Manhattan to Philadelphia is about 95 miles, 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours off-peak, 2 hours 30 to 3 hours during Friday afternoon and Sunday evening peaks. The standard run is the Holland Tunnel onto the NJ Turnpike south. From there it crosses the Walt Whitman Bridge for Center City and South Philly, or continues to the Ben Franklin Bridge and I-676 for Old City and Independence Hall. Charter Bus New York City schedules Philadelphia group runs for school field trips, sports group day trips, weekend tour groups, and corporate offsites.
Call 646-601-0230 to lock in a Philadelphia date, or request a free quote.
The Holland Tunnel to the Walt Whitman Bridge Route
From Midtown, the coach runs south to the Holland Tunnel, then onto the NJ Turnpike southbound. The driver takes the Turnpike south past Exit 6 (Pennsylvania Turnpike interchange) to Exit 4 for Philadelphia via the Walt Whitman Bridge. Total run is 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours outside of rush hour. Friday afternoon southbound on the NJ Turnpike past Exit 14C tightens by 2 PM. Sunday northbound past Exit 6 backs up between 3 and 7 PM.
For groups heading to Old City and Independence Hall, the alternate route is the Vine Street Expressway off I-676 via the Ben Franklin Bridge from Camden. The Ben Franklin Bridge crossing puts the coach within 10 minutes of Independence National Historical Park. For South Philly sports complex drops, the Walt Whitman Bridge feeds directly onto Broad Street southbound. That gives a clean 5-minute approach to the Linc, Citizens Bank Park, and the Wells Fargo Center.
Where the Coach Drops in Philadelphia
Independence National Historical Park
143 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
nps.gov/inde
South Philadelphia Sports Complex
Pattison Avenue and Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148
philadelphiaeagles.com
Pennsylvania Convention Center
1101 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
paconvention.com
Reading Terminal Market
51 North 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
readingterminalmarket.org
Penn campus (University of Pennsylvania)
3417 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
upenn.edu
Who Books Bus to Philadelphia Runs
- School field trip coordinators running 4th to 8th-grade groups to Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the National Constitution Center.
- Sports fan clubs heading to Eagles, Phillies, 76ers, or Flyers games at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex.
- College admissions tour groups visiting Penn, Drexel, Temple, and Villanova.
- Bachelor and bachelorette weekends routing a Philadelphia stop into a Tri-State itinerary.
- Corporate retreat coordinators using Philadelphia hotels for offsites and team events.
- Religious group and church tour groups visiting historical sites.
Which Bus Fits a Philadelphia Run
| Vehicle | Seats | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Sprinter van | Up to 14 | Executive corporate offsite, small family tour, college visit for 8 to 12. |
| 28-passenger minibus | Up to 28 | Small school field trip class, mid-size fan group, alumni tour. |
| 35-passenger minibus | Up to 35 | Two-classroom field trip, full corporate retreat, larger sports group. |
| 56-passenger charter bus | Up to 56 | Full-school field trip, full fan club, multi-day tour with luggage bay and restroom. |
Long-trip amenity note. The 56-passenger coach carries an onboard restroom, luggage bay, USB power outlets, WiFi, A/C, and reclining seats — useful on the 2+ hour run and for multi-generational groups traveling with kids or seniors. The 35-passenger and smaller minibuses do not carry an onboard restroom, so the driver plans a 15-minute rest stop at a clean service plaza along the route.
Compare every size on our buses page, or open the school event bus rental service for field trip planning.
A Saturday Philadelphia Day Trip Timeline
- 7:30 AM Pickup at the Manhattan hotel block.
- 8:00 AM Enter the NJ Turnpike southbound via the Holland Tunnel.
- 9:30 AM Exit 4 onto the Walt Whitman Bridge or Exit 6 for the PA Turnpike approach.
- 10:00 AM Drop at Independence National Historical Park, 3rd Street between Walnut and Chestnut.
- 12:30 PM Pickup at the Liberty Bell Center curb for a lunch transfer.
- 12:45 PM Drop at Reading Terminal Market on Arch Street for lunch.
- 3:00 PM Pickup at the Market and head to Penn campus for a university tour.
- 5:00 PM Final pickup at Penn campus, return run via the Walt Whitman Bridge.
- 7:30 PM Drop at the Manhattan hotel block.
What a Philadelphia Charter Bus Costs
A 56-passenger charter bus for a Manhattan-to-Philadelphia day trip with a 10-hour minimum runs $1,800 to $2,500. The rate depends on day of week, departure time, and dispatch yard. A 35-passenger minibus for the same day trip lands in $1,500 to $2,000. A Sprinter van for an 8-rider group runs $1,000 to $1,400. Overnight runs add overnight driver lodging, typically $2,800 to $4,200 for a Friday departure and Sunday return.
