Accessibility City
Whether you’re a visitor from out-of-town, or a local going from neighborhood to neighborhood, Philadelphia is one of the most ACCESSIBLE cities in America.
GETTING HERE
For those farthest away, Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is located just 8 miles from Center City. Once you land and pick up your bags, that short distance is quick and cheap to travel: the regional rail Airport Line (previously the R1 Line) takes 20 minutes and is only $7 one way. There are 29 airlines (including all major domestic carriers, led by US Airways and Southwest) landing at Philadelphia International Airport every day, arriving from more than 100 cities across the country and 36 around the globe.
If you’d rather put the pedal to the metal, you’re in luck! More than 40% of American citizens live within a day’s drive to Philadelphia, and the City is readily accessible by Interstates 95 and 76, as well as the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Turnpikes. Finding somewhere safe to put your car once you arrive in Philadelphia is easy, too. There are more than 35,000 parking spaces in Center City.
For those who prefer public transportation, 30th Street Station - conveniently located at 30th and Market streets - is the second busiest Amtrak station in the nation. Between Amtrak’s commuter trains and the high-speed Acela trains, visitors from neighboring metropolises can get to Philadelphia in quick time – just 70 minutes from Penn Station in New York City and 100 minutes from Union Station in Washington, D.C.
In addition, 30th Street is a central hub for the SEPTA (South Eastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) regional rail lines. With a dozen different rail lines extending in all directions, visitors from the Pennsylvania suburbs, New Jersey, and Delaware can access Center City in short time for a low cost.
For a cheaper alternative to the train, visitors can use Greyhound buses (arriving at a station at 10th and Filbert streets) or Bolt Bus (arriving just outside 30th Street Station).
GETTING AROUND
Once you arrive in Philadelphia, SEPTA continues to uphold our City’s unbeatable accessibility with ample public transportation. Between subways, trolleys, and buses, almost every part of the city is connected for a low fare with limited changeovers. There are even late Night Owl buses for those who like to stay out late. Seniors ride subways, trolleys, and buses for FREE and all the main stations are handicap accessible; bikes are also permitted on buses and regional rail during designated times.
Speaking of bikes, Philadelphia is one of the best American cities to bike around. With an easy-to-navigate grid system, generally flat terrain, as well as wide sidewalks and bike lanes, cyclists can traverse Center City and explore the surrounding neighborhoods easily within a matter of minutes. For a more scenic ride, there is the Schuylkill River Park Trail leading to Fairmount Park, America’s largest city park.
Philadelphia is also wonderfully walkable. Recently ranked the 5th Most Walkable US City by Walk Score, the entire Center City and Waterfront areas, as well as four nearby neighborhoods, were described as a “Walker’s Paradise.” And because the city is so compact, visitors can walk from our historic cobblestone streets to the bustling district of skyscrapers in a matter of minutes.
With so many unique and interesting meetings and conventions happening year-round, the Pennsylvania Convention Center (12th and Arch streets, in the heart of Center City) is a quintessential reflection of our city’s accessibility. For the convention attendees and the curious, you can access the PCC directly by 8 SEPTA bus lines, 7 regional rail lines, 2 subways with stations within two blocks, and a direct train service to and from 30th Street Station and Philadelphia International Airport.
Nothing is too far or too inconvenient. Everything is accessible in Philadelphia!
