- Must visit
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Major art museum with wide-ranging collections and the famous steps. Worth visiting for both the galleries and the skyline views outside.
Cheapest price
£19
Average price
£31
Fastest journey
2 h 45 m
Average duration
2 h 55 m
Buses per day
20
Distance
199 km
The best way to find a cheap coach ticket from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA will cost around £31 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap coach tickets today for only £19.
Of the 20 buses that leave Washington, DC for Philadelphia, PA every day 17 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
These direct buses cover the 199 km distance in an average of 2 h 55 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 2 h 45 m .
The slowest buses will take 3 h 10 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
Bethany Line Tours LLC 4468146 MC-1763100
Bethany Line Tours LLC 4468146 MC-1763100
PPB 8774P
PPB 8741P
FlixBus
FlixBus
FlixBus
FlixBus
FlixBusOmio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the coach with prices starting from £14. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 15m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.2kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £14, and a flight costs an average of £242.
Distance: 199 km
| Coach | Most popular Train | Flight |
|---|---|---|
£21 Average Price Cheapest | £33 Average Price | £380 Average Price |
3h 38m Average total duration 3h 8m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 7m Average total duration 2h 37m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 15m Average total duration Fastest 1h 15m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
0.2 - 0.5kg CO2 emissions | 0.1 - 0.2kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.6 - 1.2kg CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular airline |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
The table below shows live departures for Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA coaches for today, Sunday 2 August. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated coach journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 18:55 Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station | 3h35 | 22:30 Philadelphia Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
PPB 8757P | 19:00 Washington, Union Station Bus Terminal, DC | 3h25 | 22:25 Philadelphia Bus Terminal (1001 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, PA), PA | 0 changesdirect | |
PPB 8761P | 20:00 Washington, Union Station Bus Terminal, DC | 2h55 | 22:55 Philadelphia Bus Terminal (1001 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, PA), PA | 0 changesdirect | |
Swift Buses Inc 3531549 MC-1175863 | 20:30 Washington, 19th St SE (Stadium-Armory Station) | 3h29 | 23:59 Philadelphia Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
PPB 8765P | 21:00 Washington, Union Station Bus Terminal, DC | 3h25 | 0:25 Philadelphia Bus Terminal (1001 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, PA), PA | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 21:35 Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station | 2h55 | 0:30 Philadelphia Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
+ FlixBus | 23:30 Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station | 3h25 | 2:55 Philadelphia Bus Station | 1 change | |
| Monday 3 August | |||||
PPB 8774P | 0:00 Washington, Union Station Bus Terminal, DC | 3h25 | 3:25 Philadelphia Bus Terminal (1001 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, PA), PA | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 0:05 Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station | 2h50 | 2:55 Philadelphia Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 3:30 Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station | 3h15 | 6:45 Philadelphia Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
Bethany Line Tours LLC 4468146 MC-1763100 | 4:40 Washington, 19th St SE (Stadium-Armory Station) | 3h20 | 8:00 Philadelphia Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 5:30 Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station | 5h25 | 10:55 Philadelphia Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 6:00 Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station | 2h45 | 8:45 Philadelphia Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus+![]() | 7:20 Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station | 3h25 | 10:45 Philadelphia Bus Station | 1 change | |
FlixBus | 8:35 Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station | 3h10 | 11:45 Philadelphia Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 9:35 Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station | 3h25 | 13:00 Philadelphia Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 10:35 Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station | 3h10 | 13:45 Philadelphia Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 10:55 Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station | 4h10 | 15:05 Philadelphia Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus+![]() | 11:00 Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station | 4h05 | 15:05 Philadelphia Bus Station | 1 change | |
FlixBus | 12:35 Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station | 3h10 | 15:45 Philadelphia Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
FlixBus | 14:10 Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station | 2h55 | 17:05 Philadelphia Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
PPB 8741P | 15:00 Washington, Union Station Bus Terminal, DC | 4h00 | 19:00 Philadelphia Bus Terminal (1001 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, PA), PA | 0 changesdirect | |
Bethany Line Tours LLC 4468146 MC-1763100 | 17:00 Washington, 19th St SE (Stadium-Armory Station) | 3h40 | 20:40 Philadelphia Bus Station | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train, coach and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Buses from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA run on average 17 times per day, taking around 3h 8m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at £14 but you can travel from only £9 by train.
There are 15 coaches per day. The earliest coach runs at 00:05, the last at 23:55. The fastest coach covers the 199 km distance in 2h 45m.
Distance 199 km |
Average bus duration 3h 8m |
Cheapest ticket price £14 |
Buses per day 17 |
Direct buses 15 |
Fastest bus 2h 45m |
First bus 0:05 |
Last bus 23:55 |
Cheapest Month Jun |
Cheapest Day Wed |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Mon |
Least Busy Day Sat |
Best time to book 35 days |
Discover the best of Philadelphia, PA — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Philadelphia, PA trip today.
Major art museum with wide-ranging collections and the famous steps. Worth visiting for both the galleries and the skyline views outside.
Engaging science museum with hands-on exhibits, a planetarium, and family-friendly displays. Good for curious visitors of all ages.
Compact museum focused on Rodin sculptures in a peaceful Beaux-Arts setting. Ideal for a quieter art stop near the Parkway.
Historic square and green in the Old City area, surrounded by major independence sites. Useful as a starting point for walking the district.
Popular urban trail and park along the Delaware River with lawns, hammocks, seasonal attractions, and open river views.
Large riverside park with boat houses, trails, and skyline views. Excellent for walking, running, and seeing a greener side of the city.
A long roll filled with thinly sliced beef and melted cheese, often with fried onions. It is Philadelphia’s signature street-food sandwich.
A soft pretzel with a figure-of-eight shape and chewy texture, commonly sold by street vendors and bakeries across the city.
A roast pork sandwich with slow-roasted pork, sharp provolone and broccoli rabe. It is a classic Italian-American Philadelphia speciality.
Historic indoor market with many traders serving roast pork, pretzels, pastries and other Philadelphia staples in a lively casual setting.
Classic South Philadelphia sandwich shop best known for roast pork sandwiches with broccoli rabe and sharp provolone.
Established restaurant serving refined Pennsylvania Dutch and Mid-Atlantic cooking in an elegant but relaxed City Center dining room.
Moderate for US city breaks: hotels are often pricey, but dining and SEPTA fares are reasonable for tourists.
Tip 18-20% in restaurants, more for excellent service. Taxis: 10-15%. Cafés: small change or $1 per drink is common.
Official public transport app
Philadelphia Bus Terminal -> City Hall, Philadelphia, PA
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA by coach. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest coach, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Philadelphia, PA, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Washington, DC to Philadelphia, PA buses use the Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station to Philadelphia, Spring Garden St / N 2nd St (Madison War Memorial Park) station pair, with some services arriving at Philadelphia, Greyhound Bus Station. Use this guide to compare Washington, DC and Philadelphia, PA bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station is 2 km from Washington city centre. Public transport options include:
Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC and Ticket Office.
Food options include: McDonald's (in the station), Shake Shack (in the station)
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the main entrance and food court.
Ticket office support is available at Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station.
Available at Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station: Elevators, ramps.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need