Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Hotels and City Guide

Philadelphia - Transportation

Getting around inside the city of Philadelphia is not difficult as long as you don’t have to find a parking spot for your car. Walking is a terrific way to maneuver around the city and see the sights. If your legs aren’t quite up to it, the PHLASH bus service or a taxi are great alternatives. The PHLASH bus provides stops at all the major tourist attractions, museums, and city highlights. SEPTA, the regional transit authority and entity responsible for commuter train service, offers an additional alternative to travel about the city. You will need to remember, however, that subway service is not available to the western portion of Center City between 30th Street Station and City Hall. The Speedline subway system, PATCO (Port Authority Transit Corporation), can take you to attractions that lie in the Camden, New Jersey area. If you venture further afield into Bucks County, Lancaster, or the Brandywine Valley, your best bet would be to rent a car.

It may be handy to note that many streets in Center City are narrow and one-way. Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Vine Street, Broad Street, and part of Market Street are wider. The downtown area of Philadelphia was laid out in grid fashion and is compact. The conventional heart of the city resides at Market and Broad streets, the location of City Hall. Market Street is the dividing line of the city between the north and south sections. Streets running north and south are numbered. They begin at the Delaware River with Front Street also being 1st Street. The numbers increase to the west. As an example, Broad Street would also be 14th Street. Benjamin Franklin Parkway breaks this pattern by running diagonally from City Hall to Fairmount Park.

SEPTA Buses and Subway
Buses and the city’s subway system help make traveling around the city convenient and easy. SEPTA is the service that operates Philadelphia’s buses, as well as two subway lines and a trolley. A trolley tour is always a nice way to begin exploring the layout of a city. It can help you get your bearings and enable you to learn more about the city. Some find the SEPTA web site confusing, however, because there are so many different bus lines. They do have a map, the Official Philadelphia Transit & Street Map, available for $7. This map can be purchased either online or directly from one of their sales offices. A one-way fare for most destinations utilizing the bus system costs $2. It is very important to note that you will need either exact change or a token. Several subway stations and other transit stores sell two tokens for a discounted price of $2.60.

SEPTA also provides service for airport travelers utilizing the R1 line. For $6, the R1 will drop you in University City or at other numerous Center City stops. Please note: the ticketing machines for SEPTA service frequently are out of order on the train platforms.

Trolleys
In days past, Philadelphia was home to over 4,000 trolleys which operated on more than 65 lines. Although the number of trolleys has been greatly reduced, it is one of the few cities in America today that still maintains street car lines. SEPTA operates what they call five “subway-surface” trolleys. These trolleys run in subway tunnels in Center City and tracks that are street-level in West Philadelphia. One new line has been introduced recently utilizing a rebuilt 1947 PCC streetcar to serve the Girard Avenue Line, Route 15. Taking this trolley can provide one more link to the historic past in this remarkable city.

Broad Street Line
The Broad Street subway line operates from Fern Rock station in the northern section of the city to the sports complex in the southern portion of Philadelphia. The sports complex includes the area of Veterans Stadium and First Union Center. The line also offers service to Pattison Avenue.

Market-Frankford Line
Another subway line, known as the Market-Frankford line, operates across the city from the western suburbs to northeastern Philadelphia. Tickets for the subway lines may be purchased at all subway stations for a one-way fare of $2. Transfers cost 60 cents each.

Night Owl Buses
Both lines cease services from midnight through 5:00 a.m. The Night Owl buses transport people along these routes while the subway lines are shut down.

Taxis
Taxis from the airport to Center City usually charge a flat fee of $20.fTaxis can be hailed quite easily in Center City. For manuevering from place to place, fares are $1.80 for the first one-sixth of a mile, and 30 cents for each subsequent one-sixth. Along with that, 20 cents is charged for every minute of waiting time. As another example, you can take a taxi from University City to Penn’s Landing for approximately $7. Some taxis, but not all, will accept credit cards.

Car
If you are trying to navigate the city of Philadelphia around rush hour in a car, you will want to know that Interstate 76, also known as the Schuylkill Expressway, can be tied up with traffic for miles. It is the central east-west freeway through the city. Interstate 95, also known as the Delaware Expressway, is the main north-south highway access through the city. If you are trying to get to Center City from the south, take I-95 until you get to the Vine Street exit.

If you are driving to Philadelphia and entering the area from the west, you will note that the Pennsylvania Turnpike begins at Ohio’s border. It intersects I-76 at Valley Forge, PA. I-76 (also Schuylkill Expressway) exits at several places in Center City. The northeast section of the turnpike (called I-476) transports drivers from Scranton to Plymouth Meeting, which is just north of Philadelphia. If you are traveling from the east, the New Jersey Turnpike and Interstate 295 access U.S. 30, which enters the city at the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.Alternatively, New Jersey Route 42 will take you to the Walt Whitman Bridge in South Philadelphia.

Parking a car, however, can be the real challenge because parking spaces within the city are hard to find. Any regulations or restrictions regarding parking a vehicle are strictly enforced. Having made these statements, renting a car in Philadelphia is typically inexpensive. Daily rental rates can range from $30 to $50, with less expensive rates offered when rented by the week or on weekends, and include unlimited mileage. To rent a car in the city or surrounding areas, you will need to be at least 21 years of age. For children aged up to 8 years, child seats are mandatory. For travelers who aren’t U.S. residents, you will need your passport, a valid driver’s license, a travel policy that covers each driver, and a reservation voucher before you can rent a car. A reservation voucher is what a traveler would be given in their home country at the time of making a pre-paid reservation for a car rental.

Parking can be a challenge throughout the city, and Center City is no different. If you happen to be lucky enough to find a spot with a parking meter, the cost is between 50 cents and $1.00 per hour. Several parking garages are in existence, especially around popular locations such as the Convention Center, City Hall, and Independence Hall. They can, however, be fairly expensive at $1.50 for 15 minutes or $20.00 for the entire day. Because parking is so scarce, police officers are very vigilant about any violators. If you were to receive a ticket for illegal parking, the fines start at $25.00.

Car Rentals
Should you choose to rent a car while you’re in the city, you’ll not only find a number of rental facilities at the airport, you’ll also find major names like Enterprise and Hertz with offices throughout the city. Small rental car companies are also scattered throughout the city so if you change your mind and decide to rent a car during your visit, locating a company to help shouldn’t be a problem.

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Hotels in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania