Philadelphia City Guide - Getting There By Road

Road travel in Pennsylvania is excellent, with good state roads connecting Philadelphia, Scranton, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, as well as outside destinations, such as Niagara Falls and Washington, DC. The general rule for numbering on US freeways and interstates is that the odd numbers go north-south and the even numbers go east-west over their whole length, although at any single, localised point this may seem different. Driving in the United States is on the right. For UK nationals, a full UK driving licence is sufficient, but some other nationalities may be required to have an International Driving Permit (printed in English and bearing a photograph). Drivers are required to have third party liability insurance, however, collision damage insurance is advised, as costs can be very high in the USA.

The minimum driving age is 16 years. Speed limits are generally 48kph (30mph) in town, 88kph (55mph) on highways and 105kph (65mph) on the interstate highways, unless otherwise posted. The wearing of seatbelts by persons in the front seat and children under 11 years of age is mandatory by law. Children under four years of age must be protected in car seats. Pennsylvania has strict drink driving laws and driving while intoxicated is cause for arrest and a criminal charge. The maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio is 0.08%.

The American Automobile Association – AAA (tel: 1 800 763 9900; website: www.aaamidatlantic.com) provides emergency service and information and may offer reciprocal benefits to members of automobile clubs in other countries.

Emergency breakdown service:
AAA 1 800 AAA HELP or 222 4357.

Routes to the city: The Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 76) is a toll road providing swift and efficient travel across the state, from New Jersey to Ohio. It leads into Philadelphia from the east and the west. The interstate highway I-95, also known as the Delaware Expressway, connects Philadelphia to Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, DC in the south and to New York City and Boston in the north. The I-95 connects with the I-87, which runs north to Montreal.

Coach services: Greyhound (tel: 1 800 229 9424; website: www.greyhound.com) provides bus services to and from Philadelphia. The main terminal, the Greyhound Terminal, is located at 1001 Filbert Street (tel: (215) 931 4075). Facilities are basic – toilets and a snack bar. There are buses to and from all parts of the country, including transcontinental services via Chicago, Illinois and St Louis, Missouri.