With no traffic it looks like about 2 1/2 hours. realistically, if we were to leave around 6:30 a.m. on a weekday (this is why my traveling companions love me), does 2 1/2 hours seem right or will Philly traffic up the drive time? Thanks.

I assume you are using 76 and not Rte 30.

It shows 3 1/2 hours right now.

I'd allow at least 3 hours. If you go to maps.google.com, you can get a driving estimate for a specific departure time (set date and time in the drop-down from "Leave now"). Google says this route "typically" takes 2:20 to 3:30 hours on a weekday morning at that time. Although I generally find Google driving estimates in Europe to be optimistic, they seem to be more accurate in the U.S.

If you leave Center City at around 6:30, you'll be hitting 76 (the Schuylkill) at rush hour so I'd budget at least 3 hours.

Thanks everyone...I guess they're going to get an earlier wake-up call

That's why caffeine was invented.

Won't rush hour traffic be inbound in the morning?

> Won't rush hour traffic be inbound in the morning?

Inbound will be WORSE, but outbound rush hour can be bad as well. One accident and Philly traffic can go from annoying to a nightmare.

Correct. The Schuylkill in either direction is no picnic at rush hour. Many a driver as lived to rue the statement, "All the traffic will be going the other way."

Maitaitom, we just caught up with your Philly threads. First off, we want to say how impressed we are with your advance planning. We're just working on plans for our mid-Dec.'17 NYC trip.

We can't speak to Philly traffic, and it seems that you received an abundant amount of suggestions above to more than consume your time in Philly.

We'll just add our two-cents' worth about our long day trips to Gettysburg and Monticello/Charlottesville.. We found them each to be excellent. . .lots of history learned in a short amount of time. These visits were in our pre-Fodorite days, so we have no TR.

There's so much to see and do in the Philly area, not to mention DC. Whatever you guys decide, we'll wish you nice spring weather!

I avoid the Schuylkill at all costs in both directions during rush hour. A lot of people commute on the Expressway to Conshohocken too. Another alternative is 95 south to 476 (which I still call the Blue Route) north to 76 to the turnpike but that can get clogged up. If it were me, I'd take Walnut St out of the city to 63rd St to Rt 3 to 476. It might look on the map that you could take Market St but Walnut St is better because the lights are timed. Its not the most scenic route but it won't be the parking lot the Schuylkill can be.

While google is great for traffic, I always tune to KYW 1060 for traffic reports when I'm in Philly.

You may want to consider visiting the Amish Country...I believe it's about a 2 hour drive from Philly. Interesting & scenic.

If we were to get out of Philadelphia by 5:30 (a.m.), would that avoid the morning rush? Thanks.

It should but I don't say that out of commuting experience. I was in a hotel with a good view of the Girard Ave area where it often backs up and traffic flowed pretty well at that time.