There are 6 ways to get from Washington DC to Philadelphia by train (Amtrak), bus, car, plane, bus (Flixbus, Greyhound), or subway
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train (Amtrak)
best- Take the train from Washington Union Station to 30th Street Stationtrain Acela
2h 17m$37–88Bus via Washington Union Station
cheapest- Take the bus from Washington Union Station to Philadelphia Bus Stationbus FlixBus 2601 / ...
4h 25m$20–48Bus
- Take the bus from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PAbus Washington
3h 30m$45–120Drive 136.2 mi
- Drive from Washington DC to Philadelphiacar 136.2 mi
2h 40m$25–36Fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
- Fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)plane DCA - PHL
3h 22m$76–657Subway to Washington Dulles International Airport, fly
- Take the subway from McPherson Square, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 2 Platform to Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platformsubway
- Fly from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)plane IAD - PHL
3h 55m$315–761
Washington DC to Philadelphia by foot, subway, and train (Amtrak)
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Washington DC to Philadelphia is to bus via Washington Union Station which costs $20 - $50 and takes 4h 25m.
The fastest way to get from Washington DC to Philadelphia is to train which takes 2h 17m and costs $35 - $90.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Washington, DC and arriving at Philadelphia, PA. Services depart five times a day, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 3h 30m.
No, there is no direct train from Washington DC to Philadelphia station. However, there are services departing from Metro Center, Red Line Track 1 Platform and arriving at 30th Street Station via Washington Union Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2h 17m.
The distance between Washington DC and Philadelphia is 135 miles. The road distance is 137 miles.
The best way to get from Washington DC to Philadelphia without a car is to train which takes 2h 17m and costs $35 - $90.
It takes approximately 2h 17m to get from Washington DC to Philadelphia, including transfers.
Washington DC to Philadelphia bus services, operated by OurBus, depart from Washington, DC station.
Washington DC to Philadelphia train services, operated by Amtrak Acela, depart from Washington Union Station.
The best way to get from Washington DC to Philadelphia is to train which takes 2h 17m and costs $35 - $90. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $45 - $120 and takes 3h 30m, you could also fly, which costs $75 - $700 and takes 3h 22m.
What companies run services between Washington DC, USA and Philadelphia, PA, USA?
Amtrak Acela operates a train from Washington Union Station to 30th Street Station hourly. Tickets cost $30–650 and the journey takes 1h 42m. Amtrak also services this route hourly. Alternatively, OurBus operates a bus from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA 5 times a day. Tickets cost $45–120 and the journey takes 3h 30m.
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Philadelphia International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 14m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $70–650
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Philadelphia International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 13m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–340
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak Acela
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Washington Union Station to 30th Street Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 42m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $30–650
- Schedules at
- https://www.amtrak.com/acela-train
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Business Class
- $30–470
- First Class
- $150–650
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Washington Union Station to 30th Street Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $35–85
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 202 466 3876
- Website
- wmata.com
Subway from McPherson Square, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 2 Platform to Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platform
- Ave. Duration
- 48 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2–8
- Website
- https://www.wmata.com
- standard fare after 9:30 p.m
- $2–3
- standard fare 5 a.m - 9:30 p.m.
- $5–8
- Phone
- +1-844-800-6828
- pr@ourbus.com
- Website
- ourbus.com
Bus from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $45–120
- Website
- https://www.ourbus.com
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com
Bus from Washington Union Station to Philadelphia Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $18–30
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Washington Union Station to Philadelphia Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $22–45
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Want to know more about travelling around United States
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More Questions & Answers
Washington DC to Philadelphia bus services, operated by OurBus, arrive at Philadelphia, PA station.
Washington DC to Philadelphia train services, operated by Amtrak Acela, arrive at 30th Street Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Washington DC to Philadelphia is 137 miles. It takes approximately 2h 40m to drive from Washington DC to Philadelphia.
There are 462+ hotels available in Philadelphia.
















