How to get from Boston to Philadelphia
There are several ways to get from Boston to Philadelphia. Most of the ways are convenient, and factors that influence which option to choose include budget, time and individual preference. The possibilities include self-driving or taking a bus, train or flight.
Self-Driving
The distance from Boston to Philadelphia is slightly under 500km. On average, the drive should take 5.5 hours to 6 hours depending on the pace. There is the option for a car rental service for visitors with the necessary documentation to drive in the U.S. On average, a driver will spend anything from 30 to 45 dollars on fuel alone, without paying for the rented car or any toll fees where applicable. It is convenient and enables the traveler to go at their own pace, making stopovers where preferred.
Bus
There are several options for persons who opt to travel the Boston to Philadelphia route on a bus. Several buses offer a commute from Boston to Philadelphia that passes through New York.
The bus journey from Boston to New York City is approximately five hours. This bus route operates four days of the week. In New York, the passengers then take another bus to Philadelphia, which can cost anything between $10 and $25 as the rate changes from time to time. The bus route from New York to Philadelphia is more flexible, and a bus is available every three hours.
Visitors can also take a bus from the South Station in Boston that goes through New York change buses, and take another one that goes straight to Philadelphia from the Port Authority terminal NYC. It is a bit pricier, but more buses are available, and the commute is relatively faster by some minutes.
Another alternative is to take a bus from Boston to North Londonderry, NH, which is about an hour's drive and then connect to Manchester via taxi. From Manchester, there is a one and a half hours flight on demand that goes to Philadelphia. It is also faster compared to taking the whole trip on a bus.
Train
Trains from Boston to Philadelphia are another option to use. It is more comfortable compared to commuting by bus. There are different train schedules available depending on what time a passenger prefers to travel. Additionally, there are several train operators available for this route at different frequencies, making it almost impossible to miss a train.
The first train route a passenger can choose is from Boston South station. The train goes to the New York Monihan Hall after which the passengers change or transfer to another train that goes to Philadelphia.
There is another train route that goes to Providence station. Commuters will then have to catch a bus to TF Green Airport for a flight to Philadelphia. The flight is available on-demand, and upon reaching Philadelphia, there is an option to walk to Terminal A where there is an hourly train that goes to Suburban Station.
Flight
The most straightforward route from Boston to Philadelphia is by flight. It takes a shorter time. However, ensure you are well prepared for the flight. Some of the flight options to use include:
- From Boston to Newark to Philadelphia
The Boston South Buses go to Boston/Logan airport, where passengers can fly to Newark. Upon arrival at Newark Liberty International Airport, passengers will then transfer to a train, available every three hours that goes straight to Philadelphia. It is a cheaper flight route compared to others.
- From Boston to New York (JKF Airport) to Philadelphia
Another option is to take the Boston South buses to the Boston/Logan Airport and catch a flight to JFK airport in New York. Passengers then proceed to terminal 4 at JFK and then to Jamaica AirTrain, where a train is available every 15 minutes to the New York Penn Station. Another transfer from the Penn station goes to New York Moynihan Train Hall that goes direct to Philadelphia.
- From Boston to New York (La Guardia Airport) to Philadelphia
There is another slightly longer route from Boston to New York La Guardia by flight. Passengers will then need to head to terminal B at the airport and catch a bus to Woodside AV/61 Street. At Woodside, there are several trains to New York Penn Station where they can transfer to the New York Moynihan Train Hall and catch a train to Philadelphia.
It is clear that there are several ways to get to Philadelphia from Boston. Whether you are in a hurry and want to get there fast or want to enjoy a relaxed road trip by bus, there are options to cater to each need. Comparing the different routes against your budget and the time available is the best guide to choosing the best way to travel to Philadelphia from Boston.