Plan Your Visit

Visitors celebrating America’s birthday in its birthplace can take advantage of the Philly’s More Summer Fun Hotel Package, which pairs a two-night hotel stay with a $50 gift card from American Express. The package is available at more than 30 hotels and is bookable online at www.gophila.com/summerfun.

For more information to help you plan your visit to Philadelphia, please visit the following websites:

How to Get Here

By Air:

Southwest Airlines, official airline of The Sunoco Welcome America! Festival and the Southwest Airlines July 4th Parade, is proud to offer nationwide service to Philadelphia International Airport. Be sure and check out our great rates at southwest.com or call 1-800-I-FLY-SWA.

By Train:

Book online at www.amtrak.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL.Amtrak Fare Code V 769
50 percent off the best available rail fare for one companion traveling with a paid regular (full) Adult, Senior Citizen or Disabled discounted rail fare ticket on Amtrak travel to Philadelphia, Pa. Valid for sale between 20 June, 2007 – 5 July, 2008. Reservations must be made at least three (3) days in advance of travel. Request discount code V769 when you book online at www.amtrak.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL. The discount is valid for travel in the Northeast Corridor on Regional trains. Travel on Acela Express is prohibited. Other restrictions may apply.

By Car or Motorcoach:

Fill up your car with Sunoco gasoline on your way to Sunoco Welcome America! events. Major interstate and regional highways (I-95, I-76, Pennsylvania Turnpike, New Jersey Turnpike) make Philadelphia easily accessible from all points, including Atlantic City (1 hour), Baltimore (2 hours), New York (2 hours), Washington, D.C. (3 hours), and Boston (6 hours).

To learn more about the Philadelphia Parking Authority, visit www.philapark.org and go to FIND PARKING, which will link you to our Parking Locator.

Public Transportation:

SEPTA subways, trolleys, commuter trains and bus service make Sunoco Welcome America! events easily accessible. Take public transportation or on your way to any Sunoco Welcome America! event. For exact route information, please call 215-580-7800 or visit the SEPTA website www.septa.org.
On July 4th, SEPTA will run trains on the Broad Street and Market-Frankford Lines following the concert and fireworks display on Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Additionally, regional rail trains will operate from Center City after 11:30 p.m. on all lines with the exception of the R6 Cynwyd line.
In addition, taking SEPTA is offering a special promotional Round Trip ticket good on Weekends and Major Holidays, including July 4. To learn more, click here.
Philadelphia’s Phlash will run until 7:00 p.m. on July 4th to ferry people to the parade (or as far as City Hall once the street closures begin). On July 5th, the Phlash will run until 11:00 p.m. or when the fireworks are over at Penn’s Landing.
Philadelphia Trolley Works operate trolleys that depart 5th & Market Streets daily. Call 215-925-TOUR.
The RiverLink ferry runs seasonally between Penn’s Landing and the New Jersey State Aquarium in Camden along the Delaware River Waterfront. Roundtrip fares are $6 for adults and $5 for Seniors and Children 6-12. For more information call 215-925-LINK or visit www.riverlinkferry.org
PATCO Speedline conveniently and affordably connects New Jersey to Philadelphia. For information, call (PA) 215-922-4600 or (NJ) 856-772-6900.

By Foot:

Center City is very walkable with streets laid out in a grid pattern (numbered streets run north and south and named streets run east and west).
Most Center City hotels, attractions, shopping, restaurants and nightlife are within walking distance of each other.
Directional maps and signs make it easy for visitors to find their destinations.
Center City District’s uniformed personnel help create a safe, clean, friendly environment throughout the downtown area.

Street Closings

Wednesday Night Out
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
9:30 AM – Curb lanes of Broad Street closed in both directions between Pine & Locust.
6 PM – Broad Street between Pine & Walnut Locust Streets. Traffic will run on the cross streets during the event. All lanes of Broad Street expected to be opened by 1 AM.

Pops on Independence
Thursday, July 3, 2008
10 AM, Thursday, July 3, 2008 through Friday, July 4, 20084 PM.

Independence Day Ceremony
Friday, July 4, 2008
500 Chestnut Street closed until approximately 4 PM.

Sons of Revolution Parade
Friday, July 4, 2008
12 PM to 1:30 PM - Dock Street, 2nd to Front Street; 2nd Street, Chestnut to Dock Street; and Walnut Street, Front to 5th Street.

Southwest Airlines July 4th Parade
Friday, July 4, 2008
12 PM – Close W/B lanes of JFK from 18th Street to Schuylkill Avenue.
12 PM – Close 20th Street from Market to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
4 PM – Close the 1900 blocks of Arch, Cherry and Race Street.
6 PM – Close parade route. Cross traffic is to run.

Route: The parade will proceed north on 20th Street from Arch Street, turning west on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to the Art Museum. The Parade will disperse on Kelly Drive.

Waterfront Concert & Fireworks
Saturday, July 5, 2008
No closures planned, but if conditions warrant, Columbus Boulevard temporarily stopped for pedestrian movement.