CT-Philly: Drive or Train?

[UConnTrumbull]

Okay so I may be getting ahead of myself but it would appear that the odds of UConn being placed in Philly for the first two rounds of March Madness are quite high.

I’ve never been down to South Philly by the way.

But what’s the better option, car or train? Taking into account gas prices/parking versus convenience.

Any info would help. I’ve heard there’s not much around Wells Fargo Center.

 

[dvegas]

SEPTA runs right from Center City to the Wells Fargo Center. On my last drive down to Philly, solo, the tolls on the bridges and Jersey Turnpike have gotten nuts, consider that with the gas prices. Plus Philly is a good city to get banged up in, cheap. if you really want to penny pinch, Metro North to Grand Central, Jersey Transit to Trenton, SEPTA to Philly. I did that a few times in my UConn days to see a girl at UPenn.

 

[Windham4th]

Fly from Bradley. I did it once. It's like 30 minute flight. Plane had propellers and like 40 seats.

 

[Waquoit]

It's an easy drive, imo.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I take Amtrack from New Haven or Bridgeport to Philadelphia when I can. It is just over 3 hours, and it is a relaxing ride in which you can read, work or sleep. Or have a couple of cocktails if you want. The drive is stress inducing, and you are virtually guaranteed to run into an accident or construction zone that results in at least one major detour. The tolls are expensive, and with gas way up, the train is not that much more expensive.

Unless you need a car in Philadelphia, I would recommend the train.

 

[Deepster]

I worked for a company hq'd in Philly for 7 years and went down 1 week a month for a few days. The train is the way to go. Take it out of New Haven to 30th St Station. It's maybe 3.0-3.5 hrs and you can work/sleep/play on your phone the entire time and it's no more expensive than gas, tolls and parking your car would be.

Wells Fargo isn't walking distance from the train but you can walk or take a 4-5 min Uber to Center City where there are a ton of hotels and I'm sure you can get a decent, reasonably priced room. If you want a super cheap but tiny room with no frills, look at the Club Quarters. You'll need to SEPTA or Uber to Wells Fargo from there but it's an easy straight shot.

Two things I'd also recommend? Running up the Rocky steps (1.5 miles each way from Center City, walk or jog it). And go to Reading Terminal Market to get a roast pork sandwich from Tommy DiNics. That's a must.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I worked for a company hq'd in Philly for 7 years and went down 1 week a month for a few days. The train is the way to go. Take it out of New Haven to 30th St Station. It's maybe 3.0-3.5 hrs and you can work/sleep/play on your phone the entire time and it's no more expensive than gas, tolls and parking your car would be.

Wells Fargo isn't walking distance from the train but you can walk or take a 4-5 min Uber to Center City where there are a ton of hotels and I'm sure you can get a decent, reasonably priced room. If you want a super cheap but tiny room with no frills, look at the Club Quarters. You'll need to SEPTA or Uber to Wells Fargo from there but it's an easy straight shot.

Two things I'd also recommend? Running up the Rocky steps (1.5 miles each way from Center City, walk or jog it). And go to Reading Terminal Market to get a roast pork sandwich from Tommy DiNics. That's a must.

If we are giving food recommendations, then Deli on 4th in Conshohocken deserves a mention. It is 15 miles from the center of Philadelphia, but it has the best Philly Steaks on the planet. I don't know why they are so much better than anything I have ever had in Connecticut or even Philadelphia, but they just are.

If you are going to be a snowflake about hygiene and cleanliness, then don't go. You are not going to this place for surgery, you are going for a great Philly steak. I have no idea how this place passes a health inspection, so it is best not to think about it.