To/From Philly Airport and Wilmington, DE
 

It's been a while since I've posted on Fodors, and I think I have an easy question for someone out there ...

What is the "best" way to get from the Philly airport to the downtown WIlmington, DE area? I understand a taxi can run $70 each way (ouch), that the shared hotel shuttle can be over $40 each way (also not cheap), that to take the train you have to first go in to Philly and then get the train to Wilmington (which sounds painful for a short trip), and I suspect that renting a car is just crazy.

What do folks recommend?

Thanks in advance -

Do you need a car in Wilmington anyway?

Not really.

I'd say the hotel shuttle is your best bet. Being from the area,it actually seems like a reasonable deal to me. Unfortunately, there aren't many options between PHL and downtown Wilmington.

Do you already know just how often the trains run from the airport to the 30th Street station? (every 30 minutes) And the trip doesn't take that long but I agree that it would take longer than getting into that "ouch" cab or that "not as much of an ouch" shuttle bus. You get what you pay for I suppose and the distance to Wilmington from the airport is only 21 miles.

Thanks rcasper.

Dukey - are you saying you would take recommend taking the train then? If so, would I then need to taxi from the train station in Wilmington to my local hotel?

It's a personal decision...how much is your time worth?

Also, only you know how far your hotel is from the train station.

How far is your hotel from the train station? It might have a shuttle that would pick you up. There is also a rental car place at the train station. You could do a one day rental, might be cheaper than your other options. If you aren't rushed then take the train.