New York City is a full day trip from Philadelphia thanks to Amtrak's frequent Northeast Corridor service, which drops you at Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan within walking distance of most first-time attractions. The scale of the city means one day only covers a slice of it, so the trip works best if you pick a neighborhood or two rather than trying to see everything. Expect subway crowds, long lines at ticketed sights, and a day that runs on foot and on the subway rather than by car.
| Distance | 95 miles from Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 1 hour 15 min (Amtrak Acela) to 2 hours (Northeast Regional) |
| Getting there | Amtrak from 30th Street Station, Philadelphia; Acela from $89 USD, Northeast Regional from $45 USD; book at amtrak.com |
| Address | Penn Station, 234 W 31st St, New York, NY 10001 |
How to get there
- Amtrak; car (2–3 hours via NJ Turnpike, parking $30–$60 USD/day in NYC); Megabus from $15 USD
Location
Penn Station, 234 W 31st St, New York, NY 10001
40.7506, -73.9971 View on map
Highlights
- Times Square - the reference point most first-time visitors start from before fanning out
- Central Park - a large green break between Midtown museums and the Upper West/East Sides
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art - one of the largest encyclopedic collections in the country, easily worth 3+ hours
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum - the reflecting pools and underground museum near the World Trade Center site
- Grand Central Terminal - a working train hall worth ten minutes even if you're not catching a train there