Boston-Philadelphia: drive, fly, Amtrak?

Old Feb 6th, 2016, 02:37 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 23,138
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Boston-Philadelphia: drive, fly, Amtrak?

My first thought for any trip under 400 miles is always drive - I like to drive and have a comfortable car. But this may not be a good option for weekend trip, staying downtown Philadelphia. My thoughts. Flying - am 20 miles north of Boston so have to deal with to/from each airport. Also, Philadelphia airport is not on my favorite list. Driving - parking at hotel is $50/night! Amtrak: have not taken Amtrak in many years - have memories of horrible dirty trains of many years ago. And I just know I will get stuck on some cold train that derails in Connecticut somewhere.

Trip is just a bit too long to drive and too short to fly - so is train my best option?
gail is offline  
Old Feb 6th, 2016, 02:49 AM
  #2  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 23,138
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Additional info. Flying cost is about $225. Amtrak is about the same; Acela is $360. Cost of gas, tolls, parking at hotel about $200. So costs of all 3 is about the same unless I choose Acela.
gail is offline  
Old Feb 6th, 2016, 03:26 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,624
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Amtrak, hands down. Don't bother with Acela, but maybe business class--a bit more comfortable. I've taken the train from Phila to Boston, and would again.
elberko is offline  
Old Feb 6th, 2016, 03:47 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 369
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We went to Boston this summer (from DC) and drove since we were also going to Cape Cod. Finding free hotel parking was key so we need up staying at the La Quinta in Somerville. A cab ride into the city was ~$15, so it was far cheaper than paying the crazy parking rates in Boston. The hotel was comfortable and clean and shared a parking lot with some sort of chain restaurant and a Dunkin Donuts so we were able to get breakfast and dinner there if we wanted.

If I was solely going to Boston, I'd take the train for sure. It's an easy ride, no tolls to pay, no stress of driving, and I can read a book!
Hobbert is offline  
Old Feb 6th, 2016, 03:50 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 369
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sigh. I just realized you're headed TO Philadelphia not FROM it. Oh well, I've also taken the train and drive from DC to Philly. I prefer the train for basically the same reasons as Boston. I've been to Philly several times and never wished I had a car while I was there.

Enjoy your trip!
Hobbert is offline  
Old Feb 6th, 2016, 04:16 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you look at Amtrak tickets several weeks in advance I think you will find better rates. Do not do Acela - the extra money is not worth the few minutes less.

I would do train - since it is MUCH more comfortable and flying and you re not subject to the vagaries of road traffic, which can be substantial.

If I am going from NYC to dc or Boston I do train if I will be primarily downtown, drive only if I would have to rent a car while there. Have long since given up flying - after I got stuck overnight in Boston without luggage when an ice storm prevented our plane taking off - after dancing all over the runways for almost 4 hours.
nytraveler is offline  
Old Feb 6th, 2016, 07:31 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 11,714
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 4 Posts
If the weather is OK, try Bolt or Megabus to New York Penn Station and take the Northeast Regional from there.
I agree about Acella, over twice as much to arrive about 35 minutes faster. Just take the prior NE Regional and arrive earlier that the next Acella.
tomfuller is offline  
Old Feb 8th, 2016, 04:24 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 639
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I agree with the votes for the train, for all the reasons already stated. Of course, if it gets snowy/icy, all bets are off for driving or train as much as with flying.
go_laura is offline  
Old Feb 8th, 2016, 07:40 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 11,714
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 4 Posts
There was a very bad tour bus crash on I-95 in CT this afternoon.
tomfuller is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2016, 01:54 AM
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 23,138
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the suggestions. I will most likely take the train - unless I end up making it a longer trip with detours to family/friends in DC, VA, NJ. While it is probably the least expensive, I am not a bus person - too confined for too long.
gail is offline  
Old Feb 10th, 2016, 07:36 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,561
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'd drive. You can route around NYC and avoid the worst of the traffic. And the train has a 15-30 minute dead zone at NY Penn between scheduled arrival (never a guarantee - this isn't Japan) and scheduled departure. You can also find parking in Philly near your hotel for less than its nightly parking charges.
BigRuss is offline  
Old Feb 10th, 2016, 06:39 PM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 11,514
Received 7 Likes on 3 Posts
I used to drive between Philadelphia and Boston and I hated it. If you don't hit traffic in Northern Jersey, you hit it in Connecticut. I would fly. I haven't done it myself, but a lot of Fodorites have described how easy it is to get from the airport to Center City on the train.
Birdie is offline  
Old Feb 10th, 2016, 08:41 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,464
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Gail,

Even though I take the train when others won't and adapt my schedule to make rail travel work because I enjoy it, this is a routing that even those train-takers who have limited time and only can tolerate it for a few hours might enjoy. The track along the Connecticut coast I have a memory of being really scenic and peaceful in parts; you might appreciate the ride just for that-- I haven't taken Amtrak between Boston and Phila. in years, but I would recommend it.

