Things to do / Travel Guide
Philadelphia Public Transportation - SEPTA
As Philadelphia is ranked among the top walking cities in the U.S, visitors should take advantage of this easy-to-walk-around city. Furthermore, Philadelphia sports an excellent public transportation system. If you arrive by air to the city, a car simply might not be necessary. Renting a car is a good option if you want to take day trips to Pennsylvania Dutch Country, shopping trips, or visit historical Revolutionary and Civil War sites. While car rentals are relatively inexpensive, parking is not.
The subway is the fastest, cheapest, and most direct way to reach main Philadelphia destinations. If you'll be moving around the city a lot on any particular day, you can purchase an unlimited all-day pass on public transportation. In addition to the subways, many buses and local trains run regularly throughout the city and outlying areas of Philadelphia.
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) operates buses and streetcars which run throughout the Center City area and the suburbs. SEPTA also runs a subway-like public transportation rail service throughout Philadelphia that consists of five different lines which link up to Amtrak trains and other rail services that leave the state of Pennsylvania. Virtually all points of the city and suburbs are linked together by SEPTA; either by rail or light rail service or connecting bus service. And from March-November, the purple Phlash bus (on which senior citizens can ride for free) runs between 20 major sites in Center City.
If you choose to rent a car, or arrive in your own, realize that driving in the city can be challenging. Finding parking spots, in particular, is not easy, and often costs more than $10 an hour in a garage, or over $3 per half hour in metered areas. Additionally, Philadelphia's numerous one-way streets can be frustrating for drivers new to the city.
Hailing a taxi may be a good alternative - they're numerous and relatively inexpensive.
Bus from Philadelphia to Lancaster, Pennsylvania
A car is necessary if you want to explore the rest of the eastern Pennsylvania region. Getting out of Philadelphia doesn't necessarily mean less traffic, especially if you're headed for Pennsylvania Dutch Country. The roads of Lancaster County can be crowded and everything moves at a slower pace, due as much to the gawking tourists as to the horse-drawn buggies.
Trains and buses serve most of the central and southern areas of eastern Pennsylvania, with Amtrak serving Harrisburg and Lancaster and Capitol Trailways, among many other transport companies, going to Scranton and Reading.
Poconos Bus to Philadelphia
Several companies, including Greyhound and Martz Trailways, serve Mt. Pocono and other towns in the Poconos. Besides connecting the Pocono towns, they also provide bus service to Philadelphia and beyond, to New York City and Atlantic City.
Train from Philadelphia to Lancaster and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Amtrak Metroliner service connects Washington DC with New York City, and the route runs right through Philadelphia. Trains are generally scheduled to leave from Philadelphia every half hour to New York and Washington DC. Amtrak Keystone service links New York City with Harrisburg, and cuts right across Philadelphia. Trains travel through Philadelphia on their way to New York City or Harrisburg every two hours. The train from Lancaster to Philadelphia runs frequently and takes about 75 minutes.
Traveling between cities by bus or train can be complicated and time consuming though, so getting around by private or rental car is the recommended mode of travel outside of Philadelphia.
Driving in Eastern Pennsylvania
The condition of eastern Pennsylvania's roads can sometimes be a problem, and during the summer, weekends, and holidays there can be heavy traffic. If you plan to rent a car for a road trip in the Pennsylvania Dutch area, consider arriving by plane either to Harrisburg, the state capital, at the Harrisburg International Airport (MDT), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP), or Allentown/Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE). The latter two airports serve the northeastern part of the region and enable drivers to avoid the heavy traffic around Philadelphia.
Philadelphia, Lancaster, the Poconos, Eastern Pennsylvania
Getting-Around
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