Eagles home games on Sunday afternoons, Phillies postseason games, 76ers playoff games, and Penn graduation week all carry peak-date surcharge windows. Our charter bus prices page shows ballpark numbers.
Planning Ahead for Eagles Sundays Phillies Postseason and Penn Graduation
School field trip dates in April, May, and June fill 60 to 90 days out. Eagles Sunday home games book 30 to 60 days out depending on opponent. Phillies postseason runs book within 24 to 48 hours of bracket confirmation. Penn graduation week in May fills 90 to 120 days out across the entire fleet. Weekday day trips for college tour groups and corporate offsites are usually available with 14 to 30 days notice.
Named Drop Zones and Philadelphia Group Logistics
- Independence Hall area, drop on 3rd Street between Walnut and Chestnut. Charter parking is limited and the driver typically circles to a permitted lot near 5th and Race.
- South Philly Sports Complex, drop at the dedicated bus lane off Pattison Avenue. Dedicated charter parking lots are available on event days.
- Pennsylvania Convention Center, drop on Arch Street between 11th and 13th for tradeshow and event access.
- Reading Terminal Market, drop on 12th Street near Arch. The block is busy and the coach typically circles for the return pickup.
- Penn campus, drop at the campus visitor center on Spruce Street between 33rd and 34th.
Common Philadelphia Group Profiles
- School field trip, 35 to 50 students plus chaperones. A 56-passenger coach handles two classes plus chaperones with luggage bay and restroom for the 2-hour run.
- Eagles game day fan group, 40 to 56 riders. A 56-passenger coach for the Linc, with tailgating at the dedicated charter parking before kickoff.
- Phillies playoff group, 30 to 45 riders. A 35-passenger minibus or 56-passenger coach to Citizens Bank Park.
- Penn alumni group, 20 to 35 attendees. A 28-passenger minibus from Manhattan to campus for reunion weekend.
- Corporate retreat, 25 to 35 attendees. A 35-passenger minibus from Midtown to a Center City hotel for a two-day offsite.
Best Philadelphia Trips for Charter Bus Groups
The trip types that fill our Philadelphia calendar most weeks:
School field trips to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. 4th through 8th-grade classes from NYC public, private, and parochial schools book Independence National Historical Park visits paired with Constitution Center stops during the May-June peak.
Eagles Sunday home games. The Linc draws fan clubs from Bay Ridge, Staten Island, and Long Island Eagles communities. Sunday tailgating in the dedicated charter lots is the standard.
Phillies regular season and postseason. Citizens Bank Park summer games and October postseason runs.
76ers and Flyers winter games. Wells Fargo Center hosts both. Bachelor and birthday groups often pair a game with an Ironbound steakhouse dinner on the return.
Penn alumni and parents weekends. Spring and fall parents weekends and reunion weekends fill 56-passenger coaches between Manhattan and the University City campus.
Drexel, Temple, Villanova college tour groups. Spring and summer admissions visit blocks book mid-size minibuses with multi-stop campus itineraries.
Religious group historical tours. Christ Church, Old St. Joseph’s, and the Mother Bethel AME Church draw church group bookings for Pennsylvania heritage trips.
Group Booking Tips for Philadelphia Trips
A few logistical patterns from recurring Philadelphia group bookings:
Multi-stop itineraries. Most Philadelphia day trips combine two or three drops. Independence Hall in the morning, Reading Terminal Market for lunch, and the South Philly sports complex for afternoon sports loads on a single day. The driver handles the routing between stops.
Sports complex tailgate access. Eagles, Phillies, 76ers, and Flyers fan groups often request tailgate access at the South Philly complex. The dedicated charter lots allow coach pull-through and parking during the game.
Overnight lodging. For two-day trips, common hotel blocks include the downtown Marriott, Loews Philadelphia, and the Logan Hotel near Logan Square. The coach drops at the hotel and stages at a nearby commercial lot overnight.
Tip and gratuity. Driver gratuity is not included in the base quote. The standard range is 15 to 20 percent of the trip total, paid in cash or added to the final invoice.
Planning the rest of the group day-trip calendar? See our NYC charter bus playbook, bus to Boston for weekend trips, and bus to Washington DC on I-95 for the next group on the schedule.
Book a Charter Bus to Philadelphia from NYC
An Independence Hall field trip with a 4th-grade class. An Eagles Sunday with a 40-person fan club. A Penn parents-weekend group with overnight Center City lodging. The routing through the Holland Tunnel and NJ Turnpike runs cleanly when the departure window beats peak traffic. Call Charter Bus New York City at 646-601-0230 to speak with a live representative, or request a free quote for your Philadelphia trip.