Best wishes, Daniel
Daniel_Williams is offline  
Old Feb 11th, 2016, 05:09 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 19,736
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Probably the train.

You can do all the rerouting you want, but the drive between Boston and Phila is a general PITA and requires careful timing to avoid rush hour delays. What time do you leave to avoid the a.m. rush? Then there are various min-rushes in CT, the always crammed NY metro area, and rush hour in Phila. And assuming you're leaving from one downtown area and arriving at and staying in another downtown area, the train station is the best bet. Or else, if you drive, you'll have to navigate d'town traffic to get to where you're going.

Flying, even if you can get a cheap flight, means departure and arrival at out-of-the-way airports and the cost and time of getting into and out of town.
vincenzo32951 is offline  
Old Feb 11th, 2016, 05:20 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 42,574
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
What is the difference between dealing with that 20 miles North of Boston to get to, and I assume park at, the train station vs Logan or are you going to take a taxi or other transport to get to those starting points?

How fast will the train be vs overall flying (including the time for Security at Logan and the time to take the train from PHL, or a taxi, into downtown Philadelphia)?

What's the issue with the PHL airport or is it really with the airline?

I like to drive, too, but I sure wouldn't do that drive and on I-95? Forget it.
Dukey1 is offline  
Old Feb 11th, 2016, 06:59 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 11,714
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 4 Posts
Boston has 3 Amtrak stations. You have to leave from Back Bay (BBY) or Boston South (BOS) to go to PHL.
The 30th Street station in Philadelphia is within walking distance of Independence Hall.
You can also ride a New Jersey Transit train to Atlantic City from 30th Street.
You'll have to do some research on how to get from the north side of Boston to Boston South.
Boston North (BON) is for the Downeaster trains to Maine.
tomfuller is offline  
Old Feb 11th, 2016, 08:55 AM
  #17  
cw
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,648
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Gail knows how to get to all the train stations and the airport. She's a local. If she was taking the train, the most economical place to park and catch the train is at the station on Rt. 128, Westwood.

And for anyone else unfamiliar with Boston who may be reading this post, the train stations in Boston are called South Station, Back Bay (for trains going south), and North Station for trains going to NH and Maine. No one would know what Boston South or Boston North was. And all three stations are in Boston proper.
cw is offline  
Old Feb 11th, 2016, 09:41 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes, if you do fly, taking the train from PHL airport to Center City is easy. The stations are just outside each of the terminals, trains run every 30 minutes, and it's about a 30 minute ride. In Center City the trains all stop at 30th St, Suburban Sta (west side of City Hall), and Market East/Jefferson (east side of City Hall). Personally I'd still take the train from Boston though. (As a side note, supposedly your Amtrak ticket is valid on SEPTA Regional Rail (not the subway) to get between 30th St and Suburban Sta or Market East/Jefferson if that helps any, not that anyone's ever asked to see my ticket between those stations anyway.) I definitely wouldn't drive unless there was something I wanted to see along the way.
usroadman is offline  
Old Feb 11th, 2016, 11:42 AM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 11,514
Received 7 Likes on 3 Posts
"The 30th Street station in Philadelphia is within walking distance of Independence Hall."

Maybe but it's a very long walk. 30th St Station is at, well, 30th St while Independnce Hall is at 5th. The Jefferson Station that usroadman mentioned is the closest to the historic district.
Birdie is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
traveler2005
United States
11
Jul 2nd, 2016 07:10 PM
deedeew
United States
13
Jun 13th, 2010 10:07 AM
okoshi2002
United States
26
May 2nd, 2009 01:03 PM
pocohontas3
United States
9
Jul 1st, 2008 06:29 PM
carlafromcorvallis
United States
8
Sep 16th, 2004 10:05 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -