Mid-Atlantic - PHL Airport to Central City

I'm flying into PHL next week - first time not having a rental car. Staying at the Doubletree in Central City (Broad & Locust).

I would like some opinions on the best way to get there. I figure I have two options. First option is taxi for roughly $30+tip.

The other option is train+subway. However, I see I would have to navigate the connection from Suburban Station to the City Hall Station. How easy is this to do with a backpack and a rolling suitcase?

Are there any other options to consider?

Thanks.

It would involve more walking, but I would not bother with the Subway for one stop from the Suburban Station/City Hall complex to the Doubletree.

The Airport platforms and the center city rail stations have elevators and/or escalators. The path to the City Hall Subway station will not.

It would involve more walking, but I would not bother with the Subway for one stop from the Suburban Station/City Hall complex to the Doubletree.



I second this. From Suburban station to Broad and Locust it's probably a good 10-12 minute walk but it's in an area with broad sidewalks and generally easy to navigate.

If you get to Suburban Station and the weather is bad or you don't feel like walking, a taxi from there to the Doubletree would cost you $5/$6.

Also, you can walk from Suburban Station to the DoubleTree without leaving the train concourse. It's a little confusing, but doable. There is truly no reason to take the subway since the entrance at City Hall is only 3/4 blocks to the DT and going through the turnstiles and down/up the stairs is probably tougher than just walking.

Rich

I didn't realize Suburban would be within reasonable walking distance to the DT. Hard to tell with Google Maps. I don't mind the 10-12 minute walk as long as it is in a safe area. Also, the exercise will help me work off the calories from my cheesesteak later in the day. :)

I'd put the walk closer to 20 with bags, but it's an easy walk.
It's basically my walk to work everyday. If you have any specific questions about Philly, feel free to PM me.

Rich

I would like some opinions on the best way to get there. I figure I have two options. First option is taxi for roughly $30+tip.
Unless things have changed, taxi from the airport to Center City is a flat rate $25 (plus tip).

Here is a map of the underground concourses in the area. I can't guarantee its accuracy.

Be careful, a wrong turn could lead you to the center of the earth.


http://osric.com/chris/subway/

Unless it's a really nasty day, walk above ground from Suburban Station to your hotel. Exit from Suburban Station at any of the numbered streets, such as 16th or 17th (there is an elevator to street level at 17th st.), walk south to Locust St., turn left and walk to your hotel. Very busy and safe part of Philly.

Thanks for all the inputs. Walking from Suburban Station seems to be the consensus so, weather permitting, that's what I'll do.

Here is a map of the underground concourses in the area. I can't guarantee its accuracy.

Be careful, a wrong turn could lead you to the center of the earth.


http://osric.com/chris/subway/

Simply put, that is a great archive image of the old transit concourse, but it is no longer accurate. The vast majority of the North Broad concourse is closed to the public (City Hall to Race); the western portion changed dramatically with the construction of Penn Center; and more...

Despite the designer's efforts, never trust a map that refers to Broad Street as Broadway in Philadelphia :)

I'm in Philly now. Train to Suburban Station and then walking from there did the trick. I'm thankful for Google Maps on my phone to direct me. No problems at all.

Simply put, that is a great archive image of the old transit concourse, but it is no longer accurate.

...and hasn't been for more than 20 years, AFAICT.

However, the sections from City Hall south and east are more or less the same, and in fact if you include the Gallery shopping center you can now basically walk all the way to 8th street w/o coming up to the surface.