How to travel from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA

Fri, Oct 16
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Travel Information

Compare train, bus, and flight for Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €28 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 2h 30m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.2kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €28, while a flight costs an average of €530.

Distance: 123 miles (199 km)

Compare train with

Most popular
Train
Bus
Flight
Driving

€88

Average price

€28

Average price

Cheapest

€530

Average price

€32

Average price

(fuel + tolls)

2h 30m

Average total duration

Fastest

2h 0m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

3h 53m

Average total duration

3h 23m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

6h 5m

Average total duration

4h 5m

Onboard

+

2h 0m

Additional time*

2h 32m

Average total duration

(door-to-door)

0.1 - 0.2kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

0.2 - 0.5kg

CO2 emissions

0.6 - 1.2kg

CO2 emissions

-

CO2 emissions

Amtrak

Most popular train company

FlixBus

Most popular bus company

United

Most popular airline

Your own car or car rental

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.

The cheapest way to travel from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA is a bus with an average price of €28.

This is compared to other travel options from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA:

A bus is €61 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA costing on average €88.

A bus is €502 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA costing on average €530.

The fastest way to travel from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA is by train with an average journey time of 2h 30m.

Other travel options to Philadelphia, PA take longer:

Bus takes on average 3h 53m.

Flight takes on average 6h 5m.

It's helpful to compare your options as there are 3 ways to travel between Washington, DC and Philadelphia, PA including taking a train, bus, and flight.
We recommend using the train as it is the most popular way to get from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA among Omio's users.
Take the train. It's meaningfully faster than driving, and the time saved usually justifies the price.

You'll arrive about 32m sooner (2h 0m by train vs 2h 32m by car). Tickets start at around €88 compared to roughly €32 in fuel and tolls — so you're paying a bit more, but getting hours of your day back, a city-centre arrival, and the freedom to work or relax instead of drive.

Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), want to stop along the way, or need a car once you arrive.

Travel options
from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA

How to get from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA by train, bus or flight.

Our recommendation

bus

The best way to travel from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.

  • OurBusBethany Line Tours LLC 4468146 MC-1763100
    4:40 AM3h20
    Washington, 19th St SE (Stadium-Armory Station)
    8:00 AMPhiladelphia Bus Station
    €231One-way
    0 transfers

Cheapest

  • OurBusBethany Line Tours LLC 4468146 MC-1763100
    4:40 AM3h20
    Washington, 19th St SE (Stadium-Armory Station)
    8:00 AMPhiladelphia Bus Station
    €231One-way
    0 transfers

Fastest

  • psa airlinesAA5304
    1:29 PM1h08
    Ronald Reagan National Airport
    2:37 PMPhiladelphia International Airport
    €4111One-way
    0 transfers

Other options

  • Amtrak1126 Northeast Regional
    3:58 PM1h47
    Washington Union Station, Washington, DC
    5:45 PM30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA
    €431One-way
    0 transfers
  • Amtrak1160 Northeast Regional
    5:25 AM1h51
    Washington Union Station, Washington, DC
    7:16 AM30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA
    €591One-way
    0 transfers
  • Amtrak80 Carolinian
    5:15 PM1h50
    Washington Union Station, Washington, DC
    7:05 PM30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA
    €1361One-way
    0 transfers
  • Greyhound
    5:30 AM5h25
    Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station
    10:55 AMPhiladelphia Bus Station
    €251One-way
    0 transfers
  • OurBusBethany Line Tours LLC 4468146 MC-1763100
    5:00 PM3h40
    Washington, 19th St SE (Stadium-Armory Station)
    8:40 PMPhiladelphia Bus Station
    €281One-way
    0 transfers
  • Peter Pan Bus LinesPPB 8761P
    8:00 PM2h55
    Washington, Union Station Bus Terminal, DC
    10:55 PMPhiladelphia Bus Terminal (1001 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, PA), PA
    €311One-way
    0 transfers
  • psa airlinesAA5248
    5:10 PM1h11
    Ronald Reagan National Airport
    6:21 PMPhiladelphia International Airport
    €4111One-way
    0 transfers
  • UnitedUA4015
    8:30 AM1h13
    Dulles International Airport
    9:43 AMPhiladelphia International Airport
    €4111One-way
    0 transfers
  • UnitedUA4449
    10:16 PM1h14
    Dulles International Airport
    11:30 PMPhiladelphia International Airport
    €4111One-way
    0 transfers

Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .

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FAQs: Travel from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA

Travel to Philadelphia, PA easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA.

FAQs
There are 3 options to travel between Washington, DC and Philadelphia, PA including taking a train, bus, and flight.
The cheapest way to travel from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA is a bus with an average price of €28.

This is compared to other travel options from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA:

A bus is €61 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA costing on average €88.

A bus is €502 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA costing on average €530.

The fastest way to travel from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA is by train with an average journey time of 2h 30m.

Other travel options to Philadelphia, PA take longer:

Bus takes on average 3h 53m.

Flight takes on average 6h 5m.

The distance from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA is approximately 123 miles (199 km).
The average frequency per day from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA is:
  • Around 53 flights per day.
  • Around 33 trains per day.
  • Around 19 buses per day.

However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Washington, DC and Philadelphia, PA as scheduled services by train, bus, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.

These are the most popular departure and arrival points from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA:
  • Flights mostly depart from Dulles International Airport and arrive in Philadelphia International Airport.
  • Trains mostly depart from Washington Union Station, Washington, DC and arrive in 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Buses mostly depart from Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station and arrive in Philadelphia, Spring Garden St / N 2nd St (Madison War Memorial Park), PA.
If finding a good deal is your main consideration for your trip from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA, then we'll help you find the best value travel companies for you:
  • Travel with United, American Airlines, piedmont airlines, Republic Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, psa airlines to go to Philadelphia, PA by flight.
  • Travel with Amtrak, Amtrak to go to Philadelphia, PA by train.
  • Travel with FlixBus, Greyhound, Peter Pan Bus Lines, Infobus to go to Philadelphia, PA by bus.
Yes, there are direct services available from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA with the following travel companies:
  • 5 direct flights per day with United, psa airlines.
  • 33 direct trains per day with Amtrak, Amtrak.
  • 16 direct buses per day with FlixBus, Greyhound, Peter Pan Bus Lines, Infobus.
Omio customers who travel from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA often also extend their vacation to go to New York, NY, Orlando, FL, Chicago, IL, Atlanta, GA, Boston, MA. Omio can help you plan your trip by finding the best connections between Philadelphia, PA and these popular destinations at a great price.
Most travelers need at least three days in Philadelphia, PA to see the main sights at a comfortable pace. If you want day trips or a slower itinerary, consider adding extra time.
In Philadelphia, PA, you can visit the Liberty Bell, an iconic symbol of American independence, and Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were debated and adopted. Art enthusiasts can explore the Philadelphia Museum of Art, known for its vast collection and the famous Rocky Steps. For a taste of local culture, head to Reading Terminal Market, a bustling indoor space with diverse food options. Additionally, the Philadelphia Zoo offers a chance to see a wide variety of animals and interactive exhibits.
To experience Philadelphia's key attractions, such as the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Reading Terminal Market, a stay of 2 to 3 days is typically sufficient.
HomeTravelTravel to USATravel to Philadelphia, PAHow to travel from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA

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