Transportation
AETA International January 2011
Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, Oaks, PA
click here for private car or limo needs
Getting to the Philadelphia region is a cinch
Philadelphia is the second largest city on the East Coast and ranks fifth in the nation, with a metropolitan population of 5.8 million. Philadelphia is conveniently located in the middle of the Northeast Corridor, 100 miles south of New York, 133 miles north of Washington, D.C., and 55 miles from Atlantic City. More than 63 million people - approximately a quarter of the U.S. population - live within a 5.5-hour drive from Philadelphia.
But you don't have to drive; Philadelphia is accessible by car, train, bus, airplane and even cruise ship.
By car, the city is just two hours from New York City, 90 minutes from Baltimore, three hours from Washington D.C. and about an hour from Lancaster County, Atlantic City and the New Jersey shore via major highways.
Those who prefer someone else to do the driving can hop on Amtrak, which provides service along the Northeast Corridor and points west and south, or Greyhound, operating bus service throughout the region. Several popular Chinatown bus routes also connect Philadelphia with Boston, New York and Washington, D.C. for extremely wallet-friendly prices.
The Philadelphia International Airport, approximately seven miles from Center City, serves more than 25 airlines. Air travel to Philadelphia got a whole lot cheaper with the arrival of Southwest Airlines in 2004. Southwest offers daily nonstop flights from cities such as Chicago, Las Vegas, Orlando, Phoenix, Providence and Tampa Bay, etc. Travelers can also take advantage of direct or connecting service from 3 1 other destinations, such as Ft. Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Oakland, Houston and Seattle. Meanwhile, US Airways offers special GoFares starting at $39 one-way between Philadelphia and more than 20 popular U.S. cities!
Useful Info and Links:
By Plane
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is just seven miles from Center City. SEPTA's R1 line directly links the airport to Philadelphia's downtown for a fast, hassle-free connection. Philadelphia taxis charge a flat rate of $25 for travel between Center City and the airport. PHL is served by all major domestic carriers and is a major hub for US Airways. The New International Terminal features 13 new international gates, 56 U.S. immigration booths and more amenities to make your trip to Philadelphia as pleasant as possible.
Philadelphia International Airport, (215) 937-6800
Philadelphia International Airport Marketplace
US Airways
Southwest Airlines
By Train
Philadelphia is served by Amtrak, which operates rail service along the Northeast Corridor stretching from Boston to Washington, and other major cities in the United States and Canada. Amtrak's 30th Street Station is minutes from the Pennsylvania Convention Center and Center City hotels. Local train service is provided by SEPTA, which also connects to NJ Transit trains in Trenton, NJ en route to New York. NJ Transit trains also depart from 30 th Street Station for Atlantic City, NJ.
Travel Amtrak to Philadelphia and Save 40%
40% percent off for one companion traveling with a paid regular fare ticket on Amtrak travel to Philadelphia, PA. Request discount code V553 when you book online at amtrak.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL.
Valid for travel through December 13, 2009.
Amtrak.com, (800) USA-RAIL
SEPTA, ( 2 15) 580-7800
PATCO, (856) 77 2-6900
NJ Transit, ( 20 1) 76 2-5 100 (in NJ, (800) 772-2222)
By Bus
Intercity bus service is excellent, with daily arrivals from all parts of the country. The Greyhound Bus Terminal is located at 10th and Filbert Streets. Meanwhile, SEPTA's bus, trolley and subway service will take you anywhere you want to go in Southeastern Pennsylvania . NJ Transit buses service routes between Philadelphia nd South Jersey .
Greyhound Lines, (215) 931-4075
SEPTA, (215) 580-7800
NJ Transit, (201) 762 -5100 (in NJ, (800) 772-2222 )
Academy Bus Tours, (215) 665-1734
www.2000coach.com
By Car
To get to the convention center by programing your GPS, enter the intersection of Egypt Road and Station Avenue, Phoenixville, PA
(Oaks, PA has not made the GPS yet)
Philadelphia is served by the PA Turnpike (I-276), I-76, I-476, I-95, US-1 and the New Jersey Turnpike.
Click here for driving directions and parking information.
AAA, (215) 569-4411 (1-800-AAA-HELP outside of PA)
SmarTraveler
Live Traffic Map - Traffic Information
Philly Car Share - Why own when you can borrow? PhillyCarShare pays for insurance, maintenance, parking and even gas!
Parking Information
Ditch Your Car
One of the things that makes Philadelphia great is its compact Center City. Our downtown neighborhoods are so walkable that you really don't need your car. After arriving you can get around Center City and most of Philadelphia's eclectic neighborhoods easily on foot, via taxi or public transportation.
SEPTA also has a day pass that lets you ride the bus, subway and trolley all day for only $5.50. Visit www.septa.org for details, maps, schedules and more.
So if you're driving in to town, store your car in a garage upon arrival and get out there and experience the city.
Parking Lots and Garages
You can find everything you need about parking in Philadelphia at the Philadelphia Parking Authority's official website, www.philapark.org. Find a parking lot or garage near your destination (an attraction, hotel or neighborhood. You can type in a specific address or choose from a list of popular attractions. Then you can compare nearby garages by their hours and rates.
For example, if you selected Rittenhouse Square as your destination, the interactive parking finder would display these nearby results.
Meters and Smart Cards
Additionally, Philadelphia has over 7,000 metered and non-metered timed spaces in Center City. There are several thousand additional spaces throughout the city. Meter rates vary per hour depending upon whether the meter is in a central location. Meter times vary from 1 – 4 hours.
The Philadelphia Parking Authority recently upgraded the city's parking meters in order to provide more convenient meter parking for Philadelphia residents, businesses and visitors. All meters now accept both Smart Cards and coins. You can purchase Smart Cards online prior to arriving.
Please pay attention to the posted meter and regulation signs. The red signs will tell you when you can't park, the green signs will tell you when and how long you can park.
For more information about parking, visit the Philadelphia Parking Authority's website.
By Boat
A perfect place from where to set sail, Philadelphia is an extremely popular port for cruise vacations. More than 30 cruises a year depart Philadelphia for Bermuda and the Caribbean .
If you cruise from Philadelphia, your vacation can start even before you get onboard! Combine your cruise with a stay-over in Philadelphia and you can enjoy a day full of shopping, dining, sightseeing and more before you even begin your real vacation.
Philadelphia Cruise Terminal at Pier One