Do You Need a Car in Philadelphia? Here’s Everything You Should Consider (2025)

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Planning to visit or move to Philadelphia and wondering if it’s worthwhile to have a car? Here’s my honest opinion!

One of the big decisions I always make when making travel plans is whether to rent a car. To my mind, having a car can really change the game during a trip; sometimes it’s a huge convenience that opens up a whole new set of possibilities. Other times, it’s an expensive hassle that you have to pay to park and worry about all through your trip. 

Visiting the Grand Canyon? Can’t imagine it without a car. Exploring Florence, Italy? The car was a huge, expensive hassle to park. 

My partner is from Philly, so I’ve visited the city many times and even lived there briefly during the pandemic. Although we’ve always had access to a car for at least part of the trip, we’ve alternated between renting a car for ourselves or just relying on occasional lifts from family and friends. 

Accordingly, this post covers all of the questions I’d ask myself before deciding to rent a car for a visit to Philly. 

Table of Contents
So, Do You Need a Car in Philadelphia?
Reasons TO Have a Car in Philly
Reasons You Might NOT Want a Car
Alternatives to Renting a Car
How to Get to the Philadelphia International Airport
FAQs
Conclusion

So, Do You Need a Car in Philadelphia?

It really depends on what you’re doing and where you’re staying. A car is very helpful if you’re traveling around the city to explore, staying outside of the very central areas, and/or hoping to get in some hiking during your visit. On the other hand, a car is absolutely not necessary if you plan to hang out in South Philly and Center City the whole time. 

There’s no one answer for everyone visiting Philadelphia, but I’ll tell you everything I would personally consider before deciding whether or not to rent a car. 

Note for anyone planning to live in Philadelphia: you can always try the city out for a while then acquire or get rid of your car as you see fit. Once you live in the city, you’ll start to learn your neighborhood’s parking rules and the parking options for the places you go regularly. A family member of mine who lives in the city regularly plans her weekly schedule around when parking will be easy or hard to find – never arriving home when others are trolling for parking (unless she absolutely can’t avoid it!). 

For the purposes of this post, however, I’ll be writing mostly to those visiting Philadelphia for a short period. 

Reasons TO Have a Car in Philadelphia 🚗

Sometimes, having a car is an almost unspeakable luxury. Having the option to just throw your luggage in the car and explore the city after you land just makes everything feel a little easier. And, for as someone who loves to hike, a car is the key to being able to get to a trailhead in most parts of the US.

Here are some of the reasons that I’d appreciate having a car when visiting Philadelphia. 

The Philadelphia Area is Very Spread Out

Philadelphia is the 6th largest city in the US by population. So, it probably comes as no surprise that it takes up a decently large area and is pretty spread out. To get from the Philadelphia Museum of Art to Penn’s Landing (landmarks on the east and west side of the city, respectively) is about a 15 minute drive in moderate traffic. The same distance would take about 70 minutes to walk or 45 minutes by public transit. 

If you want to get into the suburbs, the travel time naturally increases further. To get from the Philadelphia Art Museum to Wayne (hometown of actress Abbi Jacobson from Broad City), Google Maps estimates that the drive will take about 25-45 minutes, depending on traffic. That same distance takes a little over an hour by public transit or a staggering 4.5 hours if you were to walk. 

You Need a Car to Reach the Suburbs or Green Spaces

When I visit Philadelphia, I either end up staying in the suburbs and driving into the city a few times or vice versa. Whichever way it goes, I am usually acutely aware of how spread out the area really is, as this drive can easily take 30+ minutes with traffic. 

So, if you’re wanting to see the historic Main Line or some of the city’s green parks and hiking trails, consider renting a car. These areas were built for cars and, despite having some public transit, are still easiest to navigate when you can drive yourself. I’m not saying it couldn’t be done, just that I’d personally choose to have a car unless I’m just staying in central Philly. 

It’s More Convenient 

It’s hard to deny the inherent convenience of having a rental car when exploring an area. Want to go somewhere an hour away? You only have to consider yourself and traffic patterns. Feel like shopping at the King of Prussia Mall? Great, just put anything you buy in the trunk and continue with your day. 

That convenience ends, however, if you can’t find a place to park. Or, maybe even worse, you find yourself walking everywhere and completely ignoring the car you paid to rent for your trip!

Public Transit is Limited and Sometimes Unsafe

Similar to my hometown of Denver, Colorado, the public transit in Philadelphia is hit or miss. If you’re staying along the Main Line and just need to get downtown (or, I suppose, vice versa), you should be fine taking the train into the city and walking when you get there. For more local journeys, however, you might find the trains and buses to be unsafe. 

In 2024, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) awarded Philadelphia a Gold Award (its highest honor) for its safety, security, and emergency management plans. This reportedly baffled SEPTA riders, who feel strongly that the other passengers and drivers are unsafe. So, in the face of conflicting information and in the spirit of heeding locals’ warnings, I’d stick to regional lines and Ubers or personal cars. 

Reasons You Might NOT Want a Car in Philadelphia

As I said at the jump, not everyone is going to want to have a car in Philadelphia. You simply might not need a car for your trip, or maybe you have serious parking anxiety. Here are the biggest things to consider if you’re on the fence about whether you need a car to visit Philadelphia. 

It’s Really Not Necessary for Center City 

The number one reason I’d recommend against having a car is if you’re planning to visit Center City or South Philadelphia and you won’t be moving around much. These parts of the city are walkable, and you can call an Uber if you need a ride late into the evening or to go somewhere further out. 

You will see cars in the very central areas of Philly, but it’s not very easy to get around or park. This is especially true if you’re not accustomed to driving in large cities. If this describes you and your trip, you might skip the rental car for your visit. 

Parking Can Be a Headache

Parking in Philly can be a huge pain, especially if you’re in a central (and walkable!) area like Center City or South Philly. Spots are hard to come by, especially those that are free without a time limit. Having a car on the street in central Philadelphia means you’ll most likely spend a while searching for a spot anytime you return to your hotel/Airbnb/apartment. 

From 2008 to 2012, there was an entire TV show dedicated to parking enforcement in Philadelphia called Parking Wars. It hasn’t been on the air for over a decade, but you can watch some clips on YouTube, like this frustrated offenders compilation.

You could, of course, save yourself the hassle and park in a private lot – but I am the type of traveler that prefers the cheap/free route of street parking. 

The Math Might Not Work

Sometimes, even if a car sounds more convenient, the math just doesn’t support renting a car when you travel. Perhaps you’re only planning to drive a few places and can just take an Uber – if you price that out, along with parking and gas, you might save money compared with renting a car. This is perhaps especially true if you’re under 25 and have to pay a surcharge to rent a car in the US. 

The biggest factor I would consider here is where you’re staying. Are you really far out? You’ll probably need a car to go anywhere (pay special attention to how far you are from a grocery store!). Staying in South Philly and just planning to travel around a lot? It’s a much tricker call, but you might well be better off walking and taking Ubers. 

You probably won’t be able to entirely predict your Uber/rideshare needs, but even a back of the napkin guess can help you with your budgeting. 

Alternatives to Renting a Car in Philadelphia

If you’re leaning towards skipping the rental car, you’ll probably still need to get around during your visit. In that case, you’ll have several options, including rideshares, public transit, and, of course, your feet. Here are the top alternatives to renting a car in Philadelphia. 

Rideshares 

If you don’t have a car in Philadelphia, someone else’s car is the next best thing. Rideshares like Lyft and Uber work well in Philly and, depending on how you travel, could be cheaper than renting a car (assuming you take rideshares sparingly). If you end up taking longer trips or traveling during peak hours, be aware that the costs can definitely add up quickly. 

I recommend that you make yourself aware of and use the safety features for apps like Uber and Lyft. 

Public Transit

Philadelphia’s public transit is run by SEPTA and includes a network of buses and trains serving the entire Philly area. As mentioned above, it has a dicey safety record – especially if you ask riders and frequent users. 

Still, most people I know in Philly agree that the regional lines are perfectly safe to use. If you need to get from Center City into the suburbs (or vice versa), you can take the Paoli/Thorndale line. Confusingly, Paoli is not the start of the train line but one of the further stops from the city – the line actually starts at Temple University and runs to Thorndale. 

Walking 🚶‍♀️

Unless the weather is terrible, I love to walk around Center City and South Philly when I’m in the city. For a city in the US, Philadelphia is surprisingly walkable. Many areas have wide sidewalks with clear pedestrian crosswalks and cute shops that line the streets. 

Just like you would when walking in Paris, France, keep your head up and avoid distractions. Even during the day, it’s best to stay aware of your surroundings, stay off your phone, and look both ways before you cross the street. It might sound basic, but 59 pedestrians were killed by motorists in 2022 alone. Stay alert when walking, please!

Cycling 🚴‍♀️

Philadelphia is a popular place to cycle, with a network of cycling routes throughout the city and the wider area. Especially when the weather is nice, cycling is a great way to see more of the city, get some exercise, and efficiently get to where you need to go. If you’ve been around for a while, you might know that I love to cycle around Paris – it’s one of my favorite ways to get around the city!

Philly has a bikeshare program called Indego. You can rent a standard bike for 30 to 60 minutes at a time, depending on your plan, and electric bikes are available for an extra charge. Check pricing and find more information on Indego’s website. 

Note: Cycling can be dangerous, especially when sharing the road with cars. There were  27 cyclist deaths between 2020 and 2024. Follow these safety tips from the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia for the safety of both riders and drivers. 

Electric Scooters 🛴

You probably won’t have the option to use an e-scooter when you’re visiting Philadelphia because Bird and Lime do not operate in the city. However, if you happen to have your own e-scooter, it can be an efficient and cost effective way to get around. 

E-scooters are allowed on some forms of public transit, but there are restrictions you should know about ahead of time. Read the SEPTA scooter policy here for more information. 

How to Get to the Philadelphia International Airport

Most trips in and out of Philadelphia will involve the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). To get from the airport to Center City, you have several options. The easiest and most straightforward option is to have someone pick you up. Of course, if you had that option, you probably wouldn’t be reading this section! 

For those without a ride from a friend, the next best thing is to take an Uber or a Lyft. You can call the ride on your phone and walk to the designated pick up areas – just follow posted signs. I personally prefer to wait until I’m at the pickup area to request the ride so that I don’t have to run with all of my bags if it gets accepted quickly! 😅

Finally, you can take public transit directly from PHL to several spots throughout the city. This option works best if your destination is in Center City. The SEPTA Regional Rail Airport Line runs from PHL to Temple University and runs every 30 minutes. Check SEPTA’s website for schedule and train information. Per the PHL website, all stations along the Airport Line are wheelchair accessible.  

Quick note: never accept a ride from someone soliciting you inside of the airport. That’s actually a great universal rule for all airports in the world! Legitimate taxis and rideshare drivers won’t solicit you, especially inside the terminal. At best, it’ll be overpriced/a scam. At worst, it’s unsafe. Just don’t do it!

FAQs: Do You Need a Car in Philadelphia?

Planning your trip to Philadelphia and still have questions about local transportation? Here are the answers to some common queries from other travelers. 

Can I Get Around Philadelphia Without a Car?

Yes, you definitely can get around Philadelphia without a car, especially if you’re sticking to Center City and South Philly. The streets of Center City are walkable, especially during the nicer months. The city has decent regional public transit, but you may still need to take rideshares from time to time. 

Is It Worth It to Rent a Car in Philadelphia?

It depends on your itinerary. If you’re planning to explore the area for several days to over a week, a car will make your trip more convenient – especially if you’re staying somewhere easy enough to park. For a quick trip in the city to see the sights, I’d skip the car – driving in Philly and parking can be quite a hassle. 

Is Philadelphia an Easy City to Drive In?

No, Philadelphia is not a particularly easy city to drive in. The city can get congested and drivers tend to be aggressive, so it’s much harder to drive in Philly than some other US cities. However, if you’ve spent time driving in New York or Boston, you should be fine. Parking is another matter; always carefully read the signs to avoid getting a ticket or towed. 

Is Philadelphia a Walkable City?

As far as major US cities go, Philadelphia actually is very walkable – provided that you’re sticking to central areas in Center City and South Philly. In fact, it was rated the most walkable city in the US by USA Today in 2024. Always take care when walking in a major city, look before stepping into traffic, and stay alert to your surroundings. 

How to Get to Center City From the Airport?

The easiest way to get to Center City after you land at the Philadelphia Airport is to take an Uber or have someone pick you up. However, if you prefer to take public transit, SEPTA runs train service between the airport and Center City on the Regional Rail Airport Line. 

Conclusion: Do You Need a Car in Philadelphia?

There’s no single answer to whether you need a car in Philly. The right choice for you will depend on how long you’re staying, what you’re planning to do, how comfortable you are navigating other forms of transport, and the current rental car costs. 

I can easily imagine a trip that would be impossible without a car in Philly and another itinerary where a car would be an enormous hassle. So, I recommend that you weigh your options carefully and choose the best fit for your particular trip. 😊