transit options from PHL.
Public Transportation
Philadelphia SEPTA / Regional Rail station sign
The Regional Rail will be the cheapest option (depending on how many people you’re traveling with), but you’d be giving up some convenience. Septa’s Airport line stops at each of the five airport terminals every half hour so you’re never waiting too long. The line then stops at each of the three major train stations in the city – 30th Street, Suburban Station (the most central train station) and Jefferson Station (closer to Old City), as well as going north to Temple University.
The price of taking the train ranges from $5.25-$8.00 depending on when you’re traveling and if you purchase the tickets on the train or at a kiosk/window prior to boarding. There are kiosks at the stations where you can buy your tickets, so I recommend doing that for the lower rate.
I’d really only consider the Regional Rail if I were staying in Center City, but even then it won’t be the easiest route. But if you’re traveling on a budget and would prefer to go this way, we consider the regional rail and subway to be safe options, and the mapping app on your phone will be able to lead you to your destination.
Click on the link in this text for more information on the options SEPTA offers for travel to Citizens Bank Park.
Taking the train to Philadelphia
If you’re traveling from anywhere in the northeast corridor from Washington DC to Boston, the train could be a good option.
You would arrive at the 30th Street Station (officially called the William H. Gray III 30th Street Station) and then be able to quickly get to anywhere you need to go. But once again, we’d suggest getting a rideshare or taxi from the station to your hotel instead of traversing the Market-Frankford subway line.
Taking a bus to Philadelphia
Greyhound Bus Philadelphia
Taking a bus to Philadelphia is an option if you’re coming from Baltimore, D.C. or New York.
Most bus lines are pretty cheap and easy to use. Most lines will drop you off at 30th Street Station (see the train section), but Greyhound and Peter Pan will drop you off in Center City (1001 Filbert St.). For 30th Street Station, see our above suggestions for getting to your hotel. For Greyhound and Peter Pan, you’ll already be in Center City, so it will make the most sense for you to go ahead and stay at a hotel in that area.
Renting a car
Renting a car is definitely not a necessity and it will largely depend on other aspects of your trip.
Do you want to tailgate in the parking lot before the game(s)? Are you taking a day-trip to the Jersey Shore? Or are you a history buff looking to go to Valley Forge or even out to Gettysburg? If so, then rent the car. But if you’re thinking that you need a car for a weekend of just staying in Philadelphia, you definitely don’t need one.
Center City and Old City are not impossible to drive around, but they’re not always easy to park in, and they’re very difficult to park in if you’re searching for free, non-metered parking. So if you do decide to rent a car, plan on parking in a garage and saving the headache.
Driving to Philadelphia
View of Citizens Bank Park from I-95
If you’re not too far away from Philadelphia and would rather drive to get here, then that’s a perfectly fine option. You can see the stadiums up close and personal from I-95.
If you’re staying in Center City or Old City, you should plan on parking in a garage. It’s the safe and reliable option and always knowing where your car is while you’re not using it is worth the extra expense. The Stadium Insiders do not recommend parking on the street overnight in Center City or Old City for safety/security reasons.
Bottom Line
If you’re coming by plane, then a taxi or rideshare is going to be your easiest way to get to your hotel. It’s always nice to be able to be taken to a specific address instead of navigating a train, train station, and subsequent mode of travel with your luggage, and given the limited distance between the airport and most of your likely destinations, the price of hiring a car just won’t be very expensive. Plus, at most times of the day, traffic shouldn’t be much of an issue.